Maple Bench Naturals

                                    ( Images from 1-17-05 and1-21-05)

 In early January 2005, two large natural avalanche cycles encompassing all of the large east-facing avalanche funneling gullies of the Wellsville Mountains occurred within days of each other.  The first wave of avalanches, which occurred sometime before 1-8-05, under the cover of pour visibility, was fast moving and quite destructive.  The second wave, consisting mostly of slopes that may not have avalanched with the first on-slot was a significant hard slab avalanche event as well.

             A huge natural avalanche in Hell Canyon hit the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness's Coldwater Lake Trailhead on Maple Bench.  Scores of mature, 40 ft.  maple trees were uprooted and turned into kindling.

This entire hillside was decimated by a broad and incredibly powerful air-blast.  The avalanche didn't really deposit a whole lot of snow amongst the blasted forest in this vast area, which is well below a large bench where avalanches commonly terminate.  This slope is directly above the Coldwater Lake Trailhead.

          The Hell Canyon run-out was widened and lengthened this year, even compared to last year's big avalanche in the area.  This avalanche hit the Coldwater Lake Trailhead.

This photo shows the drastically enlarged clearings at the bottoms of three big funneling avalanche paths.  From left to right on the bench; Hell Canyon, N.Hell Canyon and Gibson Canyon. 

Large crowns were still visible on some slopes more than a week after the storm clouds cleared.  This is in Gibson Canyon off of Scout Peak.

                This large crown is on a northeast facing slope at about 8400' off the east ridge of the Wellsville Dome in Brushy Canyon.

Justin and Shane are standing on debris from the first broad, fast-moving and destructive avalanche from 1-8?-05. They are examining the deposition of a subsequent natural hard slab avalanche, which probably occurred on 1-11-05.