“Hikers spotted 19 elk caught up in an avalanche sometime in the past and recently revealed in the melting snow above No Name Lake in the Cascades. Biologists and rangers from several agencies investigated the newly exposed carcasses looking for clues to how long ago it occurred.” – Oregon Department Of Fish and Wildlife
Now that’s something you don’t expect on a nice summer hike with the family.
Related:Â Avalanche Flowing Down The Mountain Like Whitewater [Video]
Apparently these elk were killed in an avalanche sometime between 2016-2017 near Broken Top crater in Oregon’s Cascade Range. The elk appear to have been completely unaware of their impending doom as they were caught and buried underneath what must have been a massive amount of snow.
UPDATE: The elk carcasses recently exposed by snowmelt at No Name Lake near Broken Top appear to have been caught in an avalanche sometime between spring 2016 and spring 2017 based on photos from the area from previous years. pic.twitter.com/2wtbvqNI1D
— Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (@MyODFW) August 14, 2018
Experts think the elk were crossing the slope sometime after the 2016/2017 winter when a large wet slide released, ultimately decimating the herd of 19 elk. That year, Mt Bachelor received a whopping 451″ of snowfall according to OnTheSnow.com.
Find out more here:Â Elk herd killed by avalanche emerges from snow
