Bunny Flat view of Avalanche Gulch and the numerous avalanches along Casval Ridge.
Today I took my kids up to Bunny Flat on Mount Shasta to do some erosion investigations for school. Most of our experiments include investigating how different types of rocks (igneous, metamorphic etc) react differently to a rock tumbler. However, with the warmer weather and the snow melting rapidly, the conditions at Bunny Flat present some interesting opportunities to see how the running water impacts variety of surfaces. While we were up there, I could not help but find myself observing Mount Shasta and I noticed the traces of several large avalanches lining the west side of the large valley. Most of the slides came off of Casaval Ridge, with one large slide being released from the upper flanks of Misery Cone. None of this should be surprising, but it is still fascinating to recognize important aspects in the workings of Mount Shasta.
For what it is worth, the new interpretive display at Bunny Flat is quite nice. I was preoccupied dealing with the fallout from the fires in Sonoma County when the sign was completed and it has been obscured by snow for some time now. However, it is now, fully, completely visible as the snow has receded away from it. The USFS, the Sierra Club and Marrone Construction, all of whom had a hand in its installation, deserve commendation. It is “national park caliber” and certainly makes for an attractive and appropriate welcoming point to visitors of this spectacular spot. Well done.
For those interested in a closer look at the avalanches visible from Bunny Flat, the following images show the slides in greater detail. Also note the ski trails. Click to enlarge:
