Mudslide hits Names Hill historical site

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Pinedale Online > News > September 2013 > Mudslide hits Names Hill historical site

Names Hill Historical Site. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.

Names Hill Historical Site This site is located on US 189 south of LaBarge where the Sublette Cut-off crosses the Green River. Torrential rains caused flash flooding and mudslides at the site on Thursday, Sept. 12th. This photo was taken on Monday, Sept. 16th after cleanup by WYDOT.

Jim Bridger marker. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.

Jim Bridger marker All three historical markers on the site survived the deluge. The Jim Bridger inscription is undamaged.

Pavement damage. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.

Pavement damage Damage to the roadside turnout pavement from the mud and water torrent.

Mudslide hits Names Hill historical site
Mudslide damage inspection of historical site at the Green River crossing of the Sublette Cut-off of the Oregon Trail
by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online!
September 17, 2013

On Thursday, September 12th heavy rainfall caused flash flooding to occur in southern Sublette County and northern Lincoln County. At a little before 6PM, torrents of water flowing across the hillslopes caused significant mudslides and mudflow in the area of Names Hill, a historical site south of LaBarge on U.S. Hwy 189. Flooding, mud slides and road damage caused the closure of US 189 from Big Piney south through LaBarge, past Names Hill and all the way to the Seedskdee Wildlife Refuge Road.

The site is the location where the Sublette Cut-off of the Oregon Trail crossed the Green River. Many Oregon Trail emigrants camped at this location and carved their names and inscriptions on the vertical rock cliffs along the river. The site is an important record of names and dates for the western migration in the mid-to late 1800s. Of special interest, this historical site has an inscription of "James Bridger, Trapper, 1844". While it is believed that mountain man Jim Bridger never learned to write, and the name was likely inscribed by someone else, it is significant because Bridger operated a ferry at this time helping emigrants get across the dangerous Green River crossing.

As of our inspection on Monday afternoon, September 17th, most of the mud and debris that washed over the historical site and across the highway has been cleaned up. Big piles of mud and dirt have been consolidated and still sit on the site. All three historical markers appear intact and undamaged. There is some damage to the road and turnout surface. The Sublette Trail hill incline appears none the worse for wear, although the entry trail up to it appears to have had water and mud flow over it. It is unknown if any inscriptions were lost and if rocks with inscriptions on them might be mixed in with the big piles of dirt and muck that are piled up. The rock wall face is covered with mud making it very difficult to see the inscriptions that area left. The Jim Bridger inscription is undamaged.

This historical site is managed by the State of Wyoming.
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Editor's Note: If anyone has photos of the mud slide and flooding damage that we could post to add to this story, we'd appreciate receiving them. Email to support@pinedaleonline.com.

Road sign	Jim Bridger marker	Jim Bridger marker
Turn-out view View standing just south of the Jim Bridger marker enclosure looking north at the historical site turn-out.	Fenced historical marker The area of the rock wall with the Jim Bridger inscription is fenced in for protection. The fence and signs survived the Sept. 12th mudslide without damage.	1844 Jim Bridger inscription
Above markers Water and mud flowed off the cliff face next to two of the markers at the historical site, but fortunately they weren't damaged.	Waterfall ramp Close-up of the gap in the rocks where water and mud flowed off the cliff face very close to the Jim Bridger marker, but fortunately it wasn't damaged in the Sept. 12th mudslide incident.	Interpretive sign Still intact.
Names Hill marker	Marker	Marker Road crews have cleared away most of the tons of mud and dirt that swept across this area during the Sept. 12th mudslide event.
Mud channel This is a ravine just north of the Jim Bridger marker. The Sublette Trail goes up the road on the left side of this wash and immediately climbs the steep hill to the top of the cliffs above the historical marker.	Mud channel close-up	Mud flow river View looking south towards the Jim Bridger marker. A torrent of mud and water came down the wash just north of the site, where the Sublette Trail climbs the hill.
Sublette Trail The Sublette Cut-off Trail crosses from left to right in this picture, then immediately climbs the hill to reach the ridge top. This trail was used by emigrants headed to Oregon and California starting around 1843 and for decades afterwards.	Hill Trail close-up The Sublette Trail swings from left to right in this picture, then veers hard left and climbs up the hill. This Trail was used by livestock-drawn wagons and people walking for decades in the mid-1800s by people headed to Oregon, California, and other destinations westward.	Covered in mud The inscriptions on the rock faces are covered in mud. It is unknown how many may have been damaged or washed away.
Muddy rocks	1850	Oregon Trail
Mud mountains The Wyoming Department of Transportation had to clear mud from the highway and covering the historical marker turnout. Dirt and mud were still piled on the site as cleanup continues. It is unknown if rocks containing inscriptions are buried in any of these huge dirt piles.	Tons of dirt and mud What a mess. Tons of dirt, water and mud came crashing down the hillsides during the mudslide event. There were no reports of injuries, but the home and property across the highway received a lot of damage.	Road damage
Turnout This is the Names Hill turn-out, view looking north, with US 189 on the right. The Jim Bridger marker is on the left at the base of the rock cliff.	Dirt piles	Turnout view This view is on the north side of the turn-out looking south towards the Jim Bridger marker. The mudslide came in from the right moving to the left across the highway.
Across the highway The residence and property across the highway from Names Hill suffered significant flooding and damage from the mudslide on Sept. 12th.	Mudflow afatermath	Union Telephone Utility workers have already been in to refind their cables through the muck.

Pinedale Online > News > September 2013 > Mudslide hits Names Hill historical site

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