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American Morning

Glacial Mudslides Threaten Mount Rainier

Aired August 16, 2001 - 09:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: It is not fire but water that's causing problems today along the southern slope of Mount Rainier in Washington State. Scientists say water from melting glaciers has triggered flows of mud and debris down the mountain into the Nisqually River.

Reporter Richard Thompson of CNN affiliate KIRO-TV has the story and these dramatic pictures.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD THOMPSON, KIRO-TV REPORTER (voice-over): A wall of mud, rock and debris surged over Comet Falls. Down below are hikers and ranger Tom Westman.

TOM WESTMAN, PARK RANGER: Oh, I was scared. I'll admit that right off the bat. It was, it was really loud.

THOMPSON: With tons of rock and debris cascading violently downstream, the trail was evacuated and immediately shut down.

WESTMAN: Another fellow came running up the hill as well because it was not a nice place to be. It's very muddy and very dangerous at the base of a falls now so.

THOMPSON: Scientists say the debris flows are being triggered by hot weather, melting snow and saturating the ground until it gives way.

UNIDENTIFIED CAMPER: My first impression was I said, you know, it sounds like the mountain is just falling right down.

UNIDENTIFIED CAMPER: It sounded just like a train that kept going and going and going.

UNIDENTIFIED CAMPER: And I thought maybe we should just get out of there.

THOMPSON: Campers at Mount Rainier could not see all the debris, but they could certainly feel the power.

UNIDENTIFIED CAMPER: Well, you couldn't see much. It was dark. But mostly what you felt was the dust and debris coming over the bridge here. And when you felt the ground, you could just feel the rumble like a freight train under it. It was just rumbling the whole thing.

THOMPSON: In less than a day, the debris flows have cut new canyons up to 150 feet deep. Scientists say these flows are tiny compared to the power we would see with a major lahar, a volcanic mud flow. But they are a wakeup call for all of us about the power of this mountain.

UNIDENTIFIED CAMPER: It makes you respect nature. The force of natural is incredible.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRAZIER: Richard Thompson reporting from affiliate KIRO-TV.

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