I think you are partially correct. I admit I hadn't thought much about it, and I think this is the back side of Slide Mountain, or I am actually looking a sub-peak. There is Little Slide Canyon nearby and I assumed it was maybe named for frequent avalanches, but you're exactly right. But the real slide is on the other side. Check out this PDF (page 4) http://landslides.usgs.gov/docs/wieczorek/reg015-08.pdf
and also this web page (scroll to the last image / text at the bottom) http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/geologic_story_of_yosemite/final_evolution.html
Looks impressive. Guess I'll have to go check out Piute Creek some day. Looks like the river actually goes "underground" through the slide for 1/2 a mile or so.
Comments
Is it named for the visible rock slide?
— Margaret Hovell
I think you are partially correct. I admit I hadn't thought much about it, and I think this is the back side of Slide Mountain, or I am actually looking a sub-peak. There is Little Slide Canyon nearby and I assumed it was maybe named for frequent avalanches, but you're exactly right. But the real slide is on the other side. Check out this PDF (page 4) http://landslides.usgs.gov/docs/wieczorek/reg015-08.pdf and also this web page (scroll to the last image / text at the bottom) http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/geologic_story_of_yosemite/final_evolution.html Looks impressive. Guess I'll have to go check out Piute Creek some day. Looks like the river actually goes "underground" through the slide for 1/2 a mile or so.
— John Hovell