iN PHOTOS: A look back at the Hope Slide, 57 years later | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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iN PHOTOS: A look back at the Hope Slide, 57 years later

The Hope slide destroyed nearly three kilometres of Highway 3. This image was taken from the Princeton side of the slide, looking west toward Hope.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/TranBC

This past Sunday marked the 57th anniversary of the largest known landslide in Canadian history that claimed four lives and forever changing the landscape of B.C.'s Nicolum Valley.

In the early morning of Jan. 9, 1965, an avalanche blocked the Hope-Princeton Highway outside of Hope, according to an article on the TranBC website.

A queue of motorists began to line up on the highway, some turned around and headed back up the mountain, however, others chose to wait for road crews to clear the slide.

Later that morning, at approximately 7 a.m., a rockslide occurred at the same location and half of Johnson Peak collapsed into the valley.

The slide took the lives of four motorists who were on the highway, and filled the valley with over 47 million cubic metres of rock, mud and debris that was up to 500 feet deep in some spots.

A car was buried in the first slide, along with an oil tanker truck and a loaded hay truck behind the tanker.

READ MORE: Why this road along Vaseux Lake was a popular spot for early photographs

With the help of a search dog, crews recovered the bodies of the hay truck driver Thomas Starchuck and the driver of the car Bernie Lloyd Beck. The two other victims of the slide, Dennis George Arlitt, and Mary Kalmakoff, were never recovered, TranBC said.

A highway connection was re-established within 13 days of the slide.

TranBC recently discovered images documenting the incident, search and rescue, and the reconstruction process.

Supplies and materials were flown in and out of the debris field in the days immediately following the slide.
Supplies and materials were flown in and out of the debris field in the days immediately following the slide.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/TranBC

Search and rescue workers, BC RCMP, volunteers and local Highways Department staff searched for victims of the slide.
Search and rescue workers, BC RCMP, volunteers and local Highways Department staff searched for victims of the slide.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/TranBC

Former British Columbia Minister of Highways, Phil Gaglardi, with search and rescue canine, attended the scene to help assist with search and rescue efforts and to help direct the construction of a temporary road.
Former British Columbia Minister of Highways, Phil Gaglardi, with search and rescue canine, attended the scene to help assist with search and rescue efforts and to help direct the construction of a temporary road.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/TranBC

BC RCMP attend the scene of the Hope Slide.
BC RCMP attend the scene of the Hope Slide.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/TranBC

Cars are parked along BC Highway 3 at the western edge of the slide site.
Cars are parked along BC Highway 3 at the western edge of the slide site.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/TranBC

Staff drilling to clear a new route through the slide site on BC Highway 3.
Staff drilling to clear a new route through the slide site on BC Highway 3.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/TranBC

Construction equipment and crews working to build a new route, and re-open the highway.
Construction equipment and crews working to build a new route, and re-open the highway.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/TranBC

Emil Anderson Construction lends machinery and manpower to help clear a new path through the debris field.
Emil Anderson Construction lends machinery and manpower to help clear a new path through the debris field.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/TranBC

Crews work to build a new route and re-open the highway.
Crews work to build a new route and re-open the highway.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/TranBC

To contact a reporter for this story, email Emily Rogers or call 250-718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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