for help. jessie leitch

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1 At 4:10 in the morning on April 29, 1903, 82 million tonnes of rock thundered from Turtle Mountain and buried part of the coal mining town of Frank. Seventy people were on the list of the dead published in the May 2nd edition of The Frank Sentinel newspaper, but it is believed that more than 90 people were killed. In less than 100 seconds, the slide covered three square kilometres of the Crowsnest valley under a layer of rock more than 30 metres deep. I awoke to the sound of a rumbling roar transcending description A terrific weight came down on us and I could not move. I tried to speak to my sister, but wet coal dust trickled into my mouth... I was vaguely aware that some dreadful tragedy had happened, and I prayed for help. jessie leitch

2 WHY DID TURTLE MOUNTAIN FALL? "These things are so nicely adjusted in nature that the slightest disturbance is apt to bring down a landslide." reginald brock, geologist (Geological Survey of Canada) The primary cause of the Frank Slide was the mountain s unstable geological structure. Underground coal mining and water action in summit cracks also contributed to the disaster. "The snapping of the last threads supporting the peak... was in all probability due to the temperature conditions during and preceding the morning of April 29. The night of the slide was excessively cold... The day before and the preceding days had been very hot, so that the fissures in the mountain must have been filled with water, on which the frost would act with powerful effect." mcconnell and brock (Geological Survey of Canada) Will it Happen Again? "There will always be a possibility of a second destructive slide..." Over a hundred years ago, right after the Frank Slide occurred, geologists McConnell and Brock reported that another slide was inevitable. But, they did not know when it would happen. Turtle Mountain is still fundamentally unstable. Freezing and thawing of water slowly weakens the cracks on the summit. Erosion or an earthquake could also help bring another part of the mountain down. It could happen in a thousand years or tomorrow. In order to better understand how and why this mountain moves, the Alberta Government has installed a state-of-the-art monitoring system, the scale and application of which is unique in North America. Movements as small as a fraction of a millimetre less than the thickness of a penny can be measured over most of the peak to understand how it is moving.

3 Banff Canmore 1A 22 Cochrane 2 Calgary ALBERTA 8 22 BRITISH COLUMBIA 40 7 Okotoks Black Diamond Longview Vulcan Nanton Claresholm Frank Slide Interpretive Centre Municipality of Crowsnest Pass Leitch Collieries Fernie Provincial Historic Site Roosville Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump 785 Fort Macleod Pincher Creek Cardston Southern Alberta Highlights Lethbridge Remington Carriage Museum USA Port of 3 5 Southern Alberta is rich in heritage and recreational opportunities. Forty-five minutes east of the Frank Slide is Head-Smashed- In Buffalo Jump, a United Nations World Heritage Site offering visitors rare insight into the lifestyles, beliefs and religion of the indigenous People of the Plains. The largest collection of 19th century horse-drawn vehicles in North America, the Remington Carriage Museum is a forty-five minute drive south of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Tab Printed in Canada, For free distribution. P.O. Box 959 Blairmore, Crowsnest Pass Alberta TOK OEO call (in Alberta) then info@frankslide.com web Open daily all year except Dec , Jan. 1 and Easter Sunday

4 Frank Slide Interpretive Centre CANADA S CANADA S DEADLIEST rockslide! rockslide!

5 Frank Slide Interpretive Centre What was it like to be in Frank when Turtle Mountain collapsed? Why did it happen? Will it happen again? Feel the impact of the Frank Slide story in an interactive and creative setting through first-hand accounts by the people who lived through the destruction. Get a crow s eye view of the Crowsnest Pass. A three-dimensional model and multi-layered interpretive exhibits will satisfy your curiosity about the rich seams of history in this coal mining community. Make an earthquake! Interactive new exhibits demonstrate the sensitivity of the sensors that detect movement on Turtle Mountain.

6 The foyer invites contemplation of the slide, with open spaces and places to linger. All new display galleries and public areas! Enhanced information services assist travellers. The gift shop features souvenirs, books, clothing and other items appropriate to Crowsnest Pass, Frank Slide, coal mining and wildlife themes. Exhibit galleries are interactive, with activities for children and opportunities for interpreters to add to the experience. Two award-winning high definition presentations On the Edge of Destruction the Frank Slide Story and In the Mountain s Shadow play daily in the theatre. Walking trails around the Centre and through the slide provide spectacular mountain views and a closer look at the awesome power of nature. Programs Dramatic vignettes, guided walks and other interpretive programs bring tales of tragedy and triumph in the Crowsnest Pass vividly to life. Special events commemorate significant moments in history with activities at Crowsnest Pass historic sites. Education Programs are available at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre and Leitch Collieries Provincial Historic Site. Sleepover Programs allow classes to stay overnight and participate in additional activities. Distance Learning opportunities offer virtual experiences. Discounts and special programming are available for groups of 15 or more.

7 Black Beauty, a Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur Crowsnest Pass Searching for gold in 1873, Michael Phillipps and John Collins were the first Europeans to travel through the Crowsnest Pass. Today, historic sites, mine ruins, rugged mountain landscapes and outstanding recreational opportunities make a visit to the Crowsnest Pass an unforgettable experience. Follow the warm Chinook wind as it funnels through the lowest Rocky Mountain pass between Jasper National Park and New Mexico. Discover the hidden treasures of the Crowsnest Pass many that are only found here: The world s largest golden eagle migration each spring and fall along the serrated crest of the Livingstone Range Alberta s oldest, rarest and most diverse forest with rare plant species Canada s largest caving complex The Crowsnest Volcanics, produced by catastrophic eruptions 100 million years ago One of the greatest concentrations of archaeological sites in the Canadian Rocky Mountains Spectacular vision quest sites Unforgettable heritage buildings and streetscapes. Students enjoy dynamic, hands-on education programs.

8 A World Underground Hear compelling stories of rum running, labour unrest, strikes, cooperation and conflict between diverse ethnic groups, the brotherhood bonds of coal miners, and the dark dangerous world of underground coal mining. Alberta s three deadliest disasters occurred in the shadow of Turtle Mountain. Two mine explosions and a landslide claimed over 300 lives between 1903 and Frank Slide, 1903: at least 70 and likely more than 90 people killed Bellevue Mine Explosion, 1910: 30 miners and one rescuer killed Hillcrest Mine Disaster, 1914: 189 miners killed.