Large Crack Appears in the Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming

‘Giant crack in the earth’ caused up to ’20 million yards of movement’

The crack, described as “the gash” by people who first reported it, SNS Outfitter & Guides, has appeared in or about mid October on a ranch on the flanks the Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming.

A state geologist has described the movement as a “medium-to-large-sized event [even] by Wyoming standards,” slow-moving landslide probably caused by a combination of excessive precipitation and water from a nearby spring.

The SNS Outfitter & Guides have released the following statement earlier this week:

“Since so many people have commented and asked questions, we wanted to post an update with a little more information. An engineer from Riverton, WY came out to shed a little light on this giant crack in the earth. Apparently, a wet spring lubricated across a cap rock. Then, a small spring on either side caused the bottom to slide out. He estimated 15 to 20 million yards of movement. By range finder, an estimate is 750 yards long and about 50 yards wide.”