HOBACK Wyo. — Between 6:30 a.m. and noon today, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) crews cleaned up an avalanche slide on US191 between Daniel Junction and Hoback Junction that closed the road in both directions.
WYDOT Public Relations Specialist Stephanie Harsha confirmed that the avalanche path, Cow of the Wood, slid naturally just after 6 a.m. WYDOT crews responded to the slide that covered the road at 6:30 a.m. and confirmed that no one was injured and the slide hit no cars.
A motorist, Dan Tolson, arrived on the scene at 6:10 a.m. He presumed the slide occurred a few minutes prior as few cars were blocked by the slide on either side.
“I was worried there could have been a car under there. It was such a massive pile of snow,” Tolson said. “I think it was pretty fresh. Only a few cars were there.” Tolson shared the video with Buckrail seen below.
According to Harsha, it took WYDOT crews between four and five hours to clear the slide, and the canyon reopened for motorists just before noon. Another nearby sidepath known as the Calf of the Wood also slid naturally while WYDOT crews were in the area, and they were able to clean up that avalanche as well.
Hoback Canyon is fully clear, and WYDOT will monitor the slide paths tonight for further activity.
