83 Seconds: The Frank Slide Catastrophe | E137

The CRUX: True Survival Stories

In this episode of the Crux True Survival Story podcast, hosts Kayce McIntosh and Julie Henningsen delve into the catastrophic Frank slide of 1903 in Frank, Alberta. The episode explores how the small town's rapid growth led to a horrifying night when Turtle Mountain collapsed, burying parts of the town under 82 million tons of limestone. Survivors' tales, including miners digging their way out and heroic acts like Brakeman Sid Choquette's race to stop an oncoming train, highlight human resilience. The episode also discusses the town's recovery, ongoing geological risks, and lessons learned from indigenous wisdom. Listeners are encouraged to visit the Frank Slide Interpretive Center to witness the historic site and reflect on the power of nature and human endurance. 00:00 Introduction and Hosts 00:21 The Frank Slide: Listener's Recommendation 02:08 A Town's Rapid Rise 05:06 Geological Background of Turtle Mountain 08:02 The Night of the Disaster 10:06 Immediate Aftermath and Heroic Acts 14:50 Miraculous Survivals Amidst Tragedy 16:27 The Miners' Desperate Struggle 18:33 Unexpected Discoveries and Heartbreak 20:38 Frank's Resilience and Future Threats 21:37 Modern Monitoring and Indigenous Wisdom 27:02 Conclusion and Reflections

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Additional information:

• Alberta Parks - Frank Slide Interpretive Centre https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/south/frank-slide-interpretive-centre/
• Alberta Geological Survey - Turtle Mountain Monitoring Program https://ags.aer.ca/activities/geohazards/turtle-mountain-monitoring-program
• Parks Canada - Crowsnest Pass National Historic Site https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/ab/crowsnest
• University of Alberta Libraries Digital Collections - Frank Slide photographs https://archive.org/details/N-1969-71-14
• Glenbow Museum Archives - Frank Slide Collection https://glenbow.ucalgary.ca/digital/
• Alberta On Record - Frank Slide records https://albertaonrecord.ca/frank-alberta
• Royal Alberta Museum - Frank Slide Exhibition https://royalalbertamuseum.ca/
• Atlas of Alberta Railways - Frank Mine and Railway History http://railways.library.ualberta.ca/Chapters-7-2/
• Natural Resources Canada - Landslide Case Histories https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/science-and-data/science-and-research/earth-sciences/landslides-canada
• Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences - Research Papers on Frank Slide https://cdnsciencepub.com/journal/cjes
• Crowsnest Pass Historical Society https://www.crowsnestmuseum.ca/
• Travel Alberta - Frank Slide Information https://www.travelalberta.com/places-to-go/provincial-historic-sites/frank-slide-interpretive-centre/
• University of Calgary Press - Books about Frank Slide https://press.ucalgary.ca/
• CBC Digital Archives - Frank Slide Historical Coverage https://www.cbc.ca/archives/