Rock topples in the highway cut west of Clairvaux Creek, Jasper, Alberta

The topples exposed in the road cut along Highway 16, 17 km west of Jasper, Alberta, were caused by slope steepening by both glaciation and excavation. The toppling of layers that underdip the cut slope was initiated by water pressure, ice pressure, and loose materials in the cracks of rock masses with large block ratios. Toppling formed well-exposed sliding surfaces on steep slopes and rupture surfaces on shallower slopes. Key words : rock slopes, rock cuts, Rockies, toppling, sliding, underdip slopes.