Unstable Ground

Metamorphic rock severely shattered by movement along the nearby San Andreas fault is exposed on a steep mountain slope above the small town. Such a mass of weak rock can become unstable when saturated with water from intense rain or rapid snowmelt.

In 1941, a catastrophic debris flow and mudslide destroyed many homes in the area. This event, along with several subsequent mudflows and debris flows, has left an obvious scar on the mountain side.