But avalanches occur in tunnel creek regularly its slopes mostly from 40 to 45 degrees are optimal for avalanches flat enough to hold deep reservoirs of snow yet steep enough for the snow to. Snow fall the avalanche at tunnel creek tunnel creek the cascades are among the craggiest of american mountain ranges roughly cut as if carved with a chain a plan in motion like many ideas that sound good at the time skiing tunnel creek was an idea hatched in a bar it was to the peak . Snow fall the avalanche at tunnel creek was written by john branch over the course of six months following an avalanche at stevens pass in washington on february 19th 2012 the article was published in the new york times on december 20th 2012. Snow fall the avalanche at tunnel creek john branch 2016 10 04 this narrative tells the event based on the horrifying true story the avalanche at tunnel creek as named in the title it happened at cascade mountain in washington in 2012