Avalanche News - Nov 13, 2023
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Skier Triggered and Carried by Avalanche
A skier triggered and was carried by an avalanche in “The Great One” on Sacagawea Peak in the northern Bridger Range. The avalanche is the first known skier-triggered slide of the 23/24 winter season in Montana.The wind slab slide was triggered roughly halfway down the couloir, where the right wall dips away, exposing the snow to wind. Hard consolidated snow over facets, roughly 1-1.5 ft thick, ran about 50-100 ft before pouring over the cliff faces below. The skier was carried 15-20 feet before self-arresting.
More ... (Avalanche-Center.org incident reports)
Film: Last Gunners - The Conclusion of Alta Ski Area's Avalanche Artillery Program
Since 1949, weapons of World War II have been an invaluable tool in combating the ever-looming threat of deadly avalanches that descend upon the town and around the ski area’s steep slopes. Amid Alta’s record-breaking 903-inch season in 2022–23, Alta’s Ski Patrol fired their 105-mm Howitzer for the final time. It’s the conclusion of a 75-year era where the weapons have reliably protected Alta from destructive avalanches. These massive artillery pieces, recruited for a peaceful purpose, now face retirement as Alta presses ahead into the forefront of the latest technological advancements in avalanche mitigation.
Source (More) - Ski Utah
Mt. Rose Highway Avalanche Control System Is Replaced
CARSON CITY, Nev. – Brief traffic stoppages and delays took place Monday at the Mt. Rose Highway (State Route 431) summit as the Nevada Department of Transportation replaced an aging avalanche control system. A helicopter delivered roofing components as part of final construction of the project. Since 1992, NDOT has housed a remote-controlled avalanche control system near the summit of Mt. Rose Highway. This fall, NDOT is installing a new avalanche control system. The new system will use advanced avalanche control technologies. When snow builds up, NDOT briefly stops traffic and activates the system to send shock waves which shake loose snow toward the highway. NDOT plow operators then remove the snow and safely reopen the road.
Source (More) - NDOT
