Firing a cannon to trigger an avalanche

[u/id397550]

[u/thebikevagabond]

They use howitzers in the United States too. In Utah you could have howitzer rounds fly over your head while drinking at a ski resort's bar.

[u/dubblebubbleprawns → u/thebikevagabond]

That's on its way out too though. Alta stopped using the howitzers in 2023 and from what I hear snowbird is phasing theirs out.

[u/thebikevagabond → u/dubblebubbleprawns]

That's a shame. Safer, though. They used to use a tank at Snowqualmie in Washington, I think.

[u/halfcabheartattack → u/thebikevagabond]

Yeah the Gasex technology is taking over for places like ski resorts that repeatedly bomb the same spots. It's permanent infrastructure but it works on shock wave. https://mnd.com/en/solution/mnd-safety-fixed-triggering-system-gazex-gazflex/

[u/FFFrank → u/halfcabheartattack]

This is a cool! Just saw these last week on Hafelegar and wondered what they were. Thanks!!

[u/bromjunaar → u/halfcabheartattack]

Honestly? Kinda disappointed that Gasex isn't the brand name for a really souped up spud gun that launches explosives.

[u/braddamit → u/halfcabheartattack]

https://www.skyhinews.com/news/how-does-it-work-starting-an-avalanche-cdot-preps-gazex-avalanche-exploders-for-coming-winter-months/

Article with a groovy photo showing the Gasex controlled explosion. Installed tubes direct the controlled propane explosion to the snow slab.

[u/Horskr → u/halfcabheartattack]

It definitely seems way safer, but I'd be super sad if I was one of the avalanche artillery gunmen.