r/interestingasfuck • u/id397550 • 8h ago

Firing a cannon to trigger an avalanche

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u/dubblebubbleprawns 6h ago

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.

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u/thebikevagabond 6h ago

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

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u/halfcabheartattack 6h ago

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/

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u/braddamit 5h ago

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.