SNOQUALMIE PASS, Wash. — On Tuesday afternoon, the Washington Department of Transportation scheduled avalanche control to take place on Snoqualmie Pass.
On X, Snoqualmie Pass posted a video of avalanche crews at work. They have been watching weather conditions and avalanche conditions throughout the week.
According to WSDOT, “the most persistent avalanche zone through Snoqualmie Pass is on the west side of the pass area. When active control is required there, crews close the roadway to ensure safety.”
A “sweeper” vehicle drives through the area to make sure no vehicles are still inside the zone. Once the area is clear, cable trams and artillery are used to deliver the explosives to the top of the avalanche paths where they’re detonated.
With a break in weather systems Tuesday afternoon, avalanche crews decided to close down parts of the pass to conduct the control measures.
A closer look at what avalanche control looks like. Crews clear the area of personnel and traffic and detonate a targeted blast. Avalanche crews keep 24/7 watch on avalanche and weather conditions. @wspd6pio pic.twitter.com/7YkxREvIsG— Snoqualmie Pass (@SnoqualmiePass) January 9, 2024
After watching this video, NonStop Local reached out asking how this is done.
Well, a spokesperson with WSDOT said that a bag of explosives is connected to a cord on a tram. A person in a makeshift stationary bicycle delivers the explosives to the top via the tram system. Then the explosive drops and denotes on the mountain.
These stationary bikes are hidden in houses seen on top of some of the sign bridges along Snoqualmie Pass. Have you seen them before? Well, many people thought that is where the cameras were during the winter months. WSDOT confirms that inside these huts is a bicycle that the avalanche specialists pedal to move the tram up the hill with the explosive
If you’ve traveled over Snoqualmie Pass you may have seen these little houses on top of some of our sign bridges. Inside is a bicycle that our avalanche specialists pedal to move the tram up the hill with the explosives. Nothing too fancy. pic.twitter.com/Ucx47rMshZ— Snoqualmie Pass (@SnoqualmiePass) January 9, 2024
If you are still curious, here is a picture of what it looks like inside the hut! WSDOT says that “the spool is what we use to move the explosives up the hillside above the roadway to detonate the explosives for avalanche control.”
Here is a photo from a few years back of what it looks like inside the little hut/house. The spool is what we use to move the explosives up the hillside above the roadway to detonate the explosives for avalanche control. pic.twitter.com/5jbPgy8ZV9— Snoqualmie Pass (@SnoqualmiePass) January 10, 2024
For more information about avalanche control and the Avalanche Forecasting and Control team, head over to WSDOT’s website!
