Revelstoke Pro Patrol took John Brodie and I up to the sub-peak on Saturday morning for an explosives demo. KABOOM! We wanted to find out exactly what goes on in the mornings, and how Pro Patrol keeps us all as safe as they can from avalanche danger.
Considering the power used and the amount of snow Pro Patrol aims to move, please be smart in the mornings and aware of your surroundings. Don’t duck the ropes looking for fresh tracks into North or South Bowls - if the areas are closed off, it’s because Pro Patrol is still setting off charges, checking out the results, or evaluating stability. It’s all to keep you safe on the hill, so respect closed signs for the safety of everyone!
Girls with Bombs!
Avalanche Forecasters Troy Leahey and Chad Hemphill start work at 6:30 am - they check the reports from the weather station on the sub-peak, look at the South Columbia avalanche forecast, a snow stability forecasts and evaluations, and InfoEx - the industry information exchange.
We met Pro Patrol at their office early Saturday morning - the group was incredibly well-organized and conscientious. There is a lot of mountain to cover at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, but there is a plan for exactly who did what, where and when.
We took the gondola up, and everyone re-grouped at the patrol hut at gondy top - John gave me a nudge and nodded toward the table, where a pile of explosives were laid out and then stuffed into backpacks. However, without the blasting cap the explosives used could be thrown into a fire and they still wouldn’t explode, said Troy.
We caught the very first ride up the Stoke chair well before opening - the hike to the sub-peak in 50km wind gusts was enough to wake anyone up. Of the twenty-four Pro Patrol and two Avalanche Forecasters on staff at RMR, about twelve work at any given time and eight did the hike up to the sub-peak.
Troy Leahey setting up a charge
After assembling the charges, some were thrown off cornices and some were sent down the bomb tram that hangs above North Bowl. Setting off bombs keeps patrollers from having to trigger avalanches themselves in unstable areas, putting themselves in potential danger. Patrol isn’t trying to blast holes into big sections of snow, but rather trying to cause failures in unstable layers with the kinetic energy from a nearby explosion. The percussive effects of the explosion from the tram triggers the weak snow layers to collapse, setting off a slide before you do on your skis or board.
It was LOUD.
While the atmosphere was surprisingly casual considering we were playing with explosives, once Patrol starts going, it’s all very fast-paced. At around 9:30, while we were still up on sub-peak, Pro Patroller Marty pointed out that “now is about the time people start waiting at the top of The Stoke wondering why it’s not open, but we haven’t stopped working!”
Because the mountain is so big, Patrol has a lot to do all the time. After the explosives went off, Patrol headed out on their other daily duties - making sure signs are visible and riders are safe. Even though there is a ton of terrain to cover, Patrol keeps a watchful eye on what’s going on with the snow. At the end of the day, patrollers fill out worksheets on all areas of the hill, noting everything of importance for the next day’s reports.
Troy checking out the worksheet wall
Have fun in the snow, but respect Closed signs because they’re there for a reason. Sorry I didn’t include video - it’s hard to capture the full extent of a big explosion through massive winds!
007 tomorrow never dies online
