The howitzers that blast avalanches in the Rogers Pass to keep the route open

Millions of dollars worth of commerce flow every hour on Highway One and the Canadian Pacific Rail through the Rogers Pass in B.C.

The Selkirk Mountains are legendary for steep terrain and deep powder skiing, which is also perfect equation for massive avalanches that thunder from the tops of the mountains all the way in to the valley bottoms. To manage avalanches from sweeping cars off the road and blocking the routes, Parks Canada, highway crews and the Canadian Army periodically close the road and rail line between Revelstoke and Golden to blast the avalanches with howitzers.

The army uses massive green trucks to pull the howitzers, which look like mounted cannons.

Master Bombardier Tristan Fingerson is a bombardier with the Canadian Armed Forces. Here’s an interview with him.

meagan@stokefm.com