Chinook Pass 2014

Hey There,

We have once again started with avalanche work on Chinook and Cayuse Passes. Most of our attention is focused on the slopes east of Chinook Pass. Our regular work schedule is Mon-Fri during daylight hours. It's pretty rare to catch us up there on the weekends. We ask as a courtesy that backcountry travelers avoid the work area due to snow removal and avalanche control work.

Thanks in advance! I'll post updates and you can always check out www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/chinook/

John

Thank you for keeping us in the loop, John.
We appreciate your work and knowing the status thereof.

Crews are moving along. We haven't had favorable weather for any serious avalanche control yet, but it will happen

www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2014/04/25_14_chinookpassavalanche.htm

WSDOT employee safe after natural avalanche buries equipment during clearing efforts on Chinook Pass

CHINOOK PASS – A natural avalanche swept down the hillside of State Route 410 over Chinook Pass Thursday morning, trapping an employee inside a piece of equipment for several hours.

Washington State Department of Transportation crews were performing routine snow clearing when the avalanche occurred at approximately 10 a.m. Thursday, April 24. An employee working in a bulldozer about a mile east of the summit quickly radioed to crews that snow had covered his bulldozer to the top of the cab and he was trapped. Fortunately, he wasn’t injured and WSDOT avalanche crews were able to free him from the bulldozer just before 3 p.m. Thursday.

“We do everything we can to keep incidents like this from happening, but we work in a dynamic environment that involves a fair amount of risk,” said John Stimberis, WSDOT avalanche supervisor. “Unfortunately, Thursday was one of those riskier days. We’re glad our co-worker is safe.”

Due to continued avalanche danger, WSDOT took every precaution necessary to keep everyone as safe as possible during the rescue mission. The employee was well-protected in the bulldozer: he had enough ventilation to receive fresh air and was safe to remain where he was until crews could free him.

...

Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157643757462683






See also:
www.komonews.com/news/local/WSDOT-employ...-Pass-256742021.html

Conditions are becoming some of the worst wet snow I've experienced in years. We backed out of ski cutting activities yesterday as it was becoming too risky to continue triggering avalanches. The warming over the next few days should produce some interesting avalanche conditions. Details to follow...

We heli-bombed yesterday and also planted shots on some slopes. Good results with wet slabs from shots and also triggered by wet loose slides. Most avalanches showing really good entrainment. Today was more wet and sensitive with wet loose being triggered on low angle slopes. In many cases you only need to toss a snowball on the slope for some impressive results

Great avalanche results this week with the warm weather. Cayuse is set to open Friday at noon.

Be advised that we will be working in/around the Chinook Pass area next week. Avalanche control and other explosives work will be under way.

Thanks