Results
Reliable remote avalanche control system installed at high elevation.
Reduced need for hand-thrown explosives and risky access by ski patrol.
Faster and safer opening of ski terrain during high avalanche conditions.
Long-term safety and operational improvements for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Project
Solution
Installation of three 1.5m³ and one 0.8m³ Gazex exploders.
Custom lightweight, helicopter-portable drilling equipment used for foundations.
Mass concrete foundations tied back with micropiles and grouted anchors.
Heavy-lift helicopter used for material transport and concrete placement.
Collaboration with Jackson Hole ski patrol and avalanche specialists to site exploders effectively.
Project
Challenges
Remote alpine location at 10,000ft with no road access.
Requirement to mobilise heavy materials and equipment by helicopter.
Construction of stable foundations on steep terrain.
Need to minimise risk to ski patrol and avalanche staff.
Project
Overview
At Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming, avalanche protection was enhanced through the installation of three 1.5m³ and one 0.8m³ Gazex exploders along “Pepi’s Bench,” a steep section of the ski area prone to avalanches.
The project reduced reliance on hand-thrown charges and difficult patrol hikes, enabling safer and faster opening of terrain following high avalanche forecasts. Works were completed at 10,000ft elevation without road access, requiring heavy-lift helicopters and lightweight, heli-portable drilling equipment for foundations and anchors.