Tony Vijil with the Colorado Department of Transportation sets up the vintage World War II howitzer that is on loan from the U.S. Army that they no longer use for a shot to hopefully bring down snow above U.S. Highway 550 on Red Mountain Pass on Tuesday as CDOT crews work to mitigate the avalanche danger.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Kyle Benke with the Colorado Department of Transportation operates a snow blower as he clears an avalanche that crossed U.S. Highway 550 on Red Mountain Pass Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Tony Vijil with the Colorado Department of Transportation lines up a vintage World War II howitzer for a shot to hopefully bring down snow above U.S. Highway 550 on Red Mountain Pass on Tuesday. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Colorado Department of Transportation closed U.S. Highway 550 north of Silverton for avalanche mitigation work on Red Mountain Pass on Tuesday. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Tony Vijil with the Colorado Department of Transportation covers his ears as they fire the vintage World War II howitzer hoping to bring down snow above U.S. Highway 550 on Red Mountain Pass on Tuesday and reduce the danger of avalanches. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Kyle Benke with the Colorado Department of Transportation operates a snow blower as he clears an avalanche that crossed U.S. Highway 550 on Red Mountain Pass Tuesday. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
A successful shot with the vintage Howitzer by the Colorado Department of Transportation crew brings down snow above U.S. Highway 550 north of Silverton during avalanche mitigation work on Red Mountain Pass on Tuesday. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Kyle Benke with the Colorado Department of Transportation operates a snow blower as he clears an avalanche that crossed U.S. Highway 550 on Red Mountain Pass Tuesday. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Colorado Department of Transportation workers fire a shell from a vintage World War II howitzer to hopefully bring down snow above U.S. Highway 550 on Red Mountain Pass on Tuesday. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Colorado Department of Transportation set up the vintage World War II howitzer on loan from the U.S. Army that they no longer use, as they perform avalanche mitigation work on U.S. Highway 550 on Red Mountain Pass on Tuesday. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
After picking up nearly 2 to 4 feet of new snow the past week, the avalanche danger is high for all elevations below and above tree line in the southern San Juan Mountains.
According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, “numerous large natural avalanches have occurred, and human-triggered avalanches continue to be very likely on steep slopes.”
On its website, the agency recommends avoiding backcountry travel until the danger subsides.
Large snowfall in a short time span can push snowpack to a breaking point. The avalanche center reports that on slopes 30 degrees or steeper, the likelihood of triggering an avalanche is high.
“No need to beat around the bush,” Jeff Davis posted early Tuesday morning. “Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist in the San Juan Mountains. This storm has already brought a lot of snow and strong winds to the forecast area and is expected to continue into Wednesday.”
The center’s avalanche forecaster, Mark Gober, said crews began Tuesday mitigating areas north of Silverton toward Red Mountain Pass, which has been closed since Sunday evening.
On Monday, crews worked on Molas and Coal Bank passes, yielding 24 avalanches off of 37 deployed explosive rounds, Gober said.
The National Weather Service is reporting no new significant accumulations for the rest of the week. But, temperatures are expected to dip below freezing, with wind chills as low as minus-15 degrees Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
On the NET
To learn more about avalanche safety and warnings, visit www.avalanche.state.co.us.
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