Enduring the Elements

I love these three pictures because they show some of the conditions that we often work in while patrolling. The first picture was taken on the Prow just above the north face during a large wet storm cycle. The two patrollers in the foreground are in the process of lowering ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil) which is made up into a 50 lbs charges and lowered a few hundred feet on a sled into an area called the Knuckles.



The next image was taken on a control route in area called the Knuckles, where the partrol places 2 lbs shots on small localized slabs.




I love this picture. "Pad" is hunkering down from the rotor wash of one of the many helicopter rides patrol had for access of the Headwall area, which is located above the established ski area. This was the first time in Alyeska history to have helicopter access available for avalanche control work in this area, and to help set up the venues for all three extreme comps hosted at Alyeska this past spring.