Crews conduct avalanche mitigation work in Glacier

A contractor for BNSF Railway used a helicopter to drop charges onto several avalanche prone slopes in the John F. Stevens Canyon area of Glacier National Park on Wednesday.

The charges were dropped on Running Rabbit and Snowslip mountains in the park between Essex and Snowslip along U.S. 2. The mountain corridor features numerous avalanche paths that cross BNSF Railway tracks and threaten the highway.

U.S. 2 was closed during the avalanche mitigation work between 10 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Amtrak traffic was stopped the previous evening in Shelby in preparation for the work.

At least one charge caused a slide, reported avalanche forecaster Adam Clark.

Glacier National Park and BNSF Railway reached an agreement several years ago to allow avalanche control in the park boundaries when the danger is rated as high. Under the agreement, the park grants a special-use permit for the avalanche control work.

In the past, a Daisy Bell has been used for avalanche mitigation within the park. This technique uses a cylinder suspended from a helicopter that emits a pressure wave to trigger the snow.

Wednesday’s work involved dropping live charges. It wasn’t immediately clear how many charges were dropped.

An avalanche warning was in effect for the Glacier Park, Flathead and Swan Ranges through Wednesday morning. Recent heavy snowfall is stressing an already weak snowpack across the region.

The Flathead Avalanche Center reported that numerous slides occurred along the southern border of Glacier Park on Monday and Tuesday. Within the park interior, a large avalanche debris pile crossed Going-to-the-Sun Road and McDonald Creek.

Avalanche danger was rated as considerable for all of Northwest Montana on Wednesday.