HISTORY This Week: “How to Stop an Avalanche? Blow Up a Mountain”

Episode Release Date: January 13, 2025

Introduction

In the episode titled “How to Stop an Avalanche? Blow Up a Mountain,” the HISTORY® Channel's HISTORY This Week delves into the perilous challenges of avalanche control in Alta, Utah. This comprehensive narrative explores how both innovative individuals and evolving technologies transformed Alta from a mining boomtown into a thriving ski destination while mitigating one of nature’s most formidable threats.

I. Alta, Utah: From Mining Boom to Ski Resort

Sally Helm [00:57-03:57]:
Alta, Utah, once a bustling mining town teeming with silver ore enthusiasts, faced economic decline as the mining boom waned. By the 1930s, persistent avalanches decimated buildings and lives, rendering Alta almost a ghost town. However, the emergence of recreational skiing in the late 1930s presented a lifeline. Alta sought to pivot from mining to tourism, capitalizing on its abundant snowfall of up to 900 inches per season. The opening of Utah's first operational ski lift in January 1939 marked the beginning of this transformation.

Notable Quote:
"This lift is actually an old piece of mining equipment. It used to transport silver ore, but now it's transporting skiers paying 25 cents each to hop into a red metal chair and make their way up the mountain."
— Sally Helm [00:57]

II. The Avalanche Threat in Alta

Sally Helm [06:30-10:25]:
Alta is situated in Little Cottonwood Canyon, a region notorious for its thick snowpack and avalanche susceptibility. The snowpack, often exceeding 240 inches, consists of distinct layers from varying storms, creating weak points susceptible to slab avalanches. Historical accounts reveal that between 1865 and 1915, avalanches claimed approximately 250 lives in Alta, underscoring the dire need for effective control measures.

Notable Quote:
"What is an avalanche in the Wasatch Mountains outside Salt Lake City? The snowpack can be more than 240 inches thick. Imagine it like a layer cake."
— Sally Helm [06:30]

III. Pioneering Avalanche Control: Douglas Wadsworth’s Experiments

Sally Helm [14:13-17:02]:
In response to the avalanche menace, the U.S. Forest Service appointed Douglas Wadsworth as Alta’s first snow and avalanche observer. Wadsworth pioneered early avalanche safety rules emphasizing avoidance of high-risk areas post-storms. Seeking more proactive solutions, he experimented with dynamite to trigger avalanches under controlled conditions. On February 1949, Wadsworth, alongside the ski school director, set off dynamite on Mount Superior in an attempt to preemptively release avalanche pressure. Although the initial test appeared unsuccessful, a massive natural avalanche followed the detonation the next day, illustrating the potential effectiveness of his approach.

Notable Quote:
"He triggers an avalanche, then skis down the slope behind it. But the force of the blast shows just how risky this method is."
— Ben Stiller [16:57]

IV. Monty Atwater and the Militarization of Avalanche Control

Sally Helm [17:21-21:54]:
Wadsworth’s experiments laid the groundwork, but it was Monty Atwater, a World War II veteran, who revolutionized avalanche control in Alta. Drawing from military techniques observed during the war, Atwater advocated for the use of heavy artillery to trigger avalanches safely. His persistence led to the involvement of the Utah National Guard, who provided a French 75 howitzer for controlled avalanche detonations. On March 30, 1949, Atwater successfully demonstrated the use of the howitzer by triggering five avalanches in a controlled experiment, significantly enhancing safety measures for skiers.

Notable Quotes:
"He saw firsthand explosives being used to create avalanches."
— Ben Stiller [18:19]

"Atwater finally convinces his bosses at the U.S. forest Service to run an experiment. The Utah National Guard brings that 75 millimeter howitzer up from the Capitol, and they're going to shoot it, not at water."
— Sally Helm [21:12]

V. The Impact and Legacy of Explosive Avalanche Control

Sally Helm [22:25-24:04]:
The introduction of artillery-based avalanche control dramatically reduced fatalities and made Alta a safer ski destination. From the late 1940s to the late 1960s, an average of 700 artillery rounds were fired annually, contributing to an 87% reduction in avalanche deaths in controlled ski areas across the United States. This method, while effective, was fraught with risks, including the potential for misfires, as highlighted by a nearby incident in 2005 where an artillery shell accidentally destroyed a family's backyard.

Notable Quotes:
"It is the coldest job on the mountain. You're standing on a gun mount and the old school gun mounts were often exposed to weather and wind."
— Jonathan Morgan [24:04]

"There is a Misfire incident in 2005. Not in Alta. It's in a city nearby. A 105 millimeter artillery shell lands in the backyard of the Connors family."
— Sally Helm [24:38]

VI. Transition to Modern Avalanche Control Methods

Sally Helm [26:38-27:26]:
After 74 years, Alta retired its howitzer in 2023, transitioning to modern remote avalanche control systems that utilize explosives detonated from safe distances. These advancements maintain the efficacy of avalanche prevention while mitigating the dangers associated with large military artillery pieces. Today, Alta continues to employ controlled explosions, albeit with more precise and safer technologies, ensuring the continued safety and popularity of its ski slopes.

Notable Quote:
"Alta used a Howitzer for 74 years. But now, in the modern world, avalanche control experts don't need a giant gun, though they do still need explosives."
— Sally Helm [26:24]

VII. Conclusion: Alta’s Pioneering Role in Avalanche Safety

Alta, Utah, stands as a testament to human ingenuity in the face of natural adversity. Through the relentless efforts of pioneers like Douglas Wadsworth and Monty Atwater, and the adoption of evolving technologies, Alta transformed from a perilous mining town to a premier ski destination. The strategic use of explosives for avalanche control not only safeguarded lives but also set standards that significantly reduced avalanche-related fatalities nationwide. Today’s advanced remote control systems continue this legacy, ensuring that Alta remains a safe and beloved haven for skiing enthusiasts.

Notable Quote:
"Alta now hosts half a million skiers each season. Skiing there is more popular than ever. And a lot of that is due to those avalanche control efforts which made it possible to do this sport without as much fear."
— Sally Helm [25:56]

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to our guests, Craig Gordon, Avalanche Forecaster with the U.S. Forest Service's Utah Avalanche Center; Andrea Huskinson, former Alta Ski Area Communication Manager; and Jonathan Morgan, Assistant Director of the Alta Avalanche Program. This episode was produced and sound designed by Ben Dickstein and Sally Helm for Back Pocket Studios, in partnership with the History Channel.

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