Howitzers in the Rockies

A different kind of fighting ...

Canadian troops helping out in the Rockies
By TARINA WHITE, CALGARY SUN

Canadian troops will be firing howitzers in the Rockies this winter.

They’re not extras in a war movie or conducting a military exercise — they’re being deployed to assist Parks Canada with avalanche control.

Thirteen soldiers from the Canadian Forces Base in Shilo, Man., arrived in Rogers Pass, B.C., this week for a six-week deployment.

The troops are trained to fire 105mm howitzers to artificially trigger avalanches before they grow into a major threat to highway traffic, said Capt. Shawn Fortin, operations officer for the 1st Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.

“This is something that the troops get excited about,” said Fortin.

“It’s a nice change from the daily routine.”

The Canadian Forces has teamed up with Parks Canada to conduct avalanche control along an 18-km stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway through the mountains for decades, said Parks Canada senior avalanche officer Bruce McMahon.

Avalanche officers are tasked with monitoring the snow pack’s stability each day, and the army is called in to set off blasts when a threat is detected, said McMahon.

“They’ve kind of been the silent partner in this program,” he said about the army.

“They’re there 24-7 throughout winter.”

Up to 60 avalanches threats are detected and blasting is conducted each winter, said McMahon, who is based in Revelstoke and Glacier National parks.

To protect motorists, sections of the Trans-Canada Highway through the mountains are closed when the army is blasting.

“There may be delays but they try to keep the delays to a minimum,” said Fortin.

The troops will be replaced every six weeks until next spring, he said.