Safety at the touch of a button

Blasting masts support controlled triggering of avalanches

Particularly the slopes in alpine regions need to be secured against avalanches during severe weather conditions. The lift operator, Gasteiner Bergbahnen, uses the latest in modern technology to control and trigger the masses of snow.
   
Sportgastein. Heavy cloud and mist. A few patches of sun are shining through. Up to 40 cm fresh snow in the past 24 hours, part of which the wind has lifted considerably. A dream of a winter landscape, but – also typical ‛ingredients’ for the prevailing danger of avalanches.
The three members of the avalanche commission meet at the Goldbergbahn lift valley station at 7 a.m., as every morning in winter, and decide what has to be done. Meanwhile the pistenbully drivers, who are still at work on the slopes, have sent their information on the snow conditions by radio. “If there is any danger, preparations are made immediately to blast the avalanche”, Hans Schuster, manager of the Goldberg lift and trained avalanche blaster, tell us “before the area can be opened for the skiers.” “With the new blasting masts we can take action regardless of the weather situation and visibility. The masts enable us to ignite the explosives via remote control, avoiding the danger of the avalanche setting itself in motion” Schuster continues. Besides this, he has access to the data of the Salzburg Headquarters of the Avalanche Warning System and can call up the data at any time from the weather station at the Goldberg lift operations building.