I have two deep ski questions?

Question

1. how much is an avalance blasting shell

1a. how big is it in terms of explosion like sticks of dynomight

1b. how do they launch them

1c. how much would the whole shell with blaster cost

2. on the snow making machines there is a metal pipe that the hoses s***w into

how don't those freeze and crack and break

i don't think they blow them out everynight

Answer 1

Snowmaking hoses get blown out immediately after they are done being used unless they are going to get taken back to the shop. (If a place uses all electric guns and has no air, I'm not sure how they do it.)

When I take a snowgun off-line I shut off the water, then the air. I then unattach the water line from the gun and the water hydrant. I take the water line and attach it to the air hydrant, hold on to the hose REALLY FREAKIN' TIGHT and slowly turn the air on. All of the water gets blown out. Reattach everything and it's ready to go for next time.

The hose will only freeze solid if water is left in it. For the most part, small bits of ice will just get melted when the water goes through the line the next time snow is made. The hose material may be frozen as well, but as long as water and air can get through, it can be used.

The hoses are cotton and nylon. They are just like firefighting hoses, so even frozen solid they won't break. They are pretty freakin' heavy duty stuff.

What does freeze up are the guns. This usually requires me getting a torch and melting the ice built up in the pipes, or taking the smaller guns back to the shop so they can thaw out.

When all the guns on the line are done being used for the day, all of the water is drained out of the entire system. The valve at the base of the hill gets opened and usually all it takes is opening a valve at the top to send the water rushing out of the line. If you have ever shotgunned a beer....it's the same effect.

Maybe someone with Avalanche ski patrol training knows the other answers. All I can tell you is that they launch them several ways. There are hand launchers that are roughly the same size as an M-79 grenade launcher and there are ones the size of mortars...probably about 88mm.

Answer 2

Avvie guns are not the only method.  Many resort ski patrols do avalanche runs, where they throw a stick of gelignite into a slide area by hand.  At Fernie I have also seen them bomb the Lizard Range by throwing gelignite out of a helicopter.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydbm9IP2l...

Answer 3

1.  a 4" artillary round, minimum  I doubt you could get one over the internet.

1.a.  about 1 stick of dynomite. (TNT) the projectile itself is explosive, the shell just propells it.

1.B  they use a howitzer (usually 101mm or 4 ")

Ive heard of those using recoilesss rifles, (20mm) but less effective

2.  they do drain the lines at night.  Remeber separate compressed air and water hoses lead the the "monitor" where they are mixed.  the air stream "atomizes" the water into very small droplets which freeze at the ambient temperature.

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