March 6, 2011, military tank found above I-90
3/6/11
WA Snoqualmie Pass
2924
2
while exploring a new lines in the apparently now viciously extreme summit west backcountry, my buddy and I found a tank. this is probably old news and I didn't have time to look for other posts, but it was pretty weird to see a tank in the snow above i-90.
I guess this puts the danger of backcountry skiing perspective!
Who is the lucky sucker who gets to play with that thing. Note the DOT sticker on the end of the barrel.
Pete
I guess this puts the danger of backcountry skiing perspective!
Who is the lucky sucker who gets to play with that thing. Note the DOT sticker on the end of the barrel.
Pete
I believe it used to be used for avalanche control -- perhaps it still is from time to time.
It is used by WSDOT for avalanche control on Granite and Denny Mountain, and is a very good reason to stay out of the avalanche paths that hit the highway on Denny Mtn. It's been there for about two years now and is a replacement for the 105 recoilless rifle that will be retired in a couple years. It should help reduce the amount of time the highway is closed for avalanche control on Granite and Denny Mountain.
From the link: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/maintenance/avalanche
"In areas without trams, team members use a variety of methods to place explosives at the top of unstable avalanche zones. Options range from snowshoes and hand charges to snowmobiles and snow cats. Technicians will often use surplus military artillery to deliver explosives to the top of otherwise inaccessible avalanche paths. The crew on Snoqualmie Pass used a 105mm Recoilless Rifle for many years. As surplus munitions became scarce, the giant rifle has now been replaced with a surplus M60 tank. That tank is identical to a pair of tanks that have been successfully used on Stevens Pass for several winters."
Another link:http://www.kval.com/news/83976707.html
The tank has now been used though...
From the link: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/maintenance/avalanche
"In areas without trams, team members use a variety of methods to place explosives at the top of unstable avalanche zones. Options range from snowshoes and hand charges to snowmobiles and snow cats. Technicians will often use surplus military artillery to deliver explosives to the top of otherwise inaccessible avalanche paths. The crew on Snoqualmie Pass used a 105mm Recoilless Rifle for many years. As surplus munitions became scarce, the giant rifle has now been replaced with a surplus M60 tank. That tank is identical to a pair of tanks that have been successfully used on Stevens Pass for several winters."
Another link:http://www.kval.com/news/83976707.html
The tank has now been used though...
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