 |
 |
|
|
Blogger King |
|
July 2008
Categories
|
After closing I-90 for about 30 hours, the Washington State Department of Transportation had to make a call. To open the pass now that the avalanche threat had greatly dimished, or keep it closed despite an estimated impact of nearly $20 million a day to the economy. That window closed early. At 2:43 pm, a slide 30 feet deep and hundreds of feet long, came down on the westbound lanes near the Denny Creek bridge west of the summit. That slide swamped two vehicles. There was fear of a third that might be buried. Maintenance and rescue crews probed the slide for anything or anybody else. Fortunately, there were only two cars, no injuries and appearantly only minor damage to the cars involved. That’s good news, as WSDOT says the slide brought rocks and trees down with it. Is this a case of "all’s well that ends well," or something more serious? Over the years covering winter weather, I’ve learned a thing or two about avalanches, and I’ve had some good teachers. I’ve been out on a number of control missions with WSDOT’s avalanche control team out of Steven’s pass. I’ve also intereviewed many avalanche experts from WSDOT’s Snoqualmie Pass team, to the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center, to The Mountaineers, to our own meteorologist Rich Marriot who has spent a lifetime studying the science behind sliding snow, long before he went on television. The one thing I’ve taken away from all of this, is that there are no guarantees. It’s nature, and this is a serious mountain pass in the winter. I put WSDOT spokesman Mike Westbay on the spot about this question. It was a tough question to answer. Was it really safe to open the highway? I like Mike, and I hope I didn’t embarrass him too much, but it really begs the question of how “safe” is safe enough. WSDOT has a tough job. Too cautious and they get yelled at for tying up commerce and people’s lives. Especially if nothing like this happens. If something does go wrong , then they get second guessed - and that’s happened here. Does everyone who gets on the highway have to be issued a written disclaimer that an unexpected avalanche or a rock slide might happen, or does the driving public need to get a clue to the risks in a society that seems more and more risk intolerant? 6 Comments |
I drive that pass everyday. I watch those hills. I get nervous when it starts to rain after it has snowed for the very reason your talking about. I also jump into the left lane in the areas I feel the most uncomfortable about, and always comment to myself about possible avalanches. I can pretty much tell you where I think the most crucial areas are based on my 7 years going over this pass. I think WSDOT works their asses off keeping it clear. I am grateful when I see those plows out, and even more grateful for the increased amount of sand this year they have been putting down. They did the right thing opening the pass. I didnt join the parade to get over, I stayed put. With only one lane open, and knowing I would have to chain up, It was going to take longer than I was willing to the effort into. Then I heard another avalanche came down. The news said milepost 51. Not surprising to me, thats is where that big rock came down a year and a half ago. I am thankful there were not any injuries, and I am thankful that WSDOT knew how to act quickly and get the pass closed for everyones safety. I know I have not made much money this week, but I am alive, safe. That is what everyone should be thinking. I feel the company who is looking more at money instead of the safety, should take another look at themselves.
I worked the Pass for 14 years doing truck chain enforcement as well as being with search and rescue, and have had to probe a slide at MP51.5 on EB in 1996. They are very lucky that people were not killed in this avalanche which could have hit a lot more than 3 cars.
I praise the DOT for their consistent hard work to make a unpredictable pass safer for the wide variety of snow experienced (or not) drivers that risk driving in those conditions.
Maybe should be a separate story, but I question the safety of the ski resorts that stay open when the pass is closed. If there is a medical emergency during these bad traveling conditions, there is no ambulance truck or helicopter that is going to be able to get a victim to safety. I know the Snoqualmie Pass Fire Dept is extremely well trained, but are not equipped to handle all emergencies.
Stupid is as stupid does. Anyone, except commercial transit traffic, who chooses to "give it a go" over the mountains when the pass roads are in the shape that they've been in are nuts. Just plain nuts. In a ditch? Stay there. Stuck on a hill? Too bad. 90 and highway 2 are in the worst travel conditions that they've been in in many many years. The DOT and WSP deserve people commedations. The longer this goes on, the less patience and more animosity those guys are going to have against the idiot motorist who thinks sking and snowboarding is more important than staying live..Probley isn't, butI hope the govenor is paying attention to all this.
Unfortunately it looks as if individuals "think" that if the pass is open (ie the government keeps it open) then it means it's okay to drive (and government can be blamed for their decisions). People need to be responsible for themselves (including how to put on chains).
However, with that said, never (in my opinion) should commerce take precedence over human life.
On a related note --Remember that the western counties also have sons and daughters at WSU and in Spokane and Cheney. Their safety is very important. King 5 and their sister station in Spokane could get together and report some of each others' news so that these kids could make the safest plans. (ie the pass is dangerous, and WSU has been closed for 3 days) How about it, management?
PS, thank YOU WSDOT!