'The Last Gunners'- Alta Ski Area Bids Farewell To Its WWII Artillery Cannon
Considered to be the "epicenter" of the avalanche universe, Alta Ski Area, UT has used a WWII-era artillery cannon, among other explosives, to remotely trigger avalanches since the 1940s.
The artillery cannon era has sadly come to an end, but not before the following film was made. Enjoy this sentimental look at how Alta used military weaponry to save lives, rather than take them, for 75 years.
Ski Utah: "For 75 years, the silent hours of deep, snowy mornings at Alta Ski Area were ruptured by the reverberation of heavy artillery echoing off the surrounding granite crags. Since 1949, weapons of war have been an invaluable tool in combating the ever-looming threat of destructive avalanches in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Drop into the story of Alta’s pioneering artillery program from infancy to its conclusion in 2023. These massive artillery pieces, recruited for a peaceful purpose, now face retirement as Alta presses ahead to the forefront of the latest technological advancements in avalanche mitigation.
Concept/Producer: Lexi Dowdall
Director/Editor: Tim Jones
Special thanks: Alta Ski Area, Alta Ski Patrol, UDOT, University of Utah/Ski Archives, Utah State Historical Society, US Army, US Forest Service and Snowpine Lodge."
Perhaps one of my greatest mistakes in life was not figuring out how to weasel my way into watching Alta Ski Patrol use the ol' artillery gun in person before it was retired.
Ski Utah
Oh well. I guess I'll just have to travel to Alta this season to ski endless powder without the pleasure of knowing that a few hardy patrollers were loading 75mm shells into a cannon as old as my Pop-Pop earlier that morning.
Bummer all around that technology has advanced to make the cannon obselete.
At least folks like Lexi Dowdall, Tim Jones, and Ski Utah made this fantastic film to document the cannon's history and impact.
Well done, friends!
Don't miss another headline from POWDER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing.
We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging ski-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional skier or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on POWDER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality ski videos.
