Making the grade: tackling steep slopes on Burnt Mountain
Despite the coming of spring, winter snowpacks on Burnt Mountain near Chetwynd, B.C. haven’t melted away just yet. We interviewed Coastal GasLink crew members, James and Trapper, about avalanche safety and how they’re reaching new heights on one of the project’s highest and steepest slopes.
“The workers at Burnt Mountain have accomplished no small feat with over 80 per cent of grading completed and a quarter of the pipe installed,” said Burnt Mountain foreman, James. “We’ve been building in some of B.C.’s most difficult terrains and to tackle the mountain, we’ve had to winch equipment and people up the steep slopes on a funicular-style machine; all while operating in a potential avalanche zone.”
James and his team have been progressing access, grading, and pipe installation on Burnt Mountain for the past three years. With 30-degree slopes and temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius, James and his team continue to demonstrate their commitment to operating safely and efficiently.
“We’ve been successful at maintaining a record of safety and the avalanche crew play a big role in that,” adds James. “Only with proper planning, clear lines of communication and focus, can we continue to operate safely. Sometimes that commitment to safety means shutting down the site for a day or two but if there’s threat of an avalanche, it’s taken seriously.”
Trapper is part of Surerus Murphy Joint Venture’s (SMJV) avalanche prevention team working on Burnt Mountain. Born and raised in Chetwynd, B.C., Trapper remarks on how rapid changes in snowfall or wind can alter snow surfaces and increase the chances of an avalanche.
“The snowpack on the ground is very important to the formula of whether an avalanche is going to happen,” Trapper explains. “We take snow depth measurements, see how the layers go through their transition based on extreme weather fluctuations, and monitor conditions to provide expert advice to keep staff and visitors safe.”
By working with local professionals like Trapper, we can achieve project milestones and ensure the safety of those onsite. Weather and terrain conditions are assessed daily and addressed accordingly.
As the project continues, workers on Burnt Mountain will continue trenching, crossing and tie-ins work as weather conditions permit, and continue erosion and sediment control (ESC) mitigation.