With all the avalanche activity in the Tetons last week, wouldn’t this be the ultimate tool to control avalanches, and at the same time keep humans out of dangers way? The Daisybell is made T.A.S., the same people who make those Gazex things up on Glory Bowl and Twins Slides, which combine oxygen and propane (or hydrogen?) to create an explosion and audible boom. The Daisybell however, is a mobile/portable unit that is hung below a helicopter, triggered by someone riding shotgun in the heli, and set off about 30′ directly above a chosen avalanche slide path.
Go easy eh…they’re Canadian. 🙂
My avalanche guru friends think the Daisybell is a great device and Gazex is proven technology. Few areas in the US use helicopters for avalanche reduction work though, and FAA regulations make it hard to hang an explosive device below an aircraft. It also wouldn't be usable during a storm (high winds), but the one place it might be effective is in Juneau, AK, where they use helicopters to control avalanches near the power lines. And since Wyoming, as a state, is so rich from pillaging it's natural resources, I think this should be the tool of choice for the guys who control Teton Pass! Don't you?!
Wow, that seems to be increadibly overly complex! Here in NZ we just throw an anfo bomb out the helo door!
how many anfo bombs do you carry on the heli at once? seems like you could nail a lot of slopes in one flight with the daisybell…without having to go back to resupply.
Hey all,
I’m the US distributor for TAS products such as the Daisybell and Gazex. Just to clear up a few points. The Gazex uses oxygen and propane because propane is heavier than air and will stay in the tube. The Daisybell uses oxygen and hydrogen because hydrogen is lighter than air and will stay in the tube as well. Fully dressed the DB has a 60 shot capacity before needing refueling and it takes only 7 seconds to load and shoot, so the helo doesn’t need to hover around very long like with solid explosives. That saves a lot of time on the Hobbs meter. The gas is cheap so the per shot cost is low (after you amortize the purchase price). DB power is just shy of 5kg TNT equivalent. 15 are now in use in Europe and 1 in Canada.
sweet post steve
now if wydot and jhmr wanna get together this might pay for itself and save money.artillery controlled days are limited.. yes
thanks for the info gazex guy!!! good to know the specifics.
that would be nice aye murph? who’s gonna buy the heli though? 🙂
That thing is amazing my uncle is the head engineer for wydot on building road up the pass I will pass this on. But don’t forget that pillaging fuels and help build everything you own.
i hear you derek. i am in no way the eco-poster child…but a little dig at the wyo right can’t hurt. 🙂
and i chatted with the avy guy on teton pass prior to this post…and he was well aware (as he should be) of the daisybell.
ya I work in the gas industry and I support slower more sound development so I am try to influence what I can. I was jk. But i was thinking more along the lines of road damage caused by avy and what they can hold up to. Cool none the less.
word. you’re down in pinedale…right? we should hook up for a wind river ski this spring/summer.
Pointless irrelevant digs at the “wyo right” does indeed hurt and perpetuates Teton Counties political isolation.