Avalanche clearing begins – Operation Palaci

Master Bombardier Ryan Houston from 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, awaits the loading order from the Troop Commander during the confirmation shout at the start of Operation Palaci at Rogers Pass, B.C. on Nov. 22. Photo by MCpl PJ Létourneau, Canadian Forces Combat Camera

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) annual support to Parks Canada Agency’s Avalanche Control Program, Operation Palaci, is underway and expected to continue into April 2020.

The CAF have provided artillery support to the Parks Canada avalanche control program in Glacier National Park, in the Rogers Pass region since 1961. Rogers Pass carries the major national road and rail transportation through the rugged Columbia Mountains in British Columbia.

Each year, artillery gun troops are deployed to Rogers Pass with 105-mm C3 howitzers, adapted to fit the roadside gun platforms. This year, the operation will be carried out in two rotations. Both rotations will be carried out by 17 members from 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, based out of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Shilo, Manitoba, and augmented by various reserve artillery units.