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How to Clear a Path Through 60 Feet of Snow, Japanese Style

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Re: How to Clear a Path Through 60 Feet of Snow, Japanese Style

#21

Post by lb1lf »

We do have a few quite interesting mountaineous roads in Norway, too - matter of fact, a couple of minutes ago I heard on the radio that only two of the -hm, six? seven? I only ever use two of them- mountain crossings connecting eastern Norway to the rest of us were open due to lots of snow and poor weather in latter days. Those two are now convoy only.

Have a look at this, for instance:(0) Not as elegant as the Japanese operation, but the photo probably predates GPS, to the Norwegian snow plow crews credit. I'd feel very small traversing down that road. Doubly so if I suddenly met a heavy truck, a bus or anything larger than a bicycle, really...

I just stumbled upon a couple of nice photos of the current weather conditions at Haukeli, one of the passes currently closed. Just click the photo for the next one. (1)

(0) http://www.gibud.no/auction/APUserImages/2015B105661F1LTLXUH...

(1) https://www.nrk.no/hordaland/sa-vakkert-kan-det-vaere-a-vent...

Re: How to Clear a Path Through 60 Feet of Snow, Japanese Style

#23

Post by bayesian_horse »

mc32 wrote: post #18
tricolon wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not remotely operated: > The GPS and sat phone work in tandem to provide the driver a detailed video screen image of the dozer’s location in relation to the center of the snow-buried highway. This driver’s job is not to clear snow, but simply to lay out an accurate track of the road itself.

Reading it again, I think you're right Makes me think though why could they not manoeuver it remotely with remote feedback if necessary, why put someone in the cab if they have it equipped with sensors. Some other heavy equip are operated remotely.

In fact, in a lot of situations, Humans are just cheaper.

Re: How to Clear a Path Through 60 Feet of Snow, Japanese Style

#24

Post by davidbanham »

chrissnell wrote: post #9

I would love to see that first bulldozer at work. I'm a little amazed because snow becomes incredibly heavy and hard to move/push when it's packed. As the blade moves forward, that dozer will quickly have to use incredible force to move forward. I experienced this first-hand last summer when I was driving my old Land Rover across the country. I was solo, way up in the very remote Henry Mountains [1] of Utah, about to…

Remember also that there's a big difference between the fluffy powder they're plowing in northern Japan and the wet stuff you drove your landie into.

Re: How to Clear a Path Through 60 Feet of Snow, Japanese Style

#25

Post by foota »

chrissnell wrote: post #9

I would love to see that first bulldozer at work. I'm a little amazed because snow becomes incredibly heavy and hard to move/push when it's packed. As the blade moves forward, that dozer will quickly have to use incredible force to move forward. I experienced this first-hand last summer when I was driving my old Land Rover across the country. I was solo, way up in the very remote Henry Mountains [1] of Utah, about to…

Your linked photo hardly looks like a road.

Re: How to Clear a Path Through 60 Feet of Snow, Japanese Style

#26

Post by jonah »

If you want to see some impressive snow[1] in the US, visit Crater Lake National Park in Southern Oregon during the winter. Last time I was there, the snow cuts looked just like these (though not quite as tall.)

"The average snowfall at Crater Lake is 533 inches every year. That's about 44 feet. The greatest cumulative snowfall for one season was 879 inches (73 feet) the winter of 1932-33. The greatest depth on the ground at one time was 258 inches (21½ feet) the winter of 1983. Most of the snow usually melts by the beginning of August, although after particularly heavy seasons, there are drifts that fail to melt before the snows return again in the early Fall."[2]

[1] https://www.google.com/search?q=crater+lake+snow&tbm=isch

[2] https://www.nps.gov/crla/faqs.htm

Re: How to Clear a Path Through 60 Feet of Snow, Japanese Style

#27

Post by icebraining »

Hydraulix989 wrote: post #20

It's just like that one Mario Kart 64 level with the snow, except IRL. So that's where the Japanese level designers got their inspiration from!

That was my first thought as well :)

For reference: http://i.imgur.com/vlbUC.jpg

Re: How to Clear a Path Through 60 Feet of Snow, Japanese Style

#28

Post by arethuza »

mc32 wrote: post #10
pwarner wrote: post #8

Not nearly as deep, but the Sierra should have lots of snow this summer. Reference https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/fourth-of-july-weeken...

Lassen NP can also have snow canyons[1] after they plow the snow in late spring. Nothing like 60' but 20' [1] http://www.nationalparksblog.com/lassen-volcanic-national-pa... Edit, looks like your sierra ref is mostly about Lassen which is not really the sierras but an old volcano n.west of them.

We don't get huge amounts of snow in Scotland but we do get a lot of wind which can pack the snow into gullies giving impressive snow depths - I've seen claims of over 30m in places (the Ciste Gully on Cairngorm), the Cairngorm access road also has problems with snow as it tends to completely fill up at various places.

Very frustrating not being able to ski because of too much snow!

The tendency for what snow we do get to blow off elsewhere is why ski areas in Scotland have huge amounts of snow fencing (they are all above the treeline) to try and trap the snow in place.

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