April 15, 2019

The Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) annual support to Parks Canada’s avalanche control program, Operation PALACI, concluded today after approximately five months of successful joint operations with Parks Canada in Roger’s Pass B.C.

This year’s operation commenced on November 22^nd, 2018, and was carried out by two rotations of 17 troops from 1^st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, based out of CFB Shilo, Manitoba, and augmented by various reserve artillery units from throughout Canada.

Each year, Canadian Armed Forces artillery gun troops are deployed to Rogers Pass with 105-mm C3 howitzers, adapted to fit the 16 roadside gun platforms to conduct avalanche control. Rogers Pass has more than 130 avalanche paths that cross the Trans-Canada Highway. It has the highest avalanche rating of any major road in North America.