The future of avalanche control could change

Eric Bressler dismantles pieces of his avalanche mitigation system after a test of the device May 26 at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The resort is working through the permitting process to install one of the exploders in the Crags.

Dirt and pine needles flecked the spring snow Eric Bressler was preparing to bomb.

Between laps of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort's aerial tram carrying unsuspecting tourists overhead, the 35-year-old Jackson native issued a warning to a small audience squishing in earplugs at the top of Thunder lift.

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A ball of fire erupts during a test of a new avalanche mitigation exploder last month at the top of the Thunder lift at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Jackson native Eric Bressler of Alpine Infrastructure is developing the system as an American-made alternative to European mitigation systems like Gazex and O’bellx.

Eric Bressler swaps out gas containers during testing of his new avalanche mitigation system last month at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Bressler and his team were taking measurements of the effects of different gas mixtures to determine which were the most effective.

Alpine Infrastructure tests the avalanche mitigation exploder tentatively dubbed the "Boom Whoosh," at the top of the Thunder Chairlift at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Jackson native Eric Bressler, founder of Alpine Infrastructure, is developing the system as an American-made alternative to European mitigation systems like Gazex and O’bellx.

Contact Sophia Boyd-Fliegel at county@jhnewsandguide or 307-732-7063.

Sophia covers county politics, housing, and workforce issues. A Pacific Coast devotee, she grew up in Washington, studied in California and has worked in Oregon and Alaska.

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