Dack Klein, a 42-year-old equipment operator with the Colorado Department of Transportation, has been clearing U.S. Highway 550 since 2003, pushing through avalanches and whiteout conditions to keep the route open. This work is critical not only for daily commuters but also for emergency services that rely on keeping these mountain passages accessible during winter conditions.

The work matters because sections of the highway rise into high, avalanche-prone terrain, including Red Mountain Pass, an 11,018-foot crossing where storms and sliding snow can quickly turn a routine sweep into a dangerous evacuation of the roadway. To navigate these hazards effectively, crews are trained in specialized avalanche protocols and use safety equipment to mitigate risks while working in this unpredictable environment.

On the pass, the landscape is described in small, immediate details: “white flurries rushing the windshield and swirling in the mirrors,” and a road that is “white, though it won’t remain so for long.” Klein uses those images to explain how conditions can change in minutes, and how a single event can create a long, stubborn obstruction. For individuals preparing for winter travel in mountainous regions, being informed about weather and avalanche forecasts is crucial for safety.

“You’ve got to appreciate the dangers when you’re pushing. Last winter we had a chunk of rock the size of a football field detach right here,” said Dack Klein, equipment operator. His account underlines the combination of falling rock and unstable snow that crews face when making the pass safe for other motorists. Maintaining safe passage through such dynamic conditions underscores the importance of having a solid operational plan that incorporates current hazard forecasts.

Visibility and wind are frequent adversaries on steeper stretches. “There have been nights I could barely see past the wipers when I was pushing. It can take 20 minutes to manage this one nasty mile if it’s blowing,” Klein said, describing the slow, physical labor required to clear a single exposed section when storms concentrate their force. These challenges are exacerbated by the unpredictable nature of avalanches, where even minor slips can pose significant risks.

Klein also described how smaller slips can be the most treacherous because they come without warning. “The saying goes that Blue Point will run if you sneeze. Usually it’s a bank slip, but occasionally it’s a giant, and then you’ve got to do some serious pushing,” he said. This reality aligns with ongoing advancements in technology that aid not only in monitoring conditions but also in search and rescue operations should the need arise.

The Colorado Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining Highway 550, including operations on Red Mountain Pass. Klein’s comments and the scene he describes were shared in a profile published by Outside Magazine, which examined the work and conditions crews face during winter operations. The profile places the daily task of plowing and clearing within the broader challenge of keeping high mountain corridors passable, which is a significant responsibility considering the increasing volume of travelers each year.

Maintenance on routes like U.S. Highway 550 requires not only heavy equipment but also tactics calibrated to avalanche terrain and rapidly changing weather. Crews operate with procedures and training designed for those conditions, and agencies provide guidance on avalanche programs and safe operations in mountainous maintenance work for departments of transportation and their crews. This also includes ensuring all crew members receive specialized avalanche training, allowing them to respond effectively to unfolding situations.

Klein’s account emphasizes the physical pacing of the job: long hours at the controls, incremental progress measured in feet or a stubborn mile, and an ongoing readiness for large, sudden events that can overturn a day’s work. His description focuses on the sensory and technical realities of pushing snow and rock from a high alpine highway, reminding us of the labor-intensive efforts behind keeping these vital routes open.

For residents, travelers, and freight operators who rely on U.S. Highway 550 each winter, the work of operators like Klein is what keeps a narrow, high-altitude corridor usable instead of impassable. Klein has returned each season since 2003 to operate the equipment that clears the pass and to respond when weather and the mountains demand immediate action. With careful planning and consideration for safety, both on the road and in the equipment used, every effort is made to ensure that winter travel remains as safe as possible.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.