Highway worker releases massive boulder with a nudge
Highway worker releases massive boulder with a nudge

Beautiful bit of scaling work conducted by a Washington State Department of Transportation worker on a roadside cliff near Diablo Lake. WSDOT is working to stabilize a slope alongside State Route 20 and that includes scaling operations, a technique used to remove loose rocks and boulders from steep slopes or cliff faces to reduce the risk of rockfall.

Once loose rocks and boulders on a slope or cliff face are identified, workers come and remove them manual or mechanical techniques. In this case the man utilized hand tools, heavy duty compressed airbags and ultimately a bit of good old fashion muscle to make this massive rock stack go timber and crash to onto the roadway below:

“Contractor crews are performing scaling work, rappelling down the slope to carefully examine it for loose rock or debris. They use hand tools and compressed air to dislodge and send potential hazards down the slope. This is a meticulous process that will take several days as they work their way from the top of the slope to bottom.” -WSDOT

Here’s some more scaling handiwork done by the folks at WSDOT from their project along northbound I-5 earlier this year. So very satisfying to watch indeed.

Francis Xavier is a seasoned writer for Unofficial Networks, bringing a lifetime of outdoor experience to his work. Having lived in a ski resort town for years he has a deep connection to mountain culture....