Explosive residue is me!
 

As we were cavorting at Snowbird today the subject of explosive residue came up. The ski patrol uses a lot of dynamite and even artillery shells in their avalanche control efforts. The stuff doesn't just disappear when it explodes, it leaves, well, residue! We frequently ski over and through it. It appears as black snow or granules. I haven't skied and then flown in the era of heightened security but I'm anticipating a ski trip which involves a flight. If they sniff my ski gear they -will- find residue! Do I need a note from the ski patrol or something? SLC's aiport may be versed in dealing with this but what about other airports? Hmmmm.

Jim

Bleach.

Wash your gear with common bleach and it will remove all traces of residue.

And clean yourself with ennema, just in case, you know... cavity search.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Try flying out of an airport without a sniffer (eg. not SLC or DEN). I don't recall seeing one at EGE (Vail/Eagle Country Regional). This is probably the busiest of the mountian airports, so I bet most of the others don't have them.

MoreMiles, I don't eat black snow or yellow snow for that matter. I'll also try and avoid face shots before I fly. I will not, repeat, not, f*rt at the security checkpoint.

Jim

Actually, dynamite will give TNT (trinitrotoluene) traces. Explosives may give nitrate traces. The scanners at the airports can detect both (as well as drugs and other substances).

While waiting for SFO to open last Weds, I was watching some program on CNN or similar, and the commentator was saying that all kinds of common household items can set off the sniffer.

Basically, anything with high nitrates, such as fertilizers or bologna (!) can give a false positive for explosives. So don't walk across your lawn or eat a sausage sandwich before flying. Or walk through piles of bologna.

And the guys better wear booties while visiting the men's room!

RocketGrrl, I believe bologna uses nitrItes as a preservative. Any explosive effect is probably due to the combination of grease and garlic! Just to be safe I'll try not to ski through any bologna patches. ;-)

Jim

Are there nitrates in Preparation H?

A friend of mine worked on a project at a Chicken operation. The nitrogen levels were high enough that he constantly set off the sniffers. So he carried a letter covering his situation to explain to security........ after a through search each time he said

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AA member since 1981

...breaks my heart - and here I was planning a trip to relive some of my favorite memories - making some turns in knee deep bologna at Vail.....




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UAL free since the last millennium - and planning to stay that way!