Avalanche Snow Test (with @CloudNineGuides)

Compression test by Mike with Cloud Nine Guides in Banff National Park, Canada as a part of the AST-1 program. If you're in AB/BC, check out @CloudNineGuides on IG!

[CrazennCajunn]

Most resorts and high traffic areas use more advanced tests but this is really useful for off path skiing and snowboarding. Cant test a whole mountain but goves you an idea of any melt between layers

[RightLadd]

Imagine you do this test and the snow block collapses immediately, and you’re just standing there staring up this mountain of snow you know is barely holding on while you’re in a little hole at the bottom.

[fatbirdo]

I honestly find it terrifying. Imagine you're doing this test and the snow column collapses within 10 taps. Id be scared to stay in that mountain

[nobodyisbest]

The other day I was going to do one of these, but the upper half of the column popped and fell off, before I could even tap once. Suffice it to say that I went home right away.

[decline.nyc]

Since people seem to not understand the point of this test, I will. This test is mostly used in backcountry skiing as a general guideline to avoid some slopes and safer ones. This test's purpose is to find the depth and strength of something called the persistent weak layer (or PWL) which if triggered would cause a deep avalanche in which if you were caught, there is a likely risk of death if traveling alone or with untrained individuals. The tapping is to find its strength, if it only survives one tap that aspect of the terrain is very dangerous to ride and should be avoided if possible. If the layer fails on multiple hits with the forearm(which is the highest level of hit) the terrain is generally safe to ride. So no, this test is not useless but a test to ensure the safety of those traveling in backcountry terrain. So next time before you comment that this is useless look into it more because in my opinion, it is fascinating. (if you want to learn more about this topic I would recommend the Utah Avalance Center's "Know Before You Go which is a free online avalanche training program.)

[nathanlyon]

Nice break from rock climbing! Love it!

[JubayerZ]

Its like his slicing cake, sooo satisfying to watch

[Seventheenth]

Mulan: "Now's a good time to aim a bomb at the mountains 😀"

[Ikaros]

Not putting this guys job down or anything, but who tf is like " man, I really want to become a professional avalanche forecaster." It's just so damn specific but still much respect to him

[owenmcneill]

My dad has done this as a part of search and rescue training

[Elite_Mecha]

Bro grabbed a snow block without a bucket💀

[レンガ]

This is something I'd call stupid at first sight, then take back my words when i see what happens next.

[zorolov]

"You've been a very bad snow.."

[Qualcuno]

So

There are a few types of avalanche, but generally it's formed when a soft layer of snow is between two layers of hard snow (soft meaning it doesn't stick well to itself, hard meaning it sticks to itself really well). Often the risk of avalanche is greater after a snowfall, because the new snow adds weight to the soft layer

[Jordan_C_Wilde]

Dude standing on the base of a massive slope: "Yep, thats definively a high risk area for an

[TheJoshissaxy]

I like the part where you explained how they use this data. Really learned something

[bravo]

Imagine cutting the snow for avalanche test but the Avalanche starts right when you start cutting.

[arvinlangholm]

Theres one thing to do before compression testing. First you run a creddit card downwards to see if it catches anywhere to look for harder layers. If there are no layers at all after extensively testing you usualy dont have to compression test it. If there are layers you should compression test it to check how strong the layers are

[Wrutschgeluck]

He's so professional, his claps have a calibrated fixed force he can reproduce each time. 😂

[Zuckerpuppekopf]

I remember being scared once when I started an avalanche traversing across the top of a snow bowl. Toward the end of the traverse the avalanche started catching up to me, and I ended the traverse on opposing ridge about 200 feet lower than I had wanted.