UKC

Hi
I've posted some video clips on my blog, to help anyone going out this winter in snow conditions, to make a good assessment of an avalanche prone slope. If you'd like to have a look you can find them at: http://www.toughmountain.co.uk/tough-mountain-blog/
Just scroll down to the 8th January 2015 for the first clip.

In reply to ItalianAlp:
Thanks for that; really good (would be worth editing the separate videos into one with some captions I think)

The "tea test" was new to me a least - and no doubt an opportunity for one of the mountain brands to produce (self warming) sachets of snow pack test fluid...

One question: I've read somewhere (?) questioning the reliability of findings with these type of snowpack assessments due to pits dug in close proximity giving quite differing results...any thoughts on this?

BR

Peter

In reply to PeterBlackler:

The Swiss did a study on a large slope and dug absolutely loads of ruche block tests all to same depth and aspect. They found that all the pits gave differing results. I have a copy of the report but can't put my mouse to it.

Does this mean that Snow pit tests are pointless? No, it means that the results can't be taken as fact for that particular slope but the info gained from inspection of the snow profile can be added to other information gathered from other factors to give you a more informed assessment of that slope on that day.

Is it worth digging a Snow Profile - I'd still say Yes, definitely.
Is it worth digging a Rucheblock test - that is open to debate.

In reply to PeterBlackler:

There's some quite geeky stuff here, but as mentioned the key is that the assessment is holistic, with digging being the smaller part. Warm Ribena makes for a good test fluid, with a 'developing' time of 10-20 mins.

http://www.igsoc.org:8080/journal/56/199/j10j017.pdf

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53fbfe1ce4b04ce86372f366/t/5445d28ce...