If You Were Backcountry Skiing and Wanted to Conduct a Rutschblock

question 25

Multiple Choice

If you were backcountry skiing and wanted to conduct a rutschblock test to assess the avalanche risk,what would you do?

• A) dig a hole one metre deep and examine the character of the snow layers
• B) pull back the upper part of a column of snow with your shovel and observe the fractures produced
• C) push on the snow with the back of your shovel and observe fractures on the exposed vertical face
• D) push on the snow with your skis, then jump on it and assess the force necessary to set the snow in motion
• E) throw a fist-sized rock or larger snowball at the slope you're testing and observe the resulting pattern