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Extended Column Test

4K views 22 replies 7 participants last post by  hikeswithdogs 
#1 ·
This is a great test. As with everything in avalanche safety it's not a magic bullet that covers everything. It is a great tool in your arsenal. I also know that this test was primarily developed in Continental and Intermountain climates. I'd be interested to see how this works for you Maritime guys. So if you haven't tried it, give it a go and let me know how it works for you.

It's definitely replaced the Rutschblock test for me in most instances. Mostly because it's a much quicker test to set up, so I easily can do it in several representative spots in the time it takes me to do a Rutschblock.

This is the most decent video I have found on it. Last year in my class we had a great (scary) result doing the ECT. It propagated and shot out. gapoostQuality 1 shear with lots of energy. It popped the eyes of the class which was great. Love it when you can demonstrate this sort of stuff. Bonus points for this one actually being kind of fun to do.

Hopefully this is new to a few peeps. Give it a try, let me know what you think.

If anyone knows of a better video, please link it up.

 
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#5 · (Edited)
He is the man, but that isn't Bruce.

Just someone that rides here in Utah doesn't work for the UAC. Posted this in an observation.

There are tons of tests. The Regular Column test, Rutschblock test, hand shear, shovel shear (Not sure if that's the correct name, ski pole test, also as a last measure a ski cut.
 
#6 ·
good vids, great test. one thing that bothers me in the vids is how these guys keep referring to faceted layers/hoar frost/propagations/etc. as 'nice' 'great' 'sweet' whatever. they are none of that. they're nasty, shitty, scary, deadly, etc... other than that - good shit.
 
#9 ·
Yeah, for sure. I am amazed at the stability in the PNW. When it goes though, it sure seems to like to go big. Still, I think there are times when you get a persistent weak layer, especially around storm cycles. It would be interesting to give this a try during times of instability in your region and see how it works for you.

Shred,

I hear ya. It's a conundrum for sure.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Kill, Can't wait! I have been just itching to get out there, February is going to be a long long wait. For right now I'm just trying to soak up as much information as I can from the internet. Sick-Pow, thanks for the recommendation. Definitely will do. It's going to be good to get some hard-copy literature on the subject.
 
#14 ·
The Tattered Cover might have Staying Alive. I wouldn't be surprised. If they don't. Check out the Wilderness Exchange and REI in Denver. The Bentgate in Golden is another shop that would probably have it. You can also find it on Amazon.

As far as SWAG goes, no where sells it that I know of. They give it out at Level II classes, and I am not sure about Level I's as it didn't exist when I took mine. Worth you time to download it from the Forest Service site.

Another good book is the Avalanche handbook 2nd edition. It's the actual "bible" for avalanche safety. It's also pretty boring at times. The closest analogy to the book is it's the avalanche equivalent of Freedom of the Hills for Climbers. It's a great reference book and is worth having on your shelf if backcountry riding becomes something you do on a regular basis.
 
#19 ·
Honestly I feel more comfortable taking 2-3 real quick ECTs throughout the day(in the exact areas I’m in) rather than spend an hour+ doing snow pack analysis one place which might give me false data and lead me astray later in the day, of course I’d always just assume the worst and not the other way around.

As someone who’s very new to this I’m trying to really focus on paying the most attention to the Utah avalanche center’s info\forecast in combination with slope angle and aspect\terrain\route choice instead of complex snow pack analysis which for the time being I can leave up to the professionals at the UAC.
 
#20 ·
A full snow pit profile takes a good amount of time, and is more geared for painting an overall picture. It is not something I would use for slope analysis. For trends and slopes/aspects you want might want to avoid or pay closer attention to, yes.

The quicker you can do pit work, the more likely you are to do it. To be honest, if I feel that sketched out, that I want to do numerous pits, I'm probably just going to go conservative instead. There will always be another day.
 
#21 ·
To be honest, if I feel that sketched out, that I want to do numerous pits, I'm probably just going to go conservative instead. There will always be another day.
but don't you think you would get drastically different ECT results based on altitude and slope aspect?

I'm not necessary talking about a full snow pit\ECT test but even a ski pole test where you just spot check skinning up or coming down looking for extremely weak layers based on resistance to pressure.

I'm legitimately asking here because I'm still trying to wrap my head around all of it.
 
#22 ·
I have gotten drastically different ECT results in pits less than 20ft apart on the same aspect. Does that make sense?

Of course snow is going to be a completely different animal on a Southwest facing slope compared to a Northeast facing slope. It'll be different snow at 6k ft versus 10k ft for sure. Observational data as you are skinning, hiking, is huge. Recent avalanche activity, shooting cracks, whumpfing, feeling layers with your ski poles, getting off the skin track onto small wind pillows, seeing if you can get a reaction, that type of stuff. When I start talking "spatial variability" I am usually talking about the slope, aspect, that I am considering. That immediate area. Ideally, you could dig a couple of pits, check out the snow, for the full range of the slope you are planning on hitting. The reality is, unless you are hiking up said slope, you can't. So you have to pay attention to all the other clues. Like the recent activity, snow fall, winds, temperature, in addition to you snow pit tests on a given slope. Terrain management when you are riding down is key too. If you are riding a wide open 35 degree slope and there is a lone tree in the middle, do you want to ride close to that tree? Probably not. Picking safe zones, riding ridges where stuff if it breaks will break below you, everything you do when you're riding, you want to keep safety in front of your mind.
 
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