How to: Stability Tests

The purpose of this page is to provide information on how to perform common stability tests.  It is a work in progress, so stay tuned.

The National Avalanche Center has a great site describing many common stability tests and other essential skills.

Compression Test

One of the most basic stability tests is the Compression Test.  It is quick and easy to do, but it only tests a small piece of snow.  It is excellent at identifying weak layers in the snowpack and analyzing the balance between stress and strength.

Extended Column Test

Many have asked us to show how to do an ECT since it is quickly becoming one of the most popular and useful tests.  The ECT takes a little more time to do over a CT, but provides more information.  Specifically it shows you whether or not a failure in the weak layer can propagate, a necessary condition to get an avalanche.

Where to dig?

Choosing a location for a snowpit is not always easy, but consider a few things.  Also, it is always a good idea to dig more than one snowpit and keep it quick (no more than 10-15 minutes),  Spending a lot of time in one pit doesn't make it better.

What about pits on low angle slopes?  Read this paper from the NAC: "The effect of changing slope angle on extended column test results: Can we dig pits in safer locations?"

More Information

More and detailed information about  this tests and all others can be found in "Snow, Weather, and Avalanches: Observation Guidelines for Avalanche Programs in the United States"

This pubication is available freely online via the AAA and NAC, but these electronic copies are not printable.  The AAA offers a hard copy for sale.