ASC Case Analysis & Practical Application 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A group plans a backcountry ski tour. The forecast shows High (4) danger on north aspects above 2,500 m and Considerable (3) on all other aspects. Their intended route tops out at 2,600 m on a northeast aspect. What should they do?
- Proceed because Considerable danger is manageable with standard precautions
- Modify the route to stay below 2,500 m or choose a non-north-aspect objective (Correct answer)
- Proceed but travel one at a time above 2,500 m
- Cancel the tour entirely because any aspect could be dangerous
Correct answer: Modify the route to stay below 2,500 m or choose a non-north-aspect objective
High danger on the specific aspect and elevation of their route warrants rerouting or objective change, not incremental mitigation like one-at-a-time travel.
Question 2: During a beacon search, you receive a signal that suddenly disappears as you move forward. What is the most likely cause?
- The buried victim's beacon battery has died
- You have passed the flux line null zone — move perpendicular to re-acquire the signal (Correct answer)
- The victim has been buried too deep for the beacon to transmit
- Electromagnetic interference from terrain features is blocking the signal
Correct answer: You have passed the flux line null zone — move perpendicular to re-acquire the signal
Beacon signals follow elliptical flux lines, and moving past a null zone can cause signal loss — stepping sideways re-enters the signal field.
Question 3: A skier triggered a slab that ran 300 m. The debris is 2 m deep at the toe. Rescuers have three beacons. What should the initial search method be?
- Hasty search: rescuers run beacon antennas along the debris surface in a coarse sweep (Correct answer)
- Fine search: grid the entire debris field at 1 m spacing
- Visual search only: look for protruding gear before using beacons
- Probe-line search from the top of the debris to the toe
Correct answer: Hasty search: rescuers run beacon antennas along the debris surface in a coarse sweep
A coarse, fast beacon sweep (hasty search) covers the debris quickly to identify signal locations before committing to slower fine-search techniques.
Question 4: You observe shooting cracks propagating from your skis as you enter a slope. What does this indicate and what should you do?
- Minor settling; continue but ski quickly through the zone
- High instability — a slab is highly reactive; immediately move off the slope to safe terrain (Correct answer)
- The snow is consolidating; this is a good sign of stability
- Only a concern if the cracks propagate more than 10 m
Correct answer: High instability — a slab is highly reactive; immediately move off the slope to safe terrain
Shooting cracks are one of the most reliable field signs of high instability, indicating a buried weak layer capable of widespread fracture propagation.
Question 5: A rescue scenario involves a victim buried 2.8 m deep. The shoveling team is tiring quickly. What is the most effective shoveling strategy to reach the victim faster?
- All shovelers dig straight down over the probe strike point
- Use the V-conveyor (strategic shoveling) method with multiple shovelers rotating positions (Correct answer)
- One shoveler digs while others rest to conserve energy
- Expand the hole diameter to 3 m before deepening
Correct answer: Use the V-conveyor (strategic shoveling) method with multiple shovelers rotating positions
The V-conveyor (or assembly-line) method assigns shovelers to specific zones to move snow efficiently, dramatically reducing extraction time compared to single-point digging.
Question 6: Wet avalanche activity is observed on sun-exposed slopes at 10 AM in late March. What does this indicate about afternoon travel plans on similar terrain?
- Morning wet slides mean conditions have already stabilized for the afternoon
- Wet avalanche activity will likely increase through the afternoon as solar heating continues (Correct answer)
- Wet slides only occur below treeline and do not affect alpine terrain
- The danger is limited to slopes that already slid and is not a broader concern
Correct answer: Wet avalanche activity will likely increase through the afternoon as solar heating continues
Wet avalanche activity in the morning signals a diurnal cycle that typically worsens through the afternoon as solar radiation saturates the snowpack.
Question 7: A companion is fully buried and has been located by beacon and probe. The snow is heavily consolidated debris. What injury risk must the shoveling team be aware of?
- Risk of secondary avalanche only
- Risk of striking the victim with a shovel, especially near the head and torso (Correct answer)
- Risk of heat stroke from exertion in cold weather
- Risk of the victim suffocating due to delay in shoveling
Correct answer: Risk of striking the victim with a shovel, especially near the head and torso
Shovel strikes are a real risk during extraction; shovelers should use careful technique near the probe strike location to avoid injuring the buried victim.
ASC Case Analysis & Practical Application 3
A group plans a backcountry ski tour.
The forecast shows High (4) danger on north aspects above 2,500 m and Considerable (3) on all other aspects.
Their intended route tops out at 2,600 m on a northeast aspect.
What should they do?