ASC Risk Assessment & Mitigation 3 ā Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the Extended Column Test (ECT) measure that the Rutschblock test does NOT specifically isolate?
- The hardness profile of snow layers
- Crack propagation potential across a weak layer (Correct answer)
- The temperature gradient within the snowpack
- Surface hoar crystal size and distribution
Correct answer: Crack propagation potential across a weak layer
The ECT assesses both initiation and propagation of fractures, giving information about whether a failure in a weak layer will spread across a slope.
Question 2: A slope with a 38-degree angle on a north-facing aspect three days after a storm represents elevated risk primarily because:
- North-facing slopes always have the most wind loading
- Cold temperatures slow settling and sintering, preserving instability (Correct answer)
- The angle is too low to release a slab avalanche
- Three days is insufficient time for surface hoar to develop
Correct answer: Cold temperatures slow settling and sintering, preserving instability
North-facing slopes stay cold, which inhibits the settling and bonding that stabilize new snow, keeping instability elevated longer than on solar aspects.
Question 3: Which rescue tool combination is considered the minimum standard kit for backcountry travel in avalanche terrain?
- Avalanche beacon, rope, and ice axe
- Avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel (Correct answer)
- Probe, shovel, and first aid kit
- Beacon, airbag pack, and crampon
Correct answer: Avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel
Beacon, probe, and shovel form the essential triad for companion rescueāthe beacon locates, the probe pinpoints, and the shovel excavates the buried victim.
Question 4: A terrain trap is best described as:
- Any slope steeper than 35 degrees where avalanches release
- A feature that increases burial depth or injury severity if an avalanche occurs (Correct answer)
- A cornice formation overhanging a steep couloir
- A valley location where cold air pools and creates fog
Correct answer: A feature that increases burial depth or injury severity if an avalanche occurs
Terrain trapsāsuch as cliffs, gullies, and trees below a slopeāamplify the consequences of even a small avalanche by increasing burial depth or trauma risk.
Question 5: When using the North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale, what does a rating of 'Considerable' (Level 3) indicate about triggering?
- Avalanches are unlikely except in extreme terrain with heavy loads
- Human triggering is possible on steep slopes; natural avalanches unlikely
- Human triggering is likely on many steep slopes (Correct answer)
- Large natural avalanches are expected across all elevations
Correct answer: Human triggering is likely on many steep slopes
At Considerable (Level 3), human triggering is likely on steep slopes, making careful route planning and terrain avoidance essential.
Question 6: What is the purpose of the 'stop, observe, plan' decision-making framework in avalanche terrain?
- To signal distress to other group members before crossing a slope
- To pause and systematically evaluate hazard before committing to terrain (Correct answer)
- To document conditions for avalanche center reporting
- To rest the group and redistribute pack weight before steep sections
Correct answer: To pause and systematically evaluate hazard before committing to terrain
Stopping to observe and plan interrupts momentum bias, ensuring the group makes a deliberate, evidence-based decision rather than following the path of least resistance.
Question 7: Spatial variability in snowpack stability means that snowpit results:
- Are perfectly representative of all slopes within a 500-meter radius
- May not reflect conditions on a specific slope only meters away (Correct answer)
- Are only valid for the aspect on which the pit was dug
- Should be averaged with beacon search results for accuracy
Correct answer: May not reflect conditions on a specific slope only meters away
Snowpack properties can change dramatically over short distances due to wind, terrain, and temperature variation, so a single pit represents only its exact location.
ASC Risk Assessment & Mitigation 3
What does the Extended Column Test (ECT) measure that the Rutschblock test does NOT specifically isolate?