ASC ASC Route Planning & Travel Protocols

Question 1

When planning a backcountry route under ASC standards, the PRIMARY purpose of identifying terrain traps is to:

Accepted Answer

Understand where even a small avalanche could produce disproportionate burial depth or injury

Answer

Terrain traps — gullies, cliff bands, trees, creek beds — amplify consequences by increasing burial depth or trauma even from small slides.

Question 2

Under ASC travel protocols, 'exposure time' in avalanche terrain refers to:

Accepted Answer

The cumulative time a person or group spends in a zone where they could be caught by an avalanche

Answer

Minimizing exposure time is a core travel protocol strategy — the longer a group is in hazard terrain, the greater the probability of a dangerous encounter.

Question 3

Which terrain feature is considered a PRIMARY indicator that a slope may be wind-loaded and therefore at elevated slab avalanche risk?

Accepted Answer

Pillowed or rounded surface snow shapes on lee aspects

Answer

Pillowed, rounded, or scalloped snow on lee aspects indicates wind-deposited slabs that may be poorly bonded to underlying layers.

Question 4

ASC route planning protocols require that travel routes through avalanche start zones be evaluated for all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Trailhead parking capacity

Answer

Trailhead parking capacity is a logistical factor irrelevant to avalanche hazard evaluation of start zones.

Question 5

When selecting a safe travel corridor through avalanche terrain, guides prioritize ridgelines and valley floors primarily because these zones:

Accepted Answer

Represent areas below avalanche start zones or above runout paths

Answer

Ridgelines sit above most start zones and valley floors below runout zones, placing travelers outside the primary avalanche path.

(ASC) Avalanche Safety Certification Practice Test

(ASC) Avalanche Safety Certification Practice Test

ASC ASC Route Planning & Travel Protocols