If you were backcountry skiing and wanted to conduct a rutschblock test to assess the avalanche risk,what would you do?
A) dig a hole one metre deep and examine the character of the snow layers
B) pull back the upper part of a column of snow with your shovel and observe the fractures produced
C) push on the snow with the back of your shovel and observe fractures on the exposed vertical face
D) push on the snow with your skis, then jump on it and assess the force necessary to set the snow in motion
E) throw a fist-sized rock or larger snowball at the slope you're testing and observe the resulting pattern

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The rutschblock test involves cutting out a column of snow and then applying pressure to it in increasing stages, including pushing with skis and then jumping on it, to assess the stability of the snowpack and the likelihood of an avalanche.

If You Were Backcountry Skiing and Wanted to Conduct a Rutschblock