Thank You Evan, Backcountry and Outdoor Research for Snow Pit Basics. Hopefully more backcountry users will at least do this along with getting forecasts, if not take a certification course. It can save their lives. Too many don't bother with any precautions, even when reminded. (Note the thumbs down and troll comments). Famous last words here in Colorado: "We ski to die!" A lot of us are alive for taking precautions. My mantra: "Any doubt, take the safer route," until the snowpack settles and compaction tests show it. I've lived and skied here since 1975 with 4 seasons at Winter Park and 6 at Loveland on patrol. I was fortunate to have known Jack Mason, Ron Kidder and Dale Atkins who set the standard in taking precautions by the book. With rising global temperatures, more frequent freeze-thaw cycles and increase of seismic activity from fracking, the probability of avalanches has also increased. Airbags, Avalungs, Beacons etc aren't a guarantee that we will survive a slide. Precautions Are Paramount along with Practice, Practice, Practice. Another season will soon be upon us. We need to be safe. Happy Trails Everyone. And thanks again Evan, BC and OR. (NB Nice turns, Evan. It's why we do this, isn't it? Any relation to the Civil War hero and pioneer governor of Washington state for whom the famous Stevens Pass is named?)

The problem every snowpit video has is that nobody gives results. I'm not sure if everyone is too scared to give advices wether to go or not but I'll never learn to read it properly before it's too late if it's down to own experience. Like here, would you ski that or not? Was this result a steady snowpack or was it conserning?

Thanks Evan.

I would have love to eat this snow ❄️

evan is solid. have had enough beers and played enough backgammon with him to know.

Mokay...and it's good, it's bad? I don't care at how many taps the snow fails....I care about avalanches. How do I corelate the test with the avalanches?

Hi, I like your overview on compression testing, but I would appreciate a commentary from an expert on what results are a red light for skiing on similar terrain to the test. We use the low/moderate/considerable/high/extreme scale on Mt Washington where I ski, and the moderate to considerable range would be conditions I would red light on, but I don't have a good feel for how that translates from the compression test. Also, the snow rangers only post conditions for the east side the mountain.

To finish the comment, they don't post conditions where I ski on the west side of the mountain, yet it does slide, so we're more on our own in determining the safety of the terrain.

World Wide Web haven’t heard that in a long time 😂

Great video but it should be updated as it does not show an ECT. I also did not like how it did not show the progression from your CT15 on up to 30. Leaves people thinking that you stop at the first failure you find.

Mostly a good video,however a couple comments. The guide in the video says his compression test failed at 5, but it actually failed at 15. He also says, "I like to do the CT because it is kind of the quickest, blah, blah" You should actually chose a test because it is the appropriate test for the "Avalanche problems for the day" not because it is your favorite and you are good at it, or it is easy and quick.