Pit Test Basics and How to Survive in Avalanche Terrain

[@Jeremywm]

It's nice to see someone actually talk about if they would ski or not. The problem with all the avy videos and writing is they never tell you when you should or shouldn't ski. While I get people don't want to risk saying it's safe or not but most people I see digging pits have no idea when or if they should be going or not.

[@spurkuspuke]

Totally agree on this!!

[@craigbosko2229]

True but it's the testing and evaluation that determines weather a person is to go ski or snowboarding and to use common sense.

[@salesandmarketing7958]

Simplest easiest common sense presentation I’ve seen showing how but also the implications. Good scripting and flow 👍

[@mitushoff]

KZbin algorithm should make this video viral. After skiing 7 years in resorts, I am bringing my 10 and 13 year old boys into multi day hut to hut ski touring. This video is as close as you can get to the real course about snow tests and should be watched multiple times prior to taking any courses. Nice trick with the rope, carrying saw and test snow kit is way to much weight and space in the backpack. Only one minor remark about your trick with adding a bit of snow for the shoulder taps: I would personally not do it, because it "takes" away a lot of force from the shoulder tap... thus introducing additional inaccuracy to the test. Great video! Thank you very very much for creating it.

[@nathansaier]

Preach man, we'd definitely appreciate the exposure and we're glad you like the video! Honestly, we're just out there skiing everyday and wanna bring a bit of that experience back to get more people shredding in the outdoors.

[@BACKPACKERish]

Fantastic video man! I'm not a skier, but as a backpacker this content is super helpful too!

[@spurkuspuke]

Do more videos like this! This is the content what is missing from KZbin. You will go viral.

[@madcnd4740]

Well done sire - basics clearly demonstrated with the emphasis on required decision making at the moment for the full day!

[@orblyworbly1357]

Great video!!! Super practical. Well done!!

[@scottie10014]

Great video. Love to see you opt not to ski higher, riskier conditions/terrain in favor of lower/safer terrain. As others have said, it's often skipped.

[@lloydsmith2389]

Fantastic. This was the information I've been looking for. Thanks! Happy slidin'!

[@nathansaier]

Stoked you liked it!

[@mattlee6991]

Do you know the slope angle that slid? Looks about 30-35? Wondering why you close to ski that area with the test results you got. Was it because you were familiar with it and had a plan to mitigate if it did slide? Not judging, just trying to get a better understanding of the thought process. I am relatively new to the backcountry so just trying to get more opinions.

[@ausbow]

Great explanation, man! Thank you 🤘

[@wadeliljenquist917]

Great job explaining. I really appreciate your perspective and experience in the mountains.

[@tv74-f4h]

Nice tip to cut the snow with a rope, something I always carry for small repairs. Thanks.

[@craigbosko2229]

Have you ever used a " SNOW SAW "

[@tv74-f4h]

@@craigbosko2229 yes, something I DON'T carry all the time with me

[@SeaSafari-l4l]

Well done. Nicely explained. I learned a lot.

[@clari1]

This is great!!! Thanks so much, I would love to see more content like this and how to interpret different types of pit test results. E.g. how many taps is okay, what type of slab make it more or less okay, and how that relates to risk tolerance. Maybe just describing your personal rules for yourself as all people will have different rules based on their risk tolerance. Like some ppl may not want to ski a slope at all if they think there’s a 10% chance it would slide, but others are willing to risk it if they think it would be a smaller slide and use tools like the “safe zone” and shoulder look that you described. Thanks again for the video!

[@peterduce2818]

Good job on the video! Iv been skiing for years and have been caught in an avalanche and triggered avalanches. This is great simple clip to understand the signs.

[@nathansaier]

Thank you!! Just trying to spread the knowledge. Glad you've been able to make it out of all the slides!

[@elcik4143]

awsome vid man. really helpful, keep it up

[@andyinzuerich]

This was helpful. Thank you.

[@stevengilez]

Appreciating this. Thank you.

[@kylesharbrough1817]

Great knowledge, thanks brother

[@GraemeChapman-d6z]

Really helpful information.

[@FruityHippo]

great video. do you have any other videos like this?

[@nathansaier]

Heyo, sorry been running all over for winter. We have a full backcountry guide up on the channel that Jordan did and I have a ton of videos in the pipeline. It's really hard to find time for personal videos when client work takes most my time but if you have any specific topics you want covered let me know and I'll make them my next priority.

[@Boardrider3x1]

Thank you very much, excellent video!! Have a great winter season

[@nathansaier]

Stoked to hear it man! Praying for snow!

[@snowytom]

Great video, thank you :)

[@miguelarestegui12]

Excellent content, continue the great work!

[@nathansaier]

Hugely appreciate it man, ngl we kinda stopped working on the channel for a bit but it'd be a dream to make this channel full time. We will be back this season with regular videos hopefully!

[@tpouw]

Great work!

[@nathansaier]

Appreciate it man! Just here to share the love for what we do! Let us know what you'd be interested in seeing in the future.

[@thomas-ci8sl]

could you say a little more specifically when a terrain is dangerous/good to ski. say after 15taps 20taps …

[@nathansaier]

One reason we avoid saying something like that is because there is no hard and fast rule. Additionally failures happen in a variety of ways, compression, separation, propagating, nonpropagating. I've skied a slope that failed on 5 with non-propagating collapse of the top layer, and I've refused to ski a slope that broke at 27 with a deep weak layer. I've also been in an avalanche where the test didn't fail. Common sense and caution is the hard and fast rule. Nothing else will keep you alive.

[@craigbosko2229]

After you make your Snow Pit Wall and your going to use your shovel, after you put your shovel vertically straight down DO NOT BEND YOUR SHOVEL TO AN ANGEL, USE 2 HANDS(one at the very top and top and the other just above the blade)AND KEEPING THE SHOVEL SHAFT TOTALLY VEHICLE AND WITH BOTH HANDS SOMEWHAT PULL AND FORCE THE ENTIRE SHOVEL TOWARDS YOURSELF TILL THE ENTIRE BLOCK OF SNOW COMES COMPLETELY OUT THAT WAY YOU GET A TRUE SQUARE BREAK.

[@bradybrajavich-hl4gp]

Don’t try to learn this material from a KZbin video. Go take an AIARE course to learn how to manage risk in the backcountry; it is a vast topic and pits are one of the last things you need to learn (if ever). Pits are never a go/no-go decision maker. They are used EXCLUSIVELY to compare to what you are expecting to see from your pre trip planning. Pits can only close terrain, never open it. Again, if you value your safety, don’t try to get your avy training from an uncertified KZbinr. Take a course.

[@saier5888]

Carrying a probe is for amateurs, and earbuds are the best way to cut your column

[@largeman1624]

Never trust a skinny chef…

[@brotherman881]

The snowpit/stability test portion of this video is completely inaccurate.

[@brycetwyning4436]

how so?

[@brotherman881]

@@brycetwyning4436 Unfortunately, Nathan doesn’t even know the name or dimensions of the tests he's trying to describe. The first test he did was a shovel shear test - 30 cm by 30 cm isolated on 3 sides. Nathan doesn't have a snow saw which makes this test difficult to conduct accurately. The second test is called the Extended Column Test or ECT. The ECT is 90 cm's long by 30 deep isolated on all sides. Again, Nathan doesn't know the actual dimensions of this test. The ECT is used to assess both initiation and propagation. Initiation is the force it takes to impact a buried weak layer (number of taps). Then, you're trying to determine if the weak layer is capable of collapsing and propagating. If the weak layer collapses and propagates to the end of the column - ECTP #, that is an unstable result. Nathan called it an ECT 14, which is incorrect. If the weak player collapses (Nathan's term is break/settles) and only propagates part way across the column - ECTN #, it's considered a stable result. This is just a simple explanation of a video that is not explained well at all. There is a lot more to it. The bottom line is that snowpits and stability tests are used to turn you around, not to make you more aggressive. If you decide to ski or ride in avalanche terrain, then much more information has already been gathered.

[@craigbosko2229]

You are absolutely correct.