Snow Module s00
When I am planning a backcountry trip, I look at Avalanche Canada's avalanche forecast. It synthesizes and summarizes many snowpack observations from avalanche professionals and paid observers (including those at ski resorts), as well as backcountry riders.
Mountain Information Network is also a great resource. It allows you to access recent (and old) observations from other backcountry skiers. Anyone can submit observations, so they may not all be presented very professionally.
Below are three (fabricated) recent snowpack observations you might find in the Mountain Information Network to help you assess the snowpack for your case.
Finished the Wapta Traverse this morning. 5 cm new snow in past few days up high, great travel and skiing conditions. Although we didn't see any signs of instability, we were spooked by a couple of our snow pit results, so didn't get on anything too steep (over 30 degrees). An 8 cm layer of facets is evident anywhere from 120-170 cm deep depending on the pit. Above this the snow is largely well-consolidated, 4F hardness, with the top 5 cm fist hardness. Extended column tests ranged from ECTP17-20. Had fun on mellower slopes. Entrance onto the Peyto Glacier was a bit tricky, so watch out for crevasses there.
NOTE TO STUDENTS: (1) 30 degrees is a moderately steep slope. (2) ECTP17-20 indicates it would be fairly hard to trigger an avalanche, but if triggered it would likely propagate, forming a large avalanche.
Location: Mount Unity, AB
Elevation: 2300-2600 m
Slope angles skied: up to 45 degrees
Snow conditions: 3-5 cm new, drifted to 15 cm in couloir,
with soft old snow underneath
Pit results: Didn't dig one
Observations: Avalanche sign at the backcountry
gate said moderate. We didn't see any new avalanches around, so figured
we'd be fine. Booted up a sick couloir we'd
been eyeing for a while. Nailed it in
perfect boot-depth pow, totally whiteroomed
on a few turns. So stoked. No idea why the avy
report says moderate danger, seems totally overblown to me.
NOTE TO STUDENTS: (1) Mount Unity is in the Lake Louise backcountry, very close to the south end of the Wapta Traverse. (2) 45 degrees is a very steep slope.
Day tour on Parker Ridge. Nice ski conditions with ~8 cm new on a soft base. Took a couple of laps in the usual spots, pushing 30 degrees, with no signs of instability. However, on our 3rd lap we ventured a bit further out and heard a very scary sounding whumpf. This was near a ridgeline where the snowpack was thinner. We promptly retreated with our tails between our legs and took our final lap on a 20 degree slope.
NOTE TO STUDENTS: (1) Parker Ridge is a popular backcountry area about 80 km north of the Wapta, with a similar snow climate. (2) 20 degrees is a low-angle slope.
xInfo
If you're interested in seeing an Extended Column Test (ECT) in the real world, check out this video and this slightly more exciting video that both fail with propagation, and this one that does not fail.