The videos posted to this channel since ~2015 are by Bruce Jamieson and colleagues. Some of the earlier videos on this channel are links to videos made by ASARC researchers (snowavalanchearchive.com/asarc). The links to all these videos can be shared freely and the videos used for any purpose, including commercially, provided the content and authorship are not altered.
        
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Many experienced backcountry riders believe that fast creep creates tension in the slab, which makes rider triggering easier. However, based on the visco-elastic behaviour of snow, this short video argues that creep is too slow to create elastic energy (including stored tension) in the slab. The elastic energy and tension in the slab are the result of a brittle crack propagating in the weak layer. So, slab tension is negligible BEFORE the rider triggers the crack in the weak layer, which then results in the slab avalanche. #slab #avalanche #tension #crack #propagation #thestartingzonebook For helpful comments on drafts of this short video, I thank Ron Simenhois (Colorado Avalanche Information Center), Karl Birkeland (Birkeland Snow and Avalanche Scientific) and Grant Statham (Parks Canada avalanche forecaster).

The why, how, when and where of probing the snowpack. Joe Stock and Bruce Jamieson, July 2026

It's easy to underestimate the size of an avalanche from a distance. In this video, Bruce Jamieson outlines a method using on-site estimates of size to calibrate estimates from a distance. March 2022. #avalanchesize #calibration #destructivepotential #size #snow #avalanche

Traditionally, convexities were associated with easier triggering of slab avalanches. However, there are two parts to a convex slope: the convexity near the top of the slope and the steeper slope below it. Contrary to traditional teaching, the steeper slope is where riders are more likely to trigger a slab avalanche. The convexity is where the the crown fracture is more likely to occur. But convexities are worthy of our attention when route-finding in avalanche terrain - they are easier to see in poor light and they help us locate steep slopes where triggering is more likely. Bruce Jamieson & Ron Simenhois (CAIC), January 2026 For technical comments and insight, thanks to Alec van Herwijnen, Karl Birkeland and Johan Gaume. #convex #slab #avalanche #trigger #route #crack #propagation #crown #fracture References Trottet, B., R. Simenhois, G. Bobillier, B. Bergfeld, A van Herwijnen, C, Jiang, J. Gaume. 2022. Transition from sub-Rayleigh anticrack to supershear crack propagation in snow avalanches. Nature Physics 18. Gaume, J., T. Gast, J. Teran, A. van Herwijnen, C. Jiang. 2018. Dynamic anticrack propagation in snow. Nature Communications 9, art. 3047. van Herwijnen, A. J. Heierli. 2009. Measurement of crack-face friction in collapsed weak snow layers. Geophysical Research Letters 36, L23502, doi:10.1029/2009GL040389, 2009

This video is about the first estimates of risk from rider triggered avalanches for various levels of avalanche danger. It assumes the skier does NOT use skilled route selection, i.e. the skier "center punches" the avalanche start zones. A presentation based on the paper: B. Jamieson, Schweizer, J., and Shea, C. 2009 Simple calculations of avalanche risk for backcountry skiing, International Snow Science Workshop. Davos, Switzerland. https://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/objects/issw-2009-0336-0340.pdf

Hopefully, this will spark discussion on how to classify avalanche size, especially for big avalanches. Based on a 2014 paper at the GeoHazards 6 conference and a corresponding 13 minute video. #avalanche #size #Size5 #SelkirkMountains #D-scale #destructivepotential

A brief how-to for common snowpack tests to locate and assess instabilities within the snowpack, presented by Mike Conlan. #ect #extendedcolumntest #rb #rutschblock #pst #propagationsawtest #compressiontest #ct #handsheartest #deeptaptest #dt #crackpropagation #avalancheforecasting Start times of tests in this video are as follows: 1:32 Compression Test 5:06 Deep Tap Test 7:28 Extended Column Test 10:54 Rutschblock Test 14:48 Propagation Saw Test 18:48 Shovel Shear Test 20:49 Hand Shear Test 22:11 Concluding remarks on initiation, propagation, and limitations. The specifications in this video are based on OGRS (Canadian Avalanche Association 2016). See https://vimeo.com/479569510 for the U.S. interpretation of the ECT, which was adopted in Canada in 2024. Fracture character video: http://vimeo.com/30996756

Hopefully, this presentation will spark discussion on how to classify avalanche size, especially for big avalanches. Based on a paper presented at the 2014 Geohazards 6 conference in Kingston, Ontario. For the paper behind this presentation, search for: large avalanche selkirk reflections #geohazards6 #avalanche #size #destructivepotential #selkirkmountains #size5 #classification

An opinion on the much debated question about whether or not to do snowpack instability tests. Includes ECT technique and interpretation. Doug Chabot and Bruce Jamieson #snow #avalanche #snowpacktest #stabilitytest #avalancheforecasting #ect #extendedcolumntest #dougchabot #propagation

A video chat with Iain Stewart-Patterson, May 2021, about intuitive and analytical thinking, trip planning, decision aids and mindsets for recreation in avalanche terrain. #avalancheterrain #backcountryrecreation #heuristic #analytical #intuition #decision-making #iainStewart-Patterson

Strategies for reducing risk in the backcountry #avalanche #craft #ebook #snowpacktest #terrain #mindset #companion #avalancherescue

This video outlines some general advantages and disadvantages of avalanche decision aids. The advantages and disadvantages are general enough that – I hope – both backcountry recreationists and avalanche practitioners find something useful in this video. This video does not explain how to use any decision aids but does show four decision aids and identify where to find more information on them. #decision #decisionaid #avalanche #uncertainly #avaluator