Actively gather stability information as you travel. Frequently step out of the track and "feel" the snow under your skis or feet. This can give you an idea of what the upper layers are comprised of. Poke your pole into undisturbed snow and "feel" the layers in the snowpack. When you poke your pole in do you feel heavy snow on top of light snow? Is there a crust? Is the snowpack shallow or deep?   Cornices are the bombs of the backcountry. Kicking and releasing soft small cornices can help test the surface stability of the slope below. Use caution where you stand, cornices often break back further than you think.

Listen for "whoomping" sounds and watch for cracks shooting from your skis or snowshoes. If you notice cracks shooting out from your skis or hear a "whoomping" sound, the snowpack is alerting you to instability. These signs indicate a weak layer in the snowpack that is collapsing or failing. You should look for and test this layer.