Compression Test Dig your pit at least one meter (3 ft) deep, or deeper if there is any suspected buried weak layer. When doing the compression test it is good to do two or three quick tests so you can compare results, so your pit should be at least 60 cm (36 inches) wide. First, isolate a column of snow. Make a mark with your shovel blade on the uphill portion of your pit and then use a snow saw or ski to cut the sides of the column. You will need to be able to cut the back of the column, so if you donít have a snow saw on a pole, you can either trench out the sides or cut out a triangle of snow next to the column to give you access to the back. Next cut the back of the column all the way to the floor of your pit so that you have a square column roughly 30 cm by 30 cm (12 inches ) square. Remember, all 4 sides must be isolated from the adjoining snow. Now you will test how well the layers are bonded together by applying a series of compressive forces to the column. When the snow fails at a weak layer, it is rated according to how much force was required to make it fail. VERY EASY means the layer failed when the column was being cut. Next place a shovel blade on top of the column. Tap the blade 10 times with your fingertips, moving your hand from your wrist. EASY means a layer failed when you tapped the shovel from your wrist. Now tap the shovel blade 10 times moving your hand from your elbow. MODERATE means a layer failed when tapped from your elbow. Finally, hit the shovel blade with your open hand or fist, moving from your shoulder. HARD means a layer failed when hit from your shoulder. INTREPRETING RESULTS To understand the results of this and other tests, it is important to remember that stability is relative to the amount and rate of stress exerted on the snowpack. The more force required to make a layer fail, the better the stability. The location of the failures is also very important. For example, you should be more concerned about an "EASY" failure two feet deep in your pit than one four inches deep. * To learn a more quantifiable compression test check out the Stuffblock Test. www.csac.org/Professional/papers/stuffblock-fs/	Mark column with shovel blade Trench or cut the sides and back of column Tap 10 times from wrist, then elbow, then shoulder Example of a layer in snowpack that is strong and cohesive, but poorly bonded to layer below it.