A Ski Cutting Primer

In this screen capture image, the author has initiated the ski cut and is headed for an island of safety.

IFMGA guide Billy Haas presents some general rules he employs when using a ski cut as an avalanche mitigation technique. 

In a 1964 article in the Times, the idea that humans have more than five senses is explored. The article shakes and bakes in the opener with this description: “One of the most striking observations has been one of the most recent—the very strong possibility that some human beings may be able to see with their fingertips.”

Fingertips. Actually seeing from fingertips. Outlandish. Maybe not; we’re not going down this rabbit hole. Hang with me here—it relates to backcountry travel. Every community has the avalanche guru. The sorcerer/sorceress who, like the person who detects color with the fingertips, has an extra sense to detect snow instabilities. 

I’m here to tell you that moving through the mountains is a mentally engaging activity. And to do so safely takes years of experience, mentors modeling good judgment and best practices, education, and even more experience. If there is a sixth sense, it is developed over time. And still, if you think you have this sixth sense, look up the word hubris. This is all to say that ski cutting, although it may be glorified at times, can be an effective tool to reduce hazard by mitigating an avalanche. Proceed with caution—there’s no sixth sense involved with the ski cut—it requires prudence.  

Let’s ground ourselves first with these words from a 2018 ISSW paper titled “Perspectives on Ski Cutting,” by John Stimberis:

“The ski cut itself is very dependent on the terrain and current snow conditions. Those involved with reducing slope scale hazard by intentionally releasing avalanches rarely enter the given situation without a strong working model of the current avalanche problem. These practitioners not only understand the avalanche type, but also the nuance of where it exists within the terrain. This working knowledge comes from an ongoing understanding of the local snow and weather conditions, and also the history of avalanches within their local terrain.”

In a few sentences, Stimberis underscores coming into the mountain theater with deep background knowledge. A ski cut is not and should not be your first data input for understanding the snowpack. Further, what I’m presenting here are some general rules I adhere to and teach in upper level avalanche courses as it relates to ski cutting as an avalanche mitigation technique. 

When to Use a Ski Cut?

• What are the snowpack qualifiers?

A ski cut is not for any persistent or deep instabilities. Even a deep storm or wind slab should be avoided. Also, a ski cut is not for hard slabs of any kind. These conditions present a likelihood of triggering a potentially dangerous avalanche when ski cutting, and have a high likelihood of returning a false positive result. Realistically, ski cuts should be used only for loose snow (dry and wet), and shallow soft slab problems.

• What are the terrain qualifiers?

Ideally you have a good spot to enter—but more importantly you have a spot to exit the slope to an island of safety. If there is no option for an island of safety, then consider using additional protection in the form of a rope or perhaps a ski cut is too dangerous. 

Consider slope size and consequence if caught. Hazard increases as slope size and complexity increases, so these can be considerations for whether or not a slope is appropriate for a ski cut or whether or not a rope should be used. Also, consider if the slope you are cutting is actually going to be representative or helpful for your run. I often see people ski cutting in the wrong spot, and on slopes that are too low angle, or don’t hold the avalanche problem one is trying to assess. For example, if ski cutting for shallow wind slabs, I will often see the mistake of people missing the wind loaded pocket off on the side, because they ski cut right in the gut. Ski cuts should be targeted, and not just random cuts across the slope.  

Technique 

There are a few fundamentals for safe and effective ski cutting.

Deliberate

Ski cutting is a deliberate action that is often a hard single fast turn from safe zone to safe zone (or on a rope). I see many people make their first turn a bit drawn out and call that a ski cut before flowing into their second turn. I think that is dangerous and a misunderstanding of the technique. The problem I see with making a less deliberate first turn with a flow into a second turn is by the time you realize your result (did the sk cut trigger an avalanche or generate significant sluff) you’ve already made your second turn and are now less likely to avoid being caught.

Strong Turn

Proper ski cutting should be initiated with speed and executed as a single fast turn. I don’t like the whole hopping technique you will sometimes see people doing as they cross a slope. In my opinion, this is really only useful in shallow loose snow situations that, perhaps, wouldn’t need a ski cut anyways. 

In the video below, the author demonstrates a safe zone to safe zone ski cut.

In the Field

Let’s take a moment to consider some more context because I think it’s important to identify why you are doing a ski cut. I don’t ski cut every run I ski. So first identify why. 

For me there are a few reasons: First, to test the reactivity of snow and see what the surface snow may be doing if I have any questions. Also, I may be doing this type of ski cutting as a final check before committing to a run. This is essentially checking to see what the snow may do, and or a final check to make sure the slope responds well to skiers. 

Another reason for a ski cut may be to purposely trigger an avalanche to “mitigate” a slope. The idea here is, you think it is likely the slope will be producing an avalanche and you want to purposely trigger this avalanche with a safe ski cut so that it doesn’t catch you as you ski the run. This is the concept behind a lot of the ski cutting patrollers will do to open inbounds terrain. 

The third most common situation for me would be a combo of both: to purposely trigger a smaller avalanche with a ski cut to test the reactivity of the rest of the slope. Realistically, even small avalanches put a large load on a slope and this can be a good indicator of stability if a slope responds well to the load of a smaller avalanche. Obviously there are other variations or concepts here but these are the three main reasons for ski cutting.

In the video below, the author uses a belay in a higher consequence piece of terrain without a great safe zone, and not much of an option to generate speed.

A Progression in Security

Back to the application. Atop a slope I’m considering ski cutting, I run through a progression in security. The progression goes something like this:

• Initially decide whether conditions warrant a ski cut.
• Then I decide if a slope/conditions are appropriate for a ski cut.
• If yes, then decide on how the ski cut will be executed. I use this basic mantra to visualize and plan the ski cut:  “Not too Low. Not too Slow. Have somewhere to go.”*
• If the terrain is such that it is of higher consequence then consider if a rope belay should be used, and what technique may be appropriate for that (there are a few which we’ll discuss in another piece on the topic). Keep in mind that a belay does not make the ski cut 100% safe. It is still possible to be hurt or killed with a belayed ski cut, especially if the belay is executed poorly, or the ski cut is done in an inappropriate situation. Basically, don’t just start ski cutting deeper slab problems because you have a rope.
• Lastly, continuously reevaluate whether or not ski cutting needs to be employed. Keep in mind that ski cuts can be used throughout a ski run, and are not limited to when a skier first enters a slope. Oftentimes, with more complex/longer runs, ski cuts at numerous points on the run may be effective and safe. Also, more than one of the skiers entering the slope can do a ski cut.

*“Not too Low.” (You are not going too low on the slope where moving/sluffing snow can accumulate, gain momentum and take you with it. “Not too Slow.” (Ski cut with speed and intent—carry ample momentum across the slope so you don’t stall out.) “Have somewhere to go.” (Identify that safe zone at the ski cut’s terminus.)

Ski Cutting in Crowded Zones

We’ve written in The High Route about skiing in zones where skier/rider density is increasing. My home zones in the Wasatch are a good example. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with how people access a specific zone and specific lines. Are they top down or bottom up? What are the usual skin track approaches? You want to ensure that if you are executing a ski cut, that a party is not ascending below in an area that exposes them to potential hazards–like an avalanche triggered by a ski cut. If the norm is to use a common group-to-group radio channel to promote communication and prevent such an incident, pre-ski cut would be a good time to check in and monitor the common radio channel. That said, it is the ultimate responsibility of all users to monitor and consider where other groups may be when deciding to enter terrain, and best practice is to limit exposure on the ascent.  Don’t expect an air raid siren to sound every time a skier drops a slope.