What is the purpose of slope cuts?

• A. Cut slopes from safe zone to safe zone to see what the snow does
• B. Drill holes
• C. Pull a snow pit
• D. Test with a shovel

Answer: (A)

A slope cut is used to trigger a small, controlled release on a suspect slope in order to observe how the snowpack behaves. By intentionally failing a thin layer or a wind slab, you can see whether the slope is likely to slide under real loading and how large a release might be. This direct observation helps you judge stability before crossing or staying on that slope, especially in areas with wind slabs or persistent weak layers. It’s important to perform this from a safe zone and plan a clear escape route so you’re not in the runout if a release occurs. This is different from drilling holes or pulling a full snow pit, which are observational tests of the snowpack’s layers, or simply testing with a shovel, which provides quick checks but not the same real-world triggering insight.