Tester Information

I've used this snow saw for the months of December and January, 2010 in variable snow conditions above 10k in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

Info for the  Brooks Range Scientist 35 Snow Saw:

Snow Saw Review:

For the last 20 years of working and playing in the snow, I've used a variety of tools to assist in analyzation of the winter snowpack.  From large paint brushes (with the handle cut-off) to numerous types of thermometers and magnifying glasses; the tools involved in snow study have continued to evolve to become less heavy, more effective, and luckily more portable in a backcountry setting.  

The primary goal of a snow saw is for isolating vertical columns of snow in a test pit, on which  a variety of shear and compression tests are performed to better understand the nature of the weak layers that are the key to slab avalanche failure.  When layers are less dense, almost any type of snow saw will work, but when we find very hard layers due to wind compaction, ice layers, or simply more dense snow, a sharp saw is key to cut through these pencil and knife density slabs.  

The Brooks Range Snow Saw is incredibly sharp, and although I don't plan on performing any amputations while in the mountains, be assured that his saw would take care of the operation in a matter of minutes.  For dense snow, it slices and dices as if the snow were warm butter and so little time is wasted in the cutting process and the result is a much straighter cut than with a more blunt instrument.  

The compact carrying case provided with the Snow Scientist 35 is simple and made of a very durable nylon that protects the contents of your pack from this super sharp instrument.  The case includes a belt strap loop in case you want to attach this saw to the outside of your pack for quick retrieval-  I'm usually taking off my pack and sitting down for a minute before digging a snow pit, but I suppose there are other uses for this saw in which quick retrieval would be helpful.

These specific snow study saws should easily facilitate the cutting of  a 30cm  square column that is the scientific standard in snow science and so the total 41cm length of this Brooks Range snow saw is the minimum length necessary to accurately perform these compression and sheer column tests.  All of the Brooks Range saws have the ability to be attached to a ski pole or shovel handle to make an even longer  tool to aid in the cutting of larger rutschblock and extended columns.  Ski straps sold separately aid in the attachment of these extenders to the saw.

Since I'm almost always on some type of strenuous ski tour when using these tools for study of the dynamic and variable snow that blankets the Rockies, the size and weight of each component is crucial.  This new Scientist 35 Snow Saw from Brooks Range adds another great tool to the backcountry 'box' while reducing the weight and bulk of it's predecessors by a wide margin.

Thanks, Brooks Range for reducing my pack weight and providing a super compact saw that really does the job!

Brooks Range has been around for many years and is widely recognized within the guiding community for their innovative, top-quality backcountry gear for professional mountain and ski guides, alpinists and backcountry travelers.  These fantastic tools are now available to all backcountry enthusiasts and we highly recommend them.

Listed Dimensions: