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Method

Feature Inspection Card

A tactical checklist: approach, lip/crest, intended trajectory, landing visibility, surface, traffic, stopping space and exit.

HOW TO DO IT

Feature Inspection Card

Feature inspection makes the intended approach, departure, contact area and exit explicit before choosing the movement. It is a tactical process, not a guarantee of suitability.

Preparation and setting

Access to a view of the full feature and appropriate skill to evaluate the selected task.

Execution / practice sequence

  1. Inspect approach and lip/crest.
  2. Identify intended flight or grounded path.
  3. Check landing surface and visibility.
  4. Check traffic and runout.
  5. Record unknowns.
  6. Select the task, another route or a bypass.

How to learn / practise

Apply the same process to one familiar feature before more complex terrain. Recheck after material condition changes.

Errors and corrections

Only checking the lip omits most of the task. Treating an unknown as acceptable because the feature looks small is unsupported.

Observable checks

The intended task has a documented route, contact area and usable exit.

SOURCE-BACKED DETAIL

Characteristics

Record type
editorial tool
Evidence type
SBSweet editorial proposal (not a quoted source)

01

editorial review notes

Unknown fields stay explicit; choose a grounded route or another feature when the task cannot be assessed. Does not replace backcountry or exposed-terrain assessment.