A description of an installation is given that allows to observe and to measure artificially released masses of snow sliding over an inclined plane and especially to measure the impact pressure on an obstacle. The installation consists of an acceleration section 21 meters long and of a measuring section 3·5 meters long on which obstacles can be placed. The forces are measured with strain gauges and for measuring the velocity of the moving snow masses light barriers are arranged along the acceleration section. The impact pressure upon a yielding obstacle is calculated assuming an unidimensional elastic continuum.