|
Use of the ice ax.—(1) When the climber is skiing, the ax is placed head down in the rucksack, the pick preferably resting against something more substantial than the sugar bag.
2) During an ascent on rock the ax may be suspended
by the wrist loop, inserted through the belt behind the hip,
placed like a sword through a loop of rawhide tied where
the left shoulder strap meets the rucksack, or placed head
down in the pack. No method is satisfactory, but any is
better than leaving behind an ax that may be needed badly
3) Easy glacier walking. The ax is used primarily as a
cane, and is held with the hand over the shaft and the pick
out or forward. It may be carried horizontally, with the
point forward, so that the user can choose whom it sticks,
and the pick down, where he won't fall on it. A third posi
tion is under the armpit, the pick curving up behind the
shoulder, the point forward and down. In traverses of
gentle slopes the ax is held in the uphill hand.
4) Steep slopes. When steps are kicked and the slope
is steep enough to require additional assurance, the shaft
should be driven vertically and deep into the snow to serve
as a secure handhold for each pair of steps. Steps will
break out if the climber leans in too far to grasp the ax.
5) Probing. Here the ax is used for safety, testing for
each step the consistency of questionable snow, searching
for hidden crevasses. Resistance to the ax is being com
pared, and only experience will tell the climber what the
comparison means. A simple rule, not wholly adequate, is:
if the ice ax stops, the snow may hold your weight; if the ax
doesn't stop, you had better. If probing is necessary at all, the party should be roped.
6) Glissading. The ice ax serves as a rudder, outrigger,
and brake for the climber who wishes to descend snow
slopes quickly by sliding on his feet or seated. If the snow
surface is right, christiania swings will work passably well
without skis. Skiers should take care, however, that they
develop a thorough respect for high-mountain snow slopes,
which take a heavy toll of the ignorant. Once sliding has
started it is not always possible to stop, should the snow
slope turn out to have a surprise ending, such as a talus
pile, crevasse, or cliff. If the shape and consistency of the
slope are not fully known, glissading should be attempted
only by a roped party, one man moving at a time. The
sitting glissade is swifter than the standing position, but
less graceful, wetter, harder to control, and the climber is
vulnerable to rocks hidden, but not padded, by snow.
Related terms include taos skiing and skiing in new hampshire.
Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/skimount/public_html/taos_skiing_skiing_in_new_hampshire.htm on line 299
Warning: include(http://www.unrealwebmastery.com/cj/Debt_Central2_336x280.htm) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/skimount/public_html/taos_skiing_skiing_in_new_hampshire.htm on line 299
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.unrealwebmastery.com/cj/Debt_Central2_336x280.htm' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/skimount/public_html/taos_skiing_skiing_in_new_hampshire.htm on line 299
|
|