Self Arrest Ice Axe

Ice axe self arrest from walking.

Self arrest ice axe.

Use of an ice axe greatly increases the probability of. In firn snow the head of the ice axe should be used for self arrest. Self arrest with ice axe. But it has to be wrapped around the head of the ice axe so it s really short.

70 cm long with a head and adze is sufficient for self arrest. Subscribe to our channel for the latest training videos climbing tutorials and more. I don t see any good reason for not using a leash. An ice axe has many uses but it is primarily a safety tool for helping you stop an unexpected fall down a slope which is called making a self arrest.

Self arrest can be performed by using ice axe and a combination of a climber s boots hands feet knees and elbows. The freedom of the hills is all yours with the proper ice axe to stabilize your footing if you slip balance you on the descent and to stop your fall in the event you find yourself needing to self arrest. To be able to self arrest effectively it s important to practise. In this video we review the self arrest technique a way of stopping a.

Personaly i wouldn t feel well without the leash. A short ice axe can also be used well for self arrest which actually holds better and can be better handled when braking a fall. Watch my video demonstration of the self arrest technique and here s a step by. It holds the ice axe tightly in my hand.

Ice axe self arrest starting in a seated position. Even with good skills there is always a possibility of taking a slip or a trip and if you do then having the appropriate techniques to self arrest is paramount. In slovenia we always teach self arrest with wrist leash. Self arrest is a technique employed in mountaineering in which a climber who has fallen and is sliding down a snow or ice covered slope arrests the slide by themselves without recourse to a rope or other belay system.

Learning how to properly self arrest is a life saving skill that will take lots of practice to master but learning the basics is easy. But relax this list will get you to where you want to be and get you there safely with the best choices in ice axes for you mountain travels. But we always wrap wrist leash around the head of the ice axe. To avoid these potential problems carry an ice axe with you and know how to use it to stop yourself by using a technique called the self arrest.

The self arrest involves planting your axe into the snow to stop a fall if you slip on a steep snow covered slope.