How to properly cut steps with an ice axe?

by **brenta** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 6:46 pm

Good summary by knoback and Fred. When cutting steps on steep slopes, turn one side into the slope, carve a notch for the uphill hand and hold the axe in the downhill hand. Start from the close end of the step and work toward the far end. Ideally, a step is large enough to hold the whole sole of your boot and slopes slightly inward.

Quoting from a recent thread:

Cutting steps remained popular long after crampons were invented--even 12-point crampons. The first 12-point crampons were made by Laurent Grivel in 1929. They were used for the first ascent of the Eiger Nordwand. Yet, when in 1968 Flematti and Desmaison climbed the Linceul on the Grandes Jorasses, they still cut thousands of steps in the ice. When Messner wrote of his solo ascent of the North Face of the Droites in 1969, he felt the need to explain why he didn't cut steps. Incidentally, he carried an axe and a dagger, which was not unusual at the time. The late sixties and early seventies saw the development of "piolet traction" which required not only front points but two (short) tools. Only then the decline of the adze begun, some forty years after the invention of the 12-point crampons.

Deleted User · by **Deleted User** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 6:48 pm

LOL @ fortmental!

by **rhyang** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 8:04 pm

welle wrote:It's helpful technique even if you have crampons on - say you have to take a rest on a steep snow slope, or belaying...

What you're doing there is more chopping / digging out a stance rather than steps. Perfectly reasonable though.

Deleted User · by **Deleted User** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 8:49 pm

by **Sierra Ledge Rat** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 10:23 pm

While we're on the subject, what's the best way to repair my cagoule?

Deleted User · by **Deleted User** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:03 pm

Sierra Ledge Rat wrote:While we're on the subject, what's the best way to repair my cagoule?

Is it a dark blue North Face coated nylon, extendable cagoule?

by **Brad Marshall** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 12:34 am

Perhaps we should move this thread to the sarcasm forum? :lol:

by **John Duffield** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:19 am

FortMental wrote:

A feucking scream.

by **Big Benn** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:38 pm

Sometimes people coming to SP Forums for the first time may like to ask a basic question just to break the ice, (sorry, no pun intended), and maybe see what sort of welcome they get.

Maybe that is not the case here, but how do we know that at present?

by **The Chief** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:14 pm

If you can get a hold of Norman Kingsley's great Book:

You will find a some illustrations along with a detailed description of doing so in Chapt. 3 on pages 37-41.

You will also find a good description with illustrations in Chapt 14 or the "ICE CLIMBING" Chapt of the this awesome book which can be found at any library or purchased at any Climbing Shop. Well worth the investment actually:

PS: Very valuable skill to know and master which can one day save your ass if the situ dictates.

How to properly cut steps with an ice axe?

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