Author: Gavin Hess

Ice Axes for Skiing: A Primer

The ice axe is as much a mountain tool as it is a universal symbol for mountain climbing. You may find yourself on this page because you are shopping for a first ice axe or want to expand your knowledge of these tools and the modern options available. An ice axe, in the context of modern technical skiing, is quite a different beast relative to the wooden-handled, wedge-headed mountaineering axes of years past.

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Rappelling on Skinny Ropes—Part 1: Devices

As high tech, skinny ropes continue to grow in popularity throughout the ski touring world, I often wonder how many users are having close calls or scary experiences rappelling on these ropes. In many ways, rappelling on a 6mm-ish rope is similar or the same process as rappelling on a regular climbing rope—but when it comes to adding friction, the skinny ropes require some practice, personal testing, and expertise. 

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