Leash stop – a rubber keeper or metal stud preventing the leash from slipping off of the ice axe.Often secured by a ring constrained to slide a limited distance on the shaft. Leash – nylon webbing with an adjustable loop for securing the axe to hand.Usually made of steel.Ī leather pick & adze guard installed on an ice axe
Spike, or ferrule - a point at the base of the shaft used for balance and safety when the axe is held by its head in walking stick fashion.Traditional shafts were made of wood, but are now almost exclusively of lightweight metals (such as aluminum, titanium and steel alloys) or composites (including fiberglass, Kevlar or carbon filament). Shaft - straight or slightly angled, typically wider front-to-back than side-to-side, flat on the sides and smoothly rounded on the ends.May be used for aiding placement of protection. Hammer - the hammer is an alternative to the adze.Adze - the flat, wide end of the head used for chopping steps in hard snow and ice.Pick - the toothed pointed end of the head, typically slightly curved (aiding both in ergonomics and self-arrest).A hole in the center is provided for attaching a wrist leash or carabiner. Head – usually made of steel and featuring a pick and adze.Some of these have aluminum alloy heads/picks which are unlikely to be as effective or robust as steel heads/picks.Īn ice axe consists of at least five components: Used in a pair, one is usually equipped with an adze for chipping and clearing snow whilst the other has a hammer to aid gear placement.įor ski mountaineering and racing, where weight is of paramount concern, manufacturers have produced short (~45 cm (18 in)) and light (200–300 g (7–11 oz)) ice axes. Ice tools have shorter and more curved shafts stronger, sharper, and more curved replaceable picks, and often ergonomic grips and finger rests. Specialized scaled-down ice axes used for vertical ice climbing are known as ice tools.
Technical ice axes, which may have curved shafts, are strong enough to be used for steep or vertical ice climbing and belaying on such ground. Basic ice axes are designed for use in snow conditions for general mountaineering, and are adequate for basic support and self-arrest. There are two classifications of ice axe, Basic (B/Type 1) and Technical (T/Type 2). Most ice axes meet design and manufacturing standards of organizations such as the Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA) or European Committee for Standardization (CEN). The long-handled alpenstock was a predecessor to the modern ice axe.Īn ice axe is not only used as an aid to climbing, but also as a means of self-arrest in the event of a downhill slip.
The adze is used to cut footholds, as well as scoop out compacted snow to bury the axe as a belay anchor. It can also be buried pick down, the rope tied around the shaft to form a secure anchor on which to bring up a second climber, or buried vertically to form a stomp belay. On steep terrain it is swung by its handle and embedded in snow or ice for security and an aid to traction. Its use depends on the terrain: in its simplest role it is used like a walking stick, with the mountaineer holding the head in the center of their uphill hand. An ice axe is a multi-purpose hiking and climbing tool used by mountaineers in both the ascent and descent of routes that involve snow, ice, or frozen conditions.