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Articles & Columns
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Anchors: Tying In
The most common way for the belayer to tie in to the anchor is with the climbing rope itself, using the first few feet of rope as it comes from its tie-in at the belayer's harness.
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Rope Handling
Rope handling takes practice. When belaying the leader, never let the rope get taut, because that would impede the climber's next move.
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Communication
Succinct voice commands allow climbers to communicate even when they can not see each other.
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Belaying: An Introduction
Belaying is a bedrock technique of climbing safety, a system of using a rope to stop a fall if one should occur.
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Roped Climbing: Belaying On Snow
Snow climbers choose from a range of techniques that provide belay protection to their ropemates.
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Techniques: Using The Ice Ax
Knowing the technique of planting the ice-ax shaft to help guard yourself against falls while snow climbing is as important as knowing what to do if it occurs.
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Techniques: Descending Snow
One mark of a skillful snow climber is the ability to go downhill efficiently and confidently.
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Techniques: Self Arrest
In the event of a slip on snow, you must know how to regain control as quickly as possible.
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Roped Climbing: Team Protection
If your party decides it would be safer overall to rope up, there are several different ways to match the type of rope protection to the conditions of the climb and the strengths of the climbers.
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Roped Climbing: Snow Anchors
Anchors are needed in snow for the same reasons they are needed on rock.
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Routefinding On Snow
Mountaineers read the snow surface and terrain features to determine a safe, efficient route.
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Avalanche Safety
Climbers have many ways to minimize the risk of avalanches and to increase their chances of survival if one hits.
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Crevasse Rescue: Prusiking Methods for Self-Rescue
Self-rescue is often the easiest and fastest crevasse rescue, regardless of party size.
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Crevasse Rescue: Inside the Crevasse
While the climbers on top are busy going through the various steps leading toward final rescue, the fallen climber has work to do down below, beginning with the moment of recovery from the fall.
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Crevasse Rescue: Rescue Response
The depths of a great crevasse exhibit an awful beauty, both enticing and repellent.
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