Climbers have a number of ways to get safely across a field of crevasses.

The first step in safe glacier travel is figuring out where the crevasses are and picking a route through them.

All rescues are team rescues to some degree, because the fallen climber usually needs some help getting over the crevasse lip even in a self-rescue.

A crevasse rescue can be complicated by any number of unusual twists.

The first rule of safe glacier travel is very simple: rope up. Roping up is especially critical in areas above the firn line, where the glacier gets more snow every year than it loses to melting, making it likely that snow covers some crevasses.

As in other forms of roped climbing, ice climbers have the options of using running belays or fixed belays.

Ice climbers have several options for anchors to use in belaying or rappelling, including ice bollards, the Abalakov V-thread, and multiple ice screws.

Modern ice screws offer dependable security on ice climbs. However, there is some sacrifice of safety in the time and energy it takes to put them in place.

The objective of placing any ice tool is to establish a solid placement with one swing.

Ice climbers usually employ features of 2 basic techniques, depending on steepness of the slope, conditions of the ice, and their ability and confidence level.

Modern ice axes require little special care, beyond keeping them clean and sharp.

No source of natural water should be considered safe for drinking before it's properly disinfected.

High altitude disorders are common above an altitude of 8,000 feet.

Alpine climbers often encounter short sections of ice or frozen snow.

Climbers tie the rope into a harness designed to distribute the force of a fall over a larger percentage of the body.