Five Ways to Use an Ice Axe: An Infographic

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The Ice Axe is among the most adaptable of all a mountaineer’s tools. A good ice axe can serve many purposes, though it’s most important is widely considered the “self-arrest” used to stop a slide or fall. In this infographic, we demonstrate a few different ways to use an ice axe, though there are of course many more than just these!

If you want to learn more, we recommend the popular book “Freedom of the Hills!”

There are dozens of different ways you can utilize a common ice axe in mountaineering. This infographic demonstrates five different ways you can use an ice axe, including several of the most common.

If you want to get your own ice axe and start practicing, I recommend visiting Saint Mary’s Glacier near Idaho Springs and Georgetown. It’s a short drive from Denver and has good, snow covered slopes to practice your self arrests on even during the summer months. Safe travels on the trail!

Alex Derr, Creator of The Next Summit

Alex is an Eagle Scout, climber, and environmental policy expert located in Denver, Colorado. He created The Next Summit to help others stay safe exploring the mountains and advocate to preserve the peaks for the future. Follow him on Linkedin or Twitter or click here to contact him.