Kia ora and welcome to the Mountain Safety Council's Alpine Snow Skills Series
in this five part series we'll be talking to a professional mountain guide
from the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association.
He'll be teaching us basic alpine skills for snow slopes and winter terrain.
Keep in mind that this video is not designed to replace a training course or
hands-on practical experience. We recommend taking an alpine skills
course from a professional provider or learning directly from competent
friends or family. Since you'll potentially be in avalanche
terrain make sure to understand the current avalanche forecast
for the region you'll be in carry the necessary avalanche rescue equipment
and know how to use it and get the training and knowledge to avoid
avalanche hazards for more info go to avalanche.net.nz
In this first episode we're going to take a closer look at the ice axe
and to take us through that is the man himself Dave, from New Zealand Mountain
Guides Association. Let's get started well first of all
before we use the ice axe, we're carrying them
because we're planning to do a route that involves going over
snowy or icy terrain. When traveling across this type of terrain an
ice axe is useful as a third point of contact for confidence on steeper slopes.
As well as an arresting device if you slip or fall so
what's the first thing we need to do Dave? First thing decision making
you've got to think about your route think about the appropriateness
of equipment that you need to take and an ice axe is one of those things.
Also think about your boots, you need good stiff sole boot
running shoes is probably not appropriate. Then you're looking at the
tools themselves the ice axe so you want to look at something that
has a straightish shaft and is a little bit
longer than for instance something like this is
really cool and fun but it's designed for more
technical ground ice climbing and such. The ice axe
itself has the adze head that can be very useful
so not a hammer head the pick
the shaft and this pointy bit on the bottom is called the ferrule.
Until you get used to working with the tool it's a good idea to put the leash
on when you're using it so you can't drop it.
We always carry the ice axe in the uphill hand that's both for stability
and to prevent slips so put your leash on put your hand over
the top of the adze, fingers just in front of the
shaft and just grip it nice casual grip and should be down by your side. If the
ground is quite flat don't feel like you have to bend over
and use it like that you can just be walking
along and just using it for a little bit of
gentle support. Your weight is still over your body. The
ice axe is a third point of contact with you and the snow
so if I walk along and I'm swinging my foot at the same time I'm swinging
the ice axe at that point of time I'm actually
balancing on one leg. So if I time it so I do
Ice axe foot foot Ice axe foot foot
then I have a lot better security on the snow.
If I want to turn around the safest way to turn around
is ground your ice axe nicely and step around with your feet you can put
both hands on it if you wish and turn your ice hacks around once
you're comfortable with your feet slide your hand through your leash and you've
now got it in your new upper hand and away we go again.
As you can see pretty soft conditions today okay if it were firmer
there'd be a few other techniques that you may need to employ.
So, one of them would be kicking in making making steps as you go. So kicking
your steps in here pretty easy goes in nicely
if you do need to kick it in on harder snow you want to use
the inside edge of your downhill boot and the outside edge of your uphill boot.
You're not wearing crampons that is.
So Dave, what do we do if the slope gets any steeper than this or if the ground
is just too firm to cut steps into? I guess that's when you get yourself a
pair of crampons and attain a better grip on the snow or
the ice. Awesome, so make sure you click on over to the next episode
where we'll cover fitting and choosing crampons remember practical training
before you head out will help reinforce the skills you'll need and address the
hazards that you'll encounter in alpine terrain. For a list of training
providers and for more information head to the Mountain Safety Council website.