How to Use an Ice Ax to Self-Arrest on a Snowy Slope

When you trek uphill, a hiking stick or trekking pole helps you keep your footing. If you’re trekking up a snowy mountain, you’ll want to carry an ice ax. Not only can an ice ax help you as you climb, it could also save you during a fall.

If you fall on a steep snow slope and begin to slide, you’ll want to use the ax to self-arrest, or stop your slide. Grip the head of your ice ax with one hand (the point of the pick turned away from you) and hold the shaft with the other. Roll toward the head of the ax until you are on your belly. The pick will embed itself in the snow and should stop you in a surprisingly short distance.

If your fall turns into a headfirst tumble, roll toward the pick and, as it bites into the snow and begins to slow your descent, swing your feet around until they are below you.

Self-arresting requires expert instruction and a lot of practice. Begin with purposely sliding on a slope with a safe runout. Slide in every imaginable position. When you automatically make the right moves to arrest your fall, you will have mastered a mountaineering safety skill.