Re: I owe my life to...

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Posted by RidgeHiker on January 8, 2007 at 10:08:53 pm EST
In reply to I owe my life to... posted by Rosh on December 28, 2006 at 3:57:37 pm EST

Poles.
One time ski poles may have saved my life. Years ago a friend got me in over my head up high on a steep glacier. First time I used crampons or an ice ax. First time I had been on anything like that. He had taken off his crampons earlier and I took mine off also.

As I followed some ways behind him traversing across the top I slipped and began picking up speed. My ice ax was attached to the back of my pack where I could not reach it. Below me the glacier ended in a steep rock face.

Luckily, I had taken the straps off my poles - just in case. I turned over on my stomach, grasping just above the baskets, and dug the points into the snow. After what seemed like a long time I stopped. With extreme care I got my ice ax from my pack and secured myself.

I was able to put on my crampons and make my way back up. Getting down was scary after that but we made it and I learned a lot about what not to do.

I still use poles quite a bit.

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