1 22 Crampons Cram p ons are spiky contraptions that strap ont o stif fsoled boo ts t o ease climbing on ice or har d sno w Pr oper ft is essential t o a v oid un predictable release or tripping The points must be k ept shar p t o w or k pr operly and the y should be k ept in a dr y padded container when no t in use A ccidents typically occur on relativ ely easy t errain due t o carelessness or o v erconfdence Pr oper planning of the tra v er se ma y a v oid some of the inherent diffculties If scouting the r out e b y helicopt er remember that obstacles that appear insignifcant fr om the air commonly increase in size and diffculty when seen on the gr ound It is be tt er t o fy alongside the ridge so that the crest is seen in pr ofle than t o fy directly abo v e it Slips and F alls Slips an d f alls can be reasonably mitigat ed only with pr oper eq uipment and training R ope up or turn back when the least e xperien ced member of the t eam f eels uncomf or table or when there is the slight est doubt about their ability t o handle the t errain A r ope syst em must be utilized t o m o v e up or do wn st eep t errain 3050 degrees or high angle t errain 50 degrees When diff culty is combined with e xposure such as a danger ous distance t o f all r ope climbing is mandat or y Ge t e xper t training andor help Bef ore c r ossing a sno w or r ock slope ask the q uestion What co uld happen if I fall T ak e the nece ssar y precau tions