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Occasionally a ladder of skis and poles can be made up a vertical cornice by driving them into the compacted, steep face. Particular care must be taken to see that the skis, if loosened, do not escape. Fielding.—Most frequent use to which a ski mountaineer will put his rope is fielding, in the descent of slopes steeper or more exposed than should be descended without safeguard of some kind. In fielding, the most expert climber anchors to his ice ax, alpenstock, or skis that have been driven well into the slope, and pays out rope until the members of his party have descended its full length. Then, with the protection of his ice ax he descends to his party and repeats the process. If he is certain that he can check a long free slide with proper use of the rope, he may continue a full rope length below his party before anchoring and belaying its descent. The party should tie into the rope with a bowline (for the end men) and a butterfly (for those in the middle) ; these knots will not jam or cinch up. |
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