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Rappelling.—Ability to slide down a doubled rope and to recover the rope afterward provides an invaluable
Mountain blend. In the Alps it is commonly understood that the seasons are marked by a man's putting away his skis and taking out his rope, and vice versa. Ski mountaineers can take pleasure in confusing this nice distinction—they can take ropes on winter climbs and skis in summer. Mount Lassen, for example, will serve a skier nicely well into July. But he had better park his skis below the summit ridge when it is covered with ice feathers. Ski mountaineers most likely to attain great competence are those who learn their craft in time to avoid crossing trails with an avalanche. Allen Steck, who took these photographs, will agree; he was buried by an avalanche, and survived only because a friend had a cold that day. If you insist on getting caught, wear a magnet and hope an untrapped friend has a portable magnetometer! |
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