Self Arrest Skills

In early 2007 a couple of us joined our friend Hoosierdaddy who teaches winter courses for The Mountaineers, for one of it's branches here in the NW.  We all had a day off, so he offered to help us brush up on self arrest skills and using an ice ax properly.

I loaded up my winter daypack backpack, which is as heavy as my summer backpacking  pack is. Ugh! But I would rather be prepared if need be. Even on shorter trips in the winter I carry a stove, food to cook, extra cold food, insulating layers, extra clothing and all the gear needed for winter travel. My theory is that if I ever get lost or stuck out overnight, I will survive, maybe not comfortably, but I will survive.

Hoosierdaddy, Mtnwlkr and I reached our destination and set off in very deep powder. Even with tails on our MSR Denalis Ascents snowshoes, we were still sinking in to our knees in some points. The snow was around 10 feet deep overall.

We spent the next couple hours in the drifting, falling and wind scoured snow, practicing self arrest technique, glissading and self belaying. While I have decent snow skills, I had little experience with an ice ax. I also know I need a lot more practice to be comfortable with it in use. I definitely respect it.

Two steps, move ax and keep going:

In self arrest position:

Me, Rumidude and Mtnwlkr:

Then we headed off cross country and went snowshoeing:

In early 2008 we met up for Winter Trails Day. Friends & hiking partners Hoosierdaddy, Wrongbridge, Trailhead, Catzia and a friend of hers met up at my house early in the morning and then we headed up to Snoqualmie Pass. It was snowing pretty good as we reached the pass, so all layers went on.

Winter Trails Day was held up on the Mountaineers property there, with Atlas, Tubbs, MSR and REI showing up to lend out snowshoes aplenty for tryout. There was guided trips and more.

Two of the group had not done it before so they got a great place to try it out.

We puttered around having a good time. Hoosierdaddy gave everyone a good session in Ice Ax 101 and Self Arrest (similar to what he took me through up above).

Trailhead working on her technique: