Engineering:Snow anchor

From HandWiki
Short description: Equipment for creating anchors in climbing
A snow fluke
A snow picket

A snow anchor (also called a snow pro) is a type of natural or artificial protection used in mountaineering, alpine climbing and ice climbing as an anchor. Two common artificial devices are the snow fluke and snow picket. A snow anchor is used both for climbing and for securing tents and other camping gear, that is designed for use in sand and snow.

A snow fluke is a bent square or rectangle, approximately 8 by 10 inches (20 by 25 cm), and is made of aluminum or other metal, with a cable attached at two points on the upper surface.[1] A fluke correctly used is buried in the snow, tip pointed down, approximately 40° from the angle of the mountain slope.[2] Flukes can deflect or dislodge in harder-packed or dry snow, and are therefore more reliably used in heavy, moist snow.[3]

A snow picket is usually made of lightweight aluminum in 18–36-inch-long (46–91 cm) long T-shaped design.[3]

See also

References

  1. "Snow Fluke". AMC Guides. http://www.acmgguides.com/absolutefm/afmviewfaq.asp?faqid=9. Retrieved 26 August 2011. 
  2. Eng, Ronald C. (2010). Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills. Seattle, WA: The Mountaineers. pp. 348. ISBN 978-1-59485-137-7. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 Graydon, Don. "Snow Climbing: Roped Climbing: Snow Anchors". Get Outdoors. http://www.getoutdoors.com/go/golearn/173. Retrieved 26 August 2011.