The concept of tieing in with a rope seems like a good idea on it's face, however, the reality is something quite different.
To stop the fall of a person to whom you are tied, requires much better technique and presence of mind than a solo situation. In reality, for inexperienced people, it is likely to mean the whole group rocketing down the mountain out of control and unstoppable. An example of this, with three, including a highly skilled mountaineering professional:
(Kurt's on Rainier, for those who have seen it before)
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/arctic-void-2275/Overview#tab-Videos/06859_00Stopping others by an ice axe belay starts to move into the realm of heroics. The greatest example of this is known simply in mountaineering lore, as "The Belay" (google it):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_SchoeningToday, The Belay is considered to be one of the most famous events in mountaineering history. Schoening's ice axe is currently on display at the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum in Golden, Colorado.
Schoening's actions clearly saved the lives of five of his climbing partners.[4] He was awarded the David A. Sowles Memorial Award for his heroics by the American Alpine Club in 1981 as a "mountaineer who has distinguished himself, with unselfish devotion at personal risk or sacrifice of a major objective, in going to the assistance of fellow climbers imperiled in the mountains."
