When I was on Inyo SAR we recovered the body of a guy who lost control while glissading down the snow-covered switchback area below Trail Crest. He apparently lost his ice-axe about 50 yards before he impacted a snow-covered rock with his chest. He was a fairly experienced mountain winter traveler - no amateur.
Our team used to do an annual refresher course on ice-axe/crampon use, with in-the-field practice. The most interesting test was practicing an ice-axe arrest while sliding head first while on one's back.
You never know what can happen in an out of control glissade. I once went end over end while glissading down the snow gully above Sam Mack Meadow, below the Palisade Glacier. My climbing partners wanted me to go back up and do it again, because they didn't have their cameras ready...LOL.
Last edited by Bob West; 04/28/14 01:50 PM.
