[pct-l] When can you self-arrest?

[goforth@xxxxxxx (Joanne Lennox)]

I taught ice ax self arrest for a couple of years.

Watched  some students trying to arrest all the way down a steep slope a
couple of times, fortunately somebody elses student.  Part of what you
learn in the long haul is that there are some situations where it is too
steep and too icey for most people to arrest.  Having descended the snow
slope headwall on New Army Pass, I really wonder if John Lowder could have
self arrested even had he had an ice ax.  YOu need to know an ice ax arrest
but also what kind of slope you should not venture out on for your level of
skill (EVEN IF IT IS ONLY 5 FEET WIDE).

Fortunately the Sierras are usually so benign, but some year there is going
to be a storm and cold snap when the through hikers are going thu, and then
there will be some mistakes.  Hopefully, when these conditions arise the
thruhikers will gather and support each other, not to brave the passes but
to either wait out the storm or exit in some safe manner.

I carry a long ice ax, on and off snow (very good in large talus, for a
third leg and balance; people have been saved in falls on awesomely steep
heather with a self arrest).  And I still practice a cross body ice ax
position under most snow conditions; I use a "self-belay" position with
more dicey terrain.

Joanne