Also known as deadman anchors, snow anchors are commonly used by mountain climbers and skiers to repel down to people who need rescuing or accessing hard to get to lines. The National Ski and Mountaineering School of Chamonix (ENSA) decided to test out all types of improvised anchors to determine just how strong they are.

After running tests on snow-stakes, ice-axes, skis, ski poles, coke bottles…etc, they discovered the that the angle at which a deadman is placed, significantly affects its holding power. Keep that in mind the next time you use a snow anchor and share this around with anyone who relies on them while out in the backcountry. 

 

 

 

Don't miss out!

Get the latest snow and mountain lifestyle news and entertainment delivered to your inbox.

This field is hidden when viewing the form
Newsletters
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Francis Xavier is a seasoned writer for Unofficial Networks, bringing a lifetime of outdoor experience to his work. Having lived in a ski resort town for years he has a deep connection to mountain culture....