skimtn Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Normally I'm dealing with cornices from above, before skiing or climbing down. Usually I'll end up knocking them down before doing my run, or downclimbing. However there's a 40-55 degree chute I've been eyeing that I'd like to climb up to reach the summit, I'm wondering what the best approach is for dealing with a cornice when coming from below. It should be a smaller cornice, and avy danger should be low. I expect the chute to be a little icy at this point. Is the normal approach to just hack a notch/tunnel through it and up you go? I feel like doing that is just likely to drop the thing on top of me taking me down with it. Even though avy danger is low I don't really like standing right where an avy will typically fracture, as I hack down snow blocks around me. thanks for any feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 (edited) seems like you got it figured out - if you can get a mortar and some nitro though, there's a better way Edited January 28, 2015 by ivan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christophbenells Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 yeah, pretty normal to hack though it. just do it gingerly...maybe theres some rock or ice near by you can anchor to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScaredSilly Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Just remember a cornice is a result of wind so the area just below it is going to be wind loaded. Getting through a cornice is pretty much as folks have said start digging ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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