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Ice Axe The climbers used the all-important ice axe for balance and for self-arrest, sticking the pick of the axe into snow during a fall to slow the descent. Today, the handles of ice axes are made of stronger materials than wood, and the steel is lighter and better, resulting in a tool weighing under two pounds, as opposed to Mallory's hefty three- or four-pounder. See Mountain Gear: Now Back to High Exposure |