In the event of a fall, the anchors set in the mountainside halt the fall, and the harness holds the climber tight but does not restrict movement or breathing. Climbing ropes are specially made lines of a high-strength nylon called Perlon. Ice axes have either a metal or fiberglass shaft. One end of the shaft is a pointed metal spike. The other end is topped with a head that has a metal pick with serrated teeth on one side, and a straight, flat, metal blade called an adze on the other.
Ice axes have many uses.
One of the most common is to help the climber stay balanced on steep slopes. The climber swings the axe with a short, quick movement to lodge the pick in snow or ice, creating a secure anchor. If a climber should slip and begin sliding down a snowfield, a self-arrest can be performed by turning face down on the snow and burying the pick in the snow surface. The climber's weight over the pick and firm grip on the ice axe usually stop any downward movement. Mountaineers also use the axe to chop steps in snow or ice.