Climbers also use a variety of types of hardware to anchor themselves to the mountainside. A climbing harness is an adjustable set of straps that buckle around the waist and thighs of a climber. The harness serves as an anchor for one end of the climbing rope. 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.