Comments on: Belayed Ski Cuts

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:07:33 +0000

Hi Scott! Yes, that is the way I’ve done it, but that requires a full-strength rear tie-in loop. I’ve also done it where you tie in to the front, then wrap the rope snuggly around your waist and clip it to the back of the harness with a biner.

By: Scott F

Scott F — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:10:35 +0000

There is also the idea that the cutter should tie into the back of his harness so the rope trails more naturally.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:08:22 +0000

Hi Dan – Yes, that would be a good way to go as well. For that matter, you could fix the rope to an anchor (tree, rock, ski anchor) and totally cut the other person out of the picture so they could maneuver and keep an eye on you.

By: Dan VanDerMeulen

Dan VanDerMeulen — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:57:26 +0000

For the love of discussion, I’ll elaborate! I’ve debated this topic with companions and have come up with a variety of options all with pros and cons. The execution of such is defiantly not written in stone and requires conforming to the variables of the situation and the equipment on hand. My solution is; Cutting in a pendulum fashion on a taught line with the cuttee in control of the belay (as if the don’t have enough to do already) with 3 meters of tail (to get tangled under there skis.) There in control of the belay so they can give a little slack if need be, grit there teeth and hang on for dear life, or the last option to release entirely. It’s never happened to me, but I’ve played out a scenario in my mind where a ridge line wind slab breaks away during the cut, then the cuttee would pivot there tips up hill while the magic carpet pulls away under there feet.
I appreciate your dedication towards group mobility and efficiency in the mountains. As I hadn’t considered the benefits of continuing down hill, while still tied in?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:54:44 +0000

Colin – I buy my accessory cord by the spool and it is just plain old “accessory cord” – not static, nor dynamic. It is way more elastic than dynamic cord, which isn’t great, but then again, I’m not taking leader falls on it or using it for glacier travel either.

I have some static cord, but never use it in a case where it could get suddenly loaded. Instead, I might anchor it and use it to pull up a pack, or assist someone who is doing a self rescue.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:50:38 +0000

You never really know if a slope is going to fracture or not. If it is rock hard snow, I probably wouldn’t even bother with a belayed ski cut. On the other hand, if it is like in the photos above and you suspect that it might slide, it is almost worse when it doesn’t. If it slides, then it is like a bomb going off – it clears everything out. If it doesn’t slide…? Ski with caution. One advantage of a belayed ski cut is you can spend a lot of time stomping and pounding on the slope to really try to get it to go. The harder you do this, the more confidence you might have in the snow.

By: Colin in CA

Colin in CA — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:44:15 +0000

I definitely liked this tip.

You mentioned you use “8mm accessory cord” though. In my mind, “accessory cord” = static. You don’t use something like the dynamic 30m Beal Rando?

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:56:08 +0000

Andrew,

Any thoughts on how to be sure the slope triggers if it’s going to before you cut the rope?

By: Smokey

Smokey — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:56:24 +0000

Wow, thanks for touching on this Andrew…impressive turn around time too.

Cheers!

By: dug

dug — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:52:10 +0000

is mark one of those aliens from the latest indiana jones movie? i think i can see his brain.

check out the big brain on mark.