A rapid flow of snow down a slope, triggered by natural causes or human activity. One of the deadliest hazards in mountaineering.

A metal frame with downward-pointing spikes attached to boots for traction on ice and hard snow. Essential for glacier travel and ice climbing.

The degree to which a climber is exposed to a fall or the elements. High exposure means a long potential fall or vulnerability to wind and cold.

Tissue damage caused by freezing of skin and underlying tissues, most common in extremities (fingers, toes, nose, ears) at high altitude.

A dangerous drop in core body temperature below 35°C (95°F) caused by prolonged exposure to cold, wind, and moisture.

A multi-purpose mountaineering tool with a pick, adze, and spike, used for self-arrest, step-cutting, and anchoring on snow and ice.

The technique of stopping an uncontrolled slide on a snow slope using an ice axe driven into the snow, a fundamental mountaineering safety skill.

A weather condition in which snow, cloud, and mist merge to create a uniform white environment with no visible horizon, disorienting climbers completely.