the long shadows fill the gully

the long shadows fill the gully, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

this was the view from where we practiced self-arrest, the means of stopping yourself if you are falling on the mountain and self-belay has failed. It was intimidating to slide down the mountain on your back and belly, head pointing downhill (the instructor had to hold my feet so I wouldn't start sliding before I was lying down all the way) but I was able to stop myself in all the different positions. The soft snow made it harder to really slide out of control too. Dig the pick of your ice axe into the snow and spin your legs around and flip onto your belly. A critical skill to have in mountaineering, hopefully one I'll never have to actually use.