Ice climbers and mountain rescue teams must be able to rely on their ice screws.
On the mountain, ice screws must be able to reliably hold the weight of a climber - even in free fall if need be. Investigations at Empa will show whether or not a newly developed screw will not slip out of the ice even under extreme loads. With clammy fingers the climber clings to the icy north face and seeks a firm grip. Suddenly his hand reaches into the void, and he plunges into the depth - until the safety equipment stops his fall. The man is roped up, and the ice screw sits tightly in the ice. But how secure is the screw really? After all, it must be able to hold a multiple of the body weight in case of a fall. An innovative ice screw is currently being investigated at Empa.
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