When it came to trailblazing, there were two techniques to learn.3 The first was applicable in shin- to knee-deep snow, where climbers made footfalls by lifting their knees toward their chest with every step, then firmly planting their feet. The second was for extreme conditions with thigh- or waist-high powder. In those cases, leading climbers had to muscle forward with their hips, creating a pocket of space before lifting their leg out, working it forward through the snow, and making the next step.
