Things You'll Need:
- 100-foot nylon parachute cord
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Step 1
Tie knots in a parachute cord every 18 inches with a small weight in the middle of the cord. This will act as a saw when you cut the cornice.
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Step 2
Take one end of the prepared cord and your ski partner will take the other. Stand on the far ends of the ridge where the cornice you want to cut is located
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Step 3
Hold on to your end of the cord and toss the middle section of the cord over the cornice. It will dangle below the cornice. Pull it snug against the bottom side of the cornice.
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Step 4
Stand as far back from the cornice as you can. Cornices often break farther back than you would expect. If you can, tie another rope to a tree or have a third person belay you so that if the cornice falls, you do not fall with it.
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Step 5
Saw the cornice with the rope. When you pull, your ski partner releases tension and vice versa.
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Step 6
Watch from a safe distance as the cornice tumbles down the slope. Use the results to help you make the safest backcountry decisions.








