The ice rescue tool consisting of two ice picks attached to the rescuer or to each other with a leash is known as what?

• A. Ice claws
• B. Ice awls
• C. Ice hooks
• D. Ice tacks

Answer: (B)

Two ice picks mounted on a leash give you immediate purchase on the ice to help pull yourself out of a hole. This setup is known as ice awls. The pointed picks bite into the ice and, with the leash keeping the tools secured, you can use your body weight to haul yourself up onto the surface. This differs from other tools that rely on hooks or claws, which are designed for different grip mechanics; the awl configuration specifically uses paired pointed picks on a tether to create climbing leverage on ice. The key idea is having reliable, accessible handholds that you can anchor into the ice to escape from the water and get onto solid ice safely.