What is the small device twisted into the ice surface to create an anchor called?

• A. Ice Screw
• B. Ice Pick
• C. Ice Anchor
• D. Anchor Bolt

Answer: (A)

An ice screw is the small threaded device you twist into the surface of ice to create an anchor. Its threaded shaft and sharp tip bite into solid ice as you rotate it with a handle or wrench, forming a secure point that rope systems can be clipped to during belays, rescues, or protection placements. The effectiveness depends on ice quality, placement angle, and ensuring the screw is fully seated before loading. In practice, climbers and rescuers often use more than one screw for redundancy and place them in solid ice away from cracks or thin sections.

The other options don’t fit this specific use: an ice pick is a chiseling tool, not an anchor; an ice anchor is a general term for any anchor in ice but not a specific device; an anchor bolt is used in rock or concrete, not typically in ice.