It was laborious, painful work; twice he lost handholds and hung precariously until his straining fingers again found some indentation.
"Warlord of Kor"
Terry Gene Carr
At many places there were no handholds; and we dared not touch the rocks with our ice-axes lest we should precipitate downwards the insecure supports we were standing on.
"Among the Canadian Alps"
Lawrence J. Burpee
Gradually the trail grew steeper, in spots pitched almost at a 50-degree angle, and was scattered with gravel, loose rock and shale, so that we placed our feet carefully, leaning forward to catch at handholds and steady ourselves against rocks.
"The Planet Savers"
Marion Zimmer Bradley