What is another word for ice axe?
Pronunciation: [ˈa͡ɪs ˈaks] (IPA) 
An ice axe offers a much-needed grip to keen mountaineers and ice climbers. The tool's importance can not be understated. When encountering treacherous terrain, it's a godsend to have the ice axe in hand. Depending on the situation, the tool might take on various names. For instance, a technical ice axe includes a spike for extra penetration in tough ice. A piolet-ramasse ice axe has an upright shaft for beginning ice climbers. A pickaxe, while similar in appearance, has a broader head that is more suited to chopping and digging. And finally, a walking stick or a trekking pole might act as an ice axe in a pinch.
