It's always steeper looking down...

Brian: The snow steepened appreciably at this point and I switched over to front pointing and "piolet dagger." It's odd how I hate things French yet love these terms. I had never done this in snow before and was impressed at how solid it felt. I punched up about 20 feet and then sunk a screw before moving over an ice bulge and onto easy ground. I sank two screws for a belay and then brought Mike up.