Snow anchor
{{Short description|Equipment for creating anchors in climbing}}
A snow anchor (also called a snow pro) is a type of natural or artificial protection used in mountaineering, alpine climbing and ice climbing as an anchor. Two common artificial devices are the snow fluke and snow picket. A snow anchor is used both for climbing and for securing tents and other camping gear, that is designed for use in sand and snow.
A snow fluke is a bent square or rectangle, approximately {{Convert|8|by|10|in|cm}}, and is made of aluminum or other metal, with a cable attached at two points on the upper surface.{{cite web|title=Snow Fluke|url=http://www.acmgguides.com/absolutefm/afmviewfaq.asp?faqid=9|work=AMC Guides|accessdate=26 August 2011}} A fluke correctly used is buried in the snow, tip pointed down, approximately 40° from the angle of the mountain slope.{{cite book|last=Eng|first=Ronald C.|title=Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills|year=2010|publisher=The Mountaineers|location=Seattle, WA|isbn=978-1-59485-137-7|pages=348}} Flukes can deflect or dislodge in harder-packed or dry snow, and are therefore more reliably used in heavy, moist snow.{{cite web|last=Graydon|first=Don|title=Snow Climbing: Roped Climbing: Snow Anchors|url=http://www.getoutdoors.com/go/golearn/173|work=Get Outdoors|accessdate=26 August 2011}}
A snow picket is usually made of lightweight aluminum in {{Convert|18|-|36|in|cm|adj=mid|-long}} long T-shaped design.
See also
{{Commons category|Snow anchors}}