Alpenstock

While traditional wooden alpenstocks are now largely collectors' items or used for historical reenactment, the concept persists in several forms today: Climbing with an Alpenstock - Alex Roddie

An is more than just a walking stick; it is a storied piece of mountaineering history that served as the primary tool for early climbers before the evolution of the modern ice axe. History and Purpose alpenstock

: It acted as a "third leg," providing balance on steep snow, crossing glaciers, or anchoring a climber. " providing balance on steep snow

: A stout, six-foot-long wooden staff, typically made of seasoned ash, with a sharp steel or iron point (the "shod") at the base. six-foot-long wooden staff