What is the strength range of ice screws depending on the quality of ice?

The strength range of ice screws is indeed contingent upon the quality of the ice where they are being placed. A strength range of 5 to 20 kN is consistent with common usage and testing outcomes for ice screws in good-quality ice, which might include solid, compacted ice with minimal air bubbles and crystalline structure.

Good-quality ice allows the screws to anchor effectively, providing sufficient resistance against pulling forces experienced when climbing or performing rescue operations. As ice degrades – due to factors like temperature fluctuations or contamination – the effectiveness and strength of the screws could fall outside of this range. Therefore, the provided strength range emphasizes the importance of assessing ice quality before relying on ice screws for securing a load or performing rescues.

Understanding the load capacity of equipment like ice screws is critical for ensuring safety in climbing and rescue scenarios, hence the selected range effectively informs practitioners of what can generally be expected under optimal conditions.