From Stewart Green,
Your Guide to Climbing.
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Ice Axe

A long hammer-shaped device that is used for mountaineering and ice climbing. The shaft, made of either wood or metal, is of varying lengths depending on its intended use. A metal point is at the base of the shaft, while the head is composed of a sharp pick and a flat adze with a sharp edge for chopping steps into ice. Most mountaineering axes are longer than axes intended for snow and ice climbing on steep terrain.