How to pull one's partner from a crack/crevasse when skiing?

Question

We are going to descend some snow-covered glacier on skis while roped-up. If my partner falls into a crack, and I stopped him (i.e. didn't get dragged down there), what should we do next?

1. Assuming he is hanging in space and wants to get out by himself, what should I do to provide a reliable anchor point for him? Just brace myself as hard as possible?
2. Assuming he can drill some ice-screws and unload the rope, what should I do now to make a good anchor? Just dig the snow to get to the ice below, and get some ice-screws there, or maybe invent some setup with skis secured in snow?
3. Is it realistic to expect a good outcome if we don't have any other help (just the two of us)?

We have some basic gear (ice-axe, ice-screws, 50 m of rope, pulleys, karabiners, crampons); is there some specific piece of equipment that is worth having in this situation?

Answer 1

First, see my comment above. Get some professional instruction. Seriously.

To answer your points directly:

1. Build a snow anchor, then transfer the load to your anchor. Holding your partner's weight for the entire duration of a self rescue would be a bad idea.
2. Building an anchor is independent of what your partner is doing. Always build an anchor. On glaciers, you'll most likely build a deadman anchor with an ice axe. It's possible to do a deadman with a ski, but it's time consuming and probably impossible to do alone while holding your partner.
3. Crevasse rescue with a team of two just adds to the complexity. At a minimum, you'll need to be able to arrest the fall, build an anchor, transfer the load, check on your partner, build a haul system, and effect the rescue. Oh, and you'll be by yourself.

Most likely, you'll be traveling with knots in the rope. Your best luck for a haul system is a Canadian drop loop (6:1) system. This provides enough mechanical advantage for a single rescuer to pull a victim out.

I'll add some references that you should use in addition to professional advice:

• Alpine Climbing: Techniques to Take You Higher (Houston, Cosley)
• Freedom of the Hills (Mountaineers books)
• Glacier Mountaineering, illustrated (Tyson, Clelland)
• Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue (Selters)

Unfortunately, Accidents in North American Mountaineering is littered with reports of climbers getting into trouble on glacier because they didn't know how to perform a rescue correctly.