| What it is | An anchor carved from snow |
| Shape | Teardrop / horseshoe trench |
| Gear needed | None |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
A snow bollard is an anchor carved directly from the snow itself — a teardrop- or horseshoe-shaped mound or trench around which the rope is looped to belay or rappel. Needing no hardware, it’s a valuable backcountry anchor when gear is unavailable, but its strength depends entirely on snow quality and careful construction.
How to build one
Trench a large teardrop around an undisturbed mound, undercut the back so the rope can’t slip off, and pad sharp edges — a gearless snow anchor alongside the picket and snow stake.
Strength
Strong if big and in firm snow; unreliable in soft snow. Educational only; not a substitute for instruction.
Frequently asked questions
What is a snow bollard?
A snow bollard is an anchor you carve out of the snowpack itself — a large teardrop- or horseshoe-shaped mound, ringed by a trench, that the rope loops around to create a belay or rappel point. Because it uses only the snow, it needs no hardware.
How do you build a snow bollard?
You dig a trench in a teardrop or horseshoe shape around an undisturbed mound of snow, making it large enough (often 1-3 m across, larger in soft snow) and undercutting the back so the rope can't ride up and off. The rope is then laid in the trench around the mound.
How strong is a snow bollard?
It can be surprisingly strong if built large in firm, consolidated snow, but weak and unreliable in soft or rotten snow. Like all snow anchors its holding power varies hugely with snow quality, so climbers size it generously, pad the rope from sharp edges, and test it.
Sources
- Snow anchors — American Alpine Club
- Snow & glacier instruction — AMGA