Not the sort of shovels that would normally be used to clear the patio, these guys are for use in the mountains – OK, you could clear the patio with them – slowly!

These lightweight folding/split shovels are often carried by mountaineers, particularly Mountain Guides, for use in emergencies to create a shelter or snowhole. They are also used regularly to dig a snow pit for use in assessing avalanche risk. Mountain Rescue Teams use them too, though sadly, for digging folk out of avalanches when they haven’t dug a pit and assessed the risk correctly!

No makers’ names on either, though we see one listed in the 1970s Graham Tiso catalogue as coming from Norway. The wooden-handled one was used extensively by Kathy Tighe when working as an avalanche forecaster on Creag Meagaidh in the 2000s – she survived!