Can an energy absorber or elastic lanyard be used in glacier travel to give greater time to react in case of a fall?

In the case of a roped up team marching along a glacier with some hidden crevasses, the greatest risk is of a team member falling in and then dragging everyone else along before they can self-arrest.

In such a scenario would it help to use either an elastic lanyard or a "energy absorber"? My guess is that 1) the fall is somewhat slowed down, and 2) the expansion of the elastic sling/absorber both makes it easier for the others to notice as well as gives them more time to react. But I have not seen this in practice, hence the question.

posted almost 5 years ago

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Yogesch‭

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