Wish me luck...

I'm going to climb a mountain almost completely covered in snow/ice despite the fact that it's summer, and will have to wear crampons and bring an ice axe with me. When I asked why I needed an ice axe, this is what I was told:

Me: so why do I need an ice axe again?

My dad: In case you start sliding backwards, you can self-arrest.

Me: *thinking* why would arresting myself help with anything?! (I discovered later that self-arresting actually means stopping yourself before you go sliding down a steep, icy, snowy, and rocky mountain to your doom...)

My dad: But you probably won't have to use it, only inexperienced people that haven't used ice axes and crampons before will slide.

Me: Soooo this is my first time using crampons and I don't understand the concept of self-arresting, and from the look of the axe I'll probably impale myself before I actually can stop sliding. Does that count as inexperienced? Because if so, I'm toast!

...should be a fun weekend!