[pct-l] Skill Sets - Practice them; Plunge stepping, Questionaire

[Slyatpct at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/20/2006 2:53:48 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
ned at mountaineducation.com writes:

Once  again, folks, a tool is no good unless you know how to use it.  If you  
choose to carry it, know what it can do for you and have already practiced  
how to do it!  Ice axes and crampons can keep you safe.  They  can also cause 
severe injury in the unpracticed  hand.


-----------------------------------
 
Thanks for the post Ned, very informative.  
 
As I said before, I had no prior experience in such conditions.   The time I 
tried to practice self arrest in a safe runout (no rocks, trees in  the area) 
I failed miserably by not holding the ax far enough away from my body  with 
the adze end hitting my shoulder.  Also, they was no one there to help  explain, 
my only instruction from Jardine's PCT Handbook .  Of course,  if you're 
lucky  and fall the right way, even an inexperienced hiker may be  able to self 
arrest, but if you fall backwards and/or upside down, you could be  in real 
trouble.  I can imagine, it's not the easiest thing to do without  first 
practicing.
 
It goes without saying, like myself, one of the problems with PCT hikers  not 
coming adequately prepared beforehand is the shortage of  instruction.  
Shortly before I headed west to start, I stopped at a  ski area in PA and spoke to 
someone that was willing to help train me.   Unfortunately, we never got 
together.
 
Given the choice of being properally trained with an ice ax, self  arrest and 
belay techniques or using my trekking poles for balance,  I'd choose the 
former.  Not only would it help tremendously during the  course of a "normal"  PCT 
hike,  you'd have the ability to go  where others can't and normally don't, 
missing invaluable  opportunities and experiences.
 
Again, hopefully I'll be able to make it out to Mountain Education  soon.  
Keep us posted of the dates.
 
Sly