[pct-l] Ice Axes

[Patrick]

I used a Camp Corsa and was glad for it. It's light, half a pound, and  
seems well-made (I'm confident in it holding up in an arrest  
situation). I used poles in the sierra, but when climbing passes or  
descending the far side, I put the poles on my pack and took out my  
axe. When I thru-hike again this year I won't have poles, just the axe.

But as others have said, know how to use it. And also, it's not much  
help if you leave it on your pack. When on dangerous slopes, TAKE IT  
OFF YOUR PACK AND PUT IT IN YOUR HAND.

Oh, and wear gloves. You can rip your hand up something fierce when  
arresting with bare hands.


On Jan 9, 2009, at 1:47 PM, Gary Schenk wrote:

> On Friday 09 January 2009 07:24:37 Bob Sartini wrote:
>> C.A.M.P. USA Corsa Ice Axe  $109 at REI
>>
>> is that a decent ice axe?  the  price seems high
>
> CAMP makes good stuff. That is as light an axe as you'll find  
> readily, and
> will do the job for a thru-hiker who just wants to get over a pass  
> safely.
>
>>
>> Any points about ice axes?
>
> They're dangerous. Learn how to use one correctly. If you find  
> yourself having
> to use it to arrest, you're already in a world of s**t. So the key  
> is not to
> fall in the first place, learn how to climb snow in balance.  
> "Freedom of the
> Hills" is a good start, but taking at least a one day class from a  
> guide would
> be great.
>
>> I can practice behind my house if I buy it now.
>
> Be careful. Climbing in balance is important, I think, and a good  
> skill to
> practice.
>
>> Does anyone think an ice axe is crucial or just cautious?  Hiking  
>> poles,
>> crampons, ice axe seems like a lot of stuff.
>
> For the PCT it is probably cautious, nothing wrong with that. Bodies  
> don't
> exactly pile up like cordwood at the bottom of Forester Pass. If you  
> don't
> know how to use it, best to leave it behind.
>
> Don't know what to say about crampons. If you were wearing heavy
> mountaineering boots you could just kick steps up a snowy pass, but  
> what thru-
> hiker is wearing Makalus?
>
>> Is it better to wait to buy until the conditions are better known  
>> or do you
>> think that's too late.
>
> I would learn how to utilize an axe and have one waiting at Kennedy  
> Meadows
> and decide there.
>
> My $0.02
> Gary
>
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l