[pct-l] High Sierra Snow, Pre-Trip Skills Training, and Ice Axe Use

Fri Jan 30 01:45:28 CST 2009

Stephen and AsABat have good points.

But lets be clear, no tool, item, medicine, animal, environment capable of 
human harm is safe to its user until the user is well versed in knowledge 
and practice in and with it (and even then, not a given certainty!). Pretty 
obvious, right?

The first rule in avalanche awareness is to recognize the signs in the snow 
that may be telling you "This slope is ready to slide. I better stay away 
from it."

The first rule in safe creek crossing is to stop and assess where, within 
hundreds of yards in either direction, might be the safest place to cross.

The first rule is to be prepared for, just consider, what can or might 
happen. Arm yourself with knowledge and its application, experience. Some 
possibilities may never occur; many are highly likely and can be avoided, if 
you know the signs and symptoms. How hard is that? Some people don't have 
the patience to read up, study a skill, go to a seminar or class on the 
subject. They would rather simply dive in blindly and figure it out as they 
wade in; these folks often know themselves to be "quick learners" and so can 
do this.

Are you? Do you know yourself well enough to let yourself run off into the 
mountains without enough pre-education you can rely on when the going gets 
tough? Have you tried? Can you really trust the advise of a stranger? 
Intuition is one thing; if you've lived long enough to know you can trust 
your "take" on someone based on previous experiences (caught that: pre-vious 
experience?), then you've had personal trials on which to judge the next.

The key here is experience with a tool, item, animal or environment. 
Knowledge is second-hand experience that leads only to understanding 
another's understanding. For you to be able to trust yourself, you need the 
personal experience.

An ice axe can hurt you if you don't know how to use it because it can give 
you a false sense of security. Stephen's point is to practice; figure it out 
on your own and go practice. He is an admitted "quick learner." Not everyone 
has that level of self-confidence. However, he is partly right for most and 
thoroughly right for himself, because he knows himself. The part he is 
missing is what AsABat is encouraging, the training gained from someone who 
is wise with experience, not over-confident with pride, sensitive to the 
limitations of others, and accepting of what can't be (or won't be) 
overcome.

The use of the lanyard on an ice axe:

The lanyard is designed to slide down the shaft of the axe so you can have 
your hand wound through it, thus attached to the axe, yet still be able to 
hold the point end to chop footholds and, if you should lose control of the 
axe head while self-arresting, you'll still have it tethered to you to try 
and arrest again-if you can because the thing is flying around.

If the lanyard is first inserted through the hole in the head, prior to your 
putting your hand through it, twisting it, and grabbing hold of the head, 
then, if you lose control, your hand will only be inches away from regaining 
its position on the axe head.

So, once again, a little experience helps shed light, but practice makes the 
light brighter and unforgettable.

However, for thru hikers the use of one trekking pole in the downhill hand 
on a traverse and a Black Diamond "Whippet" pole, with its self-arrest 
handle, in the other is the best solution for safety and stability walking 
on snow and icy pitches ascending or descending.

Mtnned

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen" <reddirt2 at earthlink.net>
To: "Postholer" <public at postholer.com>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 6:41 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] High Sierra Snow: Leaders and followers

> Mr Posthole,
> Yes very good advice.  But let me also suggest this.  If a group sets
> outwitha couple experienced people, canthey not search out some good 
> pratice
> area witha safe run-out and start learning proper axe technique and 
> habits.
> I am self taught.  I had to read about proper handling and how to carry 
> the
> axe at the ready.  I went out and found places to practice and had a lot 
> of
> fun and a few bruises.  First I tried just sliding easy and getting myself
> arrested.  then fastrer and steeper. Then I litteraly tried to simulate
> falls.  I'd toss myself down a slope head first on belly, on my back,
> sideways, everywhich way. And once I banged myself up enough Iput my pack 
> on
> and started all over again.  Though carrying a heavier winter pack, it was
> worth doing.  It's a bit different getting rolled over with the pack on.
> One thing that imediately became apparent was that a quick arrest in hard
> snow and icey conditions gives a great big pull on the axe, and thus
> familiarity and technique with the lanyard may be as important as any 
> other
> aspect of the axe.  When I was on Lassen peak once I met a fella with an 
> axe
> who had no idea how to use it.  No lanyard, and no idea how to carry it.
> Here I said, practice like so, and this is why etc...  I would think folks
> would be ready to offer a little on the job training along the way.  If 
> you
> see someone who obviously has very little experience or no clue whatsoever
> offer some help.  Help build some self confidence. Not to do so may result
> in having to deal with someone stranded in a precarious sittuaition 
> farther
> up the trail with safety ropes to assist inwhat might be a minor rescue.
> Brainlock on steep icy terrain is a frightening thing.  I have felt it
> coming on more than once, and it was all I could do to get turned around 
> and
> headed back to a safe place to recover my whits.  I may have been fine to 
> go
> on, or maybe not, but that feeling of being hung out is not something very
> enjoyable.  Fortunately I let fear do it's thing while the rest of me
> remains calm and carries on with the business at hand.
> I've seen so many people stumbling along with hiking poles that would be
> better served to have left them on the rack at the store and watch where
> they are placing thier feet.  And so it goes sometimes with snow and ice
> equipment.  One of the first things someone should notice is the axe, like
> crampons, are hard, pointed and unforgiving (kinda like a couple ex's). 
> If
> you are not sure,or have never familiarized yourself with the axe, take
> Postholers advise and get some instruction.  You may or may not need it, 
> and
> then again, if your plane is falling towards the ground, you may or may 
> not
> need a parachute.
> Quite often there are stories circulating in the Sierra after the PCT flow
> goes through about water and snow mishaps.  Perhaps the some of you knew 
> of
> an experienced PCT hiker who fell on Cottonwood Pass a couple seasons 
> back.
> The word was he had no axe.  But the results would have been the same if 
> the
> fall heppened to someone with no knowledge of how to handle one.  There 
> are
> times when one should know when to go on, and when to back off and seek a
> safer route or bypass, or wait for improved conditions.  And I'll add 
> this,
> the same is true for fording creeks.  Then there is no axe, and the early
> season in the Sierra can be anything from low snow melt and knee deep to
> impassable and highly dangerous.  A couple seasons ago there were chest 
> deep
> crossings, not fords.  There was some carnage all right.  I remember 
> seeing
> lines strung accross a couple fords that I assume were used to ferry 
> packs.
> I don't know, and at least use line like a repel and take your string with
> you.  It was thigh deep and not too bad when I chanced along a couple 
> weeks
> later.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Postholer" <public at postholer.com>
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 4:52 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] High Sierra Snow: Leaders and followers
>
>
>> Is your well-being the responsibility of another?
>>
>> Of course not. Still, every season you see it happen, loose groups form 
>> at
>> Kennedy Meadows; the front porch of the Sierra. The poorly skilled seek
>> out
>> those with experience in preparing to cross those snowy passes. This
>> grouping is not a bad thing, it's very good.
>>
>> However, you can be another member of your group or you can be an asset.
>> It's *your* choice. Many of you will enter the Sierra with a compass, a
>> map,
>> an ice axe and no idea how to use them. You will have never genuinely
>> considered the reality of icy, crusty morning snow until the first time
>> you
>> set foot on it. The first swift, knee-deep creek you encounter will give
>> you
>> serious pause.
>>
>> The solution is simple, get some training and experience *before* you
>> really
>> need it.
>>
>> Ned Tibbit's is scheduling a free PCT prep snow course, two of them in
>> fact.
>> You'll learn what every PCT thru-hiker should know before hiking into
>> mountainous spring snow conditions. His first course filled up quickly, 
>> so
>> be sure to sign up for the second one.
>>
>> Ned is recognized as *the* PCT-L snow mentor. You'll learn alot from him.
>> So
>> turn off the TV and make plans to spend 3 days near South Lake Tahoe in
>> April. If Tahoe is a 1,000 miles too far, seek out a resource near you to
>> get familiarized with the conditions you will encounter in the spring
>> Sierra.
>>
>> You can schedule your training with Ned via email:
>> ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com
>>
>>>From the reigning, undisputed snow wimp,
>>
>> -postholer
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>> Trails : http://Postholer.Com
>> Journals : http://Postholer.Com/journal
>> Mobile : http://Postholer.Com/mobi
>>
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>>
>
>
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