[pct-l] ice axe length

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

Steel-Eye brought up a point that I had forgotten, using an axe for chopping 
foot-holds in ice.

For balance reasons, you do not want to bend over on a steep slope to chop 
buckets in the ice for each footstep. I had this scary revelation while 
crossing Forester's Chute last season on 6" of ice. I happened to have a 36" 
axe and was able to maintain my balance, pack-on, with only a helluva lot of 
attention paid to my balance as I hung out there chopping something like 45 
steps in an hour and a half to get across that thing. If I had been using 
one of our short axes, my safety would have been compromised doing that with 
my pack on, so I would have had to remove the pack, chop the steps, return 
for the pack, and cross for the third time.

Yes, you can self-arrest with practically anything that will penetrate the 
snow/ice enough to stop your slide, but it is all about the conditions 
present which you have to deal with. In essence, go out and find out for 
yourself what it takes to self-arrest on ice, snow, and the crud in-between, 
then go buy the device of your choice.

This is one of the main skills Mountain Education teaches thru hikers during 
the winter prior to their hikes. Step-One is to avoid the fall while 
Step-Two is to know how to stop it before you get hurt or worse by the tree 
or rock at the end. Step-Two is easy to teach and practice. Step-One 
involves foresight, caution, and wisdom which only come with experience and 
take time to instill. Thru hikers tend to not want to slow down and be 
careful when the going gets dangerous and so they get hurt. Again, it is all 
about the conditions present, in the snow, in you, in your group.

"Just remember, Be Careful out there!"

Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
1106A Ski Run Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "CHUCK CHELIN" <steeleye at wildblue.net>
To: "Nathan Ventura" <nathanrainer at verizon.net>
Cc: "pct-l" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 1:54 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] ice axe length


Good afternoon, Nathan,

I’m about your height and have two axes: a 45cm and a 50cm.  Remember: PCT
hiking bears only the faintest resemblance to alpine mountaineering.  Any
axe length you happen to have is OK, provided you really need one, and know
how to use it.    http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=264671



I’ve arrested falls three times; each time it was with the tip of a trekking
pole.  Another time I did a “controlled (?) decent” of a steep snowpack face
using the sharp tip of a skinny, foot-long rock that happened to come to
hand.  It had a "0"cm handle length.



For the rare instances that I have to chop a few steps into the snowpack,
the easiest axe to use would have a handle as long as a garden hoe, but I’ll
just bend over and use my short-handled axe instead.



Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09


On Sat, Jan 29, 2011 at 12:55 PM, Nathan Ventura
<nathanrainer at verizon.net>wrote:

> Just received my 70cm tall ice axe in the mail. I am 5' 10" and
> according to the sizing chart this length is good for low angle 15
> degree slopes. I was surprised by how short it is now that it is here.
> Is this really a good length. I bought it from REI so it would be easy
> to return for a different size. Any suggestions for as to what length
> would be good for someone of my size on the grades that I will be
> hiking with it would be appreciated.
>
> -Rainer
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