[pct-l] ice axe length

[gwschenk at socal.rr.com]

---- CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net> wrote: 
> For example, in Jardine’s landmark book he recommends a
> thru-hiker should carry an ice axe the entire three-state distance, but he
> offers no explanation as to why.

Every year it seems, here on the list, or in the journals, you read about people skipping sections of the PCT because of snow. Sometimes the Sierra, most often the San Jacintos. An ice axe and a little knowledge of its use would make those sections of the trail less intimidating. So perhaps Jardine's reasoning is that he wanted to be a PCT hiker, and not a PCT avoider?

But then again, Jardine chiseled holds across El Capitan, so who really knows what he's thinking! :-)

Gary