[pct-l] self arrest poles

[Bill Weber]

It's called a Whippit and you carry only one.  I do recommend them over ice axes for regular snow hiking as they are always on the ready and work just as well as ice axes.  I've heard stories of people falling off the trail with the ice axe strapped to their pack.  I had an accident this year in the norther Cascades where I fell off the trail and landed in some trees.  The whippit snapped off at the handle but the ice ax at the end was still functional.  In this case I headed down the slope head first and there was no time to spin around and self arrest, but I did successfully self arrest with the whippit previous to the accident.
Blackhawk Down 

     On Thursday, December 11, 2014 10:59 AM, "Pietro, Michael M.D." <mmpietro at hinet.org> wrote:
   

 Just heard about self arrest trekking poles for the high Sierra PCT. Looks like a great idea, as I didn't want to carry an ice ax if I could avoid it. Can those who have used them tell me:

Do you carry 2 (seems dangerous in a fall) or one self arrest and one normal pole?
Is the technique the same as an ice ax self arrest, gripping the arrest pole with both hands?

Thanks!
Mike Pietro


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