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[pct-l] Re: PCT-L digest, Vol 1 #3 - 10 msgs
- Subject: [pct-l] Re: PCT-L digest, Vol 1 #3 - 10 msgs
- From: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net (Carl Mears)
- Date: Wed, 03 Jan 2001 10:38:06 -0800
- In-Reply-To: <200101031805.f03I5Jt06288@edina2.hack.net>
Hi -
> These are described as having positive clearance and negative =
>clearance. In a positive tip design, the tip of the pick angles away =
>from the shaft of the axe... kind of like this:
>
> ____________
> /_____ _____|
> | |
>
>In a negative tip design, the pick angles towards the shaft, like this:
>
> ____________
> \____ _____|
> | |
>
>Now, the ice axe info at REI says that a postive clearance design is =
>better for self arrest and that a negative clearance design is better =
>for overhead hooking in ice climbing. On the other hand, Climbing =
>magazine's online site argues that a =
>negative tip design is superior because the postive tip can catch in =
>hard snow and yank the axe away... they state that a postive tip is used =
>for vertical ice tools.
I agree with Climbing Mag -- I think the top one would
pretty violent for a self arrest on ice. I'd bet that
most 90 cm axes would have picks like the bottom one.
>Finally, for snow travel the idea of a snow basket on the spike of the =
>ice axe seems like a great idea. I think someone on this list mentioned =
>seeing one, and I saw it mentioned in "Mountaineering: Freedom of the =
>Hills." Unfortunately, I can't find any references to one on the web. =
>If someone knows of a source for these things I would really like to =
>know.
On a related note, has anyone ever seen a snow shovel that
fits onto the spike end of an ax?? I'd like not to have to
carry both shafts whilst skiing.
Thanks--
-Carl Mears