[pct-l] Re: Snow shovel for Ice ax

[pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net (Joanne Lennox)]

> 
> 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

I have an old alumium snow shovel that fits on the spike end of my ice ax,
tightens the two fitting pieces by a large threaded screw that fits over
both pieces, made by MSR about 25 plus years ago, still works.(weights 13
oz).  I am now thinking about using it as a regular emergency shovel on my
horse.

In a related note, I had not put on my snow baskets on my treking pole when
I started descending Forester Pass, and fell through the soft snow into a
deep hole and wedged my foot down between two rocks.  I had dire visions
for the 10 minutes that it took me to get out of the hole, and my poles
were useless in the very soft snow.  I stopped soon after and put the
baskets on and they stayed for most of the hike, and are a tremedous help
in soft snow.  Occasionally, I put both the poles together and held them
inthe arrest position down near the ends on steeper slopes.  This doesn't
mean that you can arrest with them but if you use only one, it bends and
you do not have a hope in hell.

I have a snow basket that fits on my ice ax - it is a looong ax.  fits on
threaded clamp like the kind used to put hoses on cars.  Saw a guy who ;had
used two of these clamps to convert his ice ax into a treking pole by
clamping the bottom half of a ski pole to his ice ax ( I think that it
would be an awkward and poorly balanced pole).

Goforth