[pct-l] Alpenstocks

[CMountainDave@xxxxxxx (CMountainDave@xxxxxxx)]

I'm certain that one their functions was as an avalanche probe. The length
gave it duality. By grasping it near the middle it could be used on the
uphill side. By grasping it near the top it could be used on the down hill
side. A big hiking pole for snow, basically. I'm sure there were many uses,
but the ice ax was developed as a better self arrest tool. A long handled ice
axe retains some of the functions of the alpenstock. The short ones end up,
like Monte said, on your pack all the time