[pct-l] Good Ice Axe

[wandering_bob at comcast.net (Bob Bankhead)]

One other point in favor of the leash: BUTTERFINGERS HAPPENS.

If you have an ice axe along, it's probably because you reasonably expect to
need it. Having it slip from your grasp and watching it bounce, slide, or
otherwise depart to places unknown and/or unreachable can really ruin your
day - especially if you are part-way across the glacier at the time.

Their bright colors can also make your "temporarily mis-placed" axe easier
to spot where you leaned it up against the tree while setting up camp.

Ice axes can also be rather expensive investments. Hedge your bets; leash
your axe.


Wandering Bob




----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Bighummel@aol.com>
To: <CMountainDave@aol.com>; <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 9:11 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Good Ice Axe


> Accidents do and have happened with and without an ice axe on the PCT.  In
> 1978 I mentored a PCT aspiring thru-hiker.  He left the trail in Yosemite
when
> walking along carrying his ice axe as a walking stick he kicked a rock,
lost
> his balance and fell upon the pick of the ice axe.  Dumb luck, fate,
whatever
> you want to call it, an ice axe is a dangerous tool and if not used with
caution
> can and will hurt you.  However, without it you MAY LOOSE YOUR LIFE, as
did
> the good doctor in 1999 who choose to vacate the snowy high Sierra without
an
> ice axe over Army Pass (new or old, I can't recall).  He slipped on steep
ice
> and sustained injuries beyond his ability to recover or be rescued.
>
> An ice axe wrist loop has saved me on a self arrest and many, many others.
> It should not be discounted due to one or two accidents in which a wrist
loop
> caused an ice axe injury.  I'd rather have the slim opportunity when in a
fall
> and being stuck with the pick, to regain control of the axe and save my
life
> before plunging into the rocks or over the cliff.
>
> Mountain Dave gives good advice though.  Learn how to use one.  Learn how
to
> use one.  It rates repeating . . . Learn how to use one.
>
> IMHO,
>
> Greg
>
> In a message dated 12/20/2003 6:04:07 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> CMountainDave@aol.com writes:
> Now that I've scared all the newbies, remember that the likelihood of
being
> injured by your ax on the PCT is extremely remote, especially if you enter
> the
> Sierra post melt out.
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