[pct-l] Ice Axes,, Does length matter??

[whitethunder10 at hotmail.com (Joseph Niemiec)]

The case for a long ice axe -

I carried a 70cm and it is lighter than most 45 cm ones... the Camp XLA 
210...  It was perfect.  And the extra length and weight is in the shaft - 
which isn't very heavy at all.  So the difference between a xla 210 70 cm 
and xla 210 45cm was very slight.

I didn't find a problem at all with it's length.  I didn't need it very much 
though.  I liked being able to lean on it just a little... but then again, I 
bet a short one would be fine too.

However, and remember this, when you are sitting on the toliet on top of mt 
whitney, posing for a picture with your ice axe in hand.  Do you want a 
little one or a big axe that screams "I'm King of this John!!!"  see!!  70cm 
is the way to go.  (and when you do "take the sit" don't whimp out and keep 
your pants on)

Mouse


>From: "Sharon & Chuck Chelin" <chelin@teleport.com>
>To: "Monte Dodge" <montedodge@msn.com>,"pct-l" 
<pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] Ice Axes,, Does length matter??
>Date: Sat, 18 Dec 2004 16:46:32 -0800
>
>Good afternoon, Monte,
>
>Here is an alternate view on short ice axes.  I'm a hiker, not an ice
>climber. I have never belayed with mine except during practice, but if I 
did
>have to belay a short handle would work OK in crusty, late season 
snow-pack.
>I carry an ice axe only to chop an occasional set of steps, and for its
>comforting potential of self-arrest when the pucker-factor gets high.
>Otherwise the fool thing is strapped to the back of my pack and I use a 
set
>of hiking poles.  My axe is 45 cm, which is perfectly good for arrest, 
in
>fact I find that it is quicker and handier than the longer ones that I 
have
>tried.  For chopping steps a short axe is not as handy as a long one 
because
>it is necessary to bend over further, but I seldom chop more than 20 
steps a
>year, while I carry it a good bit.  The 45 cm axe is about the same 
length
>as my pack so it doesn't have it's spike sticking out the bottom 
hanging-up
>every time I sit or remove the pack.  Besides, the thought of that spike
>hanging down there threatening the back of my legs, and my exhaust 
system,
>is not very comforting.  I'm not altogether happy with it, though.  
Someday
>I will find a lighter ... but still short ... replacement.
>
>Steel-Eye
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Monte Dodge" <montedodge@msn.com>
>To: "pct-l" <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
>Sent: Saturday, December 18, 2004 3:17 PM
>Subject: [pct-l] Ice Axes,, Does length matter??
>
>
>My biggest gripe in the whole world is the selling of short handled ice
>axes!! Finally one of the makers feels my pain! Check out your new issue 
of
>Backpacker with an axe and is a combo ice axe/hiker pole with complete
>basket. This is a telescoping handled ice axe that weighes 19 ozs. While 
not
>the lightest in the land, looks to be a good piece of gear for next 
year's
>thru-hikers PCT / CDT.  I hate these short handled techo-ice hammer 
length
>ice axes that always seem to stay on the back of your pack. Hikers 
biggest
>compliment about them of their weight. ( Hey, why not make them with 
only a
>4 inch handle and save more weight!! TIC)
>     I love a nice 90cm handle and axe should hit floor and your hand's 
palm
>out flat at same time. ( Ever go downhill with a short ice axe? Not much
>help until you do fall and offers no prevention from that, plus do a
>horrible job at self belay with that short handle driven in the snow. 
Wood
>axes rule with me and don't forget some nice Stubi Ultralight Crampons 
as
>well for early trips or bad snow years. Monte ( Broken Record) Dodge
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