[pct-l] ice axes

[CWillett at pierce.ctc.edu (Chris Willett)]

I wasn't in front when entering the Sierra, but did have to cut steps on a usual basis, usually in the morning before things got soft, or in places that were constantly in the shade, or in the early evening when things got firm again.  If I was to wait for snow to get soft to cross a 10 meter stretch in the morning, I'd have to sit around and shiver for two or three hours.  With the axe, I can get across in a few minutes.  The lighter axes mean I have to swing five or six times to get a toe hold.  With my normal axe, I can do it in one swing, maybe two.  It isn't hard, and it is safe.  You don't need much technique either.

Plenty of people get across without an axe.  From my experience at KM, I'd say only about 60% of the thruhikers were carrying on into the Sierra.  About 30% were depending on their trekking poles.  The rest had nothing.  In 2003, the first three across (Beast, Rye Dog, Tutu), had  a single axe between them.  Hairy stories they had.

Suge

---------------------------
Christopher Willett
cwillett@pierce.ctc.edu
www.pierce.ctc.edu/faculty/cwillett
Pierce College
9401 Farwest Drive SW.
Lakewood, WA. 98498-1999

> ----------
> From: 	pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net on behalf of Matt Geis
> Sent: 	Friday, January 14, 2005 11:10 AM
> To: 	pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> Subject: 	[pct-l] ice axes
> 
> Every now and then I see a post about someone
> wondering about cutting steps.  Admittedly, I've only
> done the PCT once, but nobody I know has had to
> actually use their axe to cut steps.  Other members of
> this list with much more experience on the PCT (and
> experience with different snow levels) may have
> different opinions to contribute.
> 
> The only situations in which I could see myself doing
> that would be if I was hiking at such an early hour
> that the ice was still rock solid.  Generally, there
> will be steps to follow (unless you're one of those
> angels, the front-running hikers who make the steps
> for the rest to follow).
> 
> I have walked on some pretty slick stuff, and I was
> able to pretty easily use my poles to keep me in place
> (it took a lot of concentration at some points to do
> that).  The work and time it takes to actually cut
> steps would probably be better spent waiting for the
> snow to soften a tiny bit, so you can kick into the
> snow a bit with the edge of your shoe/boot.
> 
> If you REALLY foresee the need for cutting steps, I'd
> suggest packing a pair of lightweight instep crampons.
>  I had a pair in 2002, but the only time I ended up
> using them was to cross an ice-encrusted (VERY
> slippery) log, to get across a creek and into Crabtree
> Meadows.  Other than that, the only times I might have
> used them (but chose not to) were one section between
> Ebbets Pass and Carson Pass, descending Glen Pass, and
> above Sonora Pass.  Every year is different, and all
> of these situations were very early in the morning.
> 
> If you find yourself having to cut steps, there's very
> likely another easier way to get where you need to go.
>  On the other hand, if you're hiking with someone who
> does not have the benefit of poles, axe, or crampons,
> and the ice is slick, cutting steps may be necessary.
> 
> I imagine that other hikers who have had to cut steps
> may offer their opinions as well.
> 
> Iron Chef
> 
> 
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