[pct-l] ice axes

[chelin at teleport.com (Sharon & Chuck Chelin)]

Good morning, Iron Chief,

As you point out, a third point of contact is indeed useful when traversing
a snow-pack slope.  For that I find a conventional-length ice axe is helpful
only on the steepest side-slopes.  I prefer to use one hiking pole
adjusted to a length appropriate for the slope.  The ice axe is then carried
in the other hand ready for chopping steps or ... it has never happened yet
... a self arrest.  When chopping foot-holds I find balancing with the pole
is far more valuable than balancing on two feet and having a longer axe
handle.

I am not familiar with the Han Solo incident to which you refer, nor with
his skill or equipment, but I do not use an ice hammer.  I find that I am
best guided by my own direct experience even though the result is not
always what everyone else is doing.

Steel-Eye

"Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day,
something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else
would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to continually be part
of unanimity."
- Christopher Morley


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Matt Geis" <mgeis@yahoo.com>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2005 7:31 PM
Subject: [pct-l] ice axes


> Part of the benefit of an axe is the "third point of
> contact" it gives you with the ice.

... ask Han Solo (PCT '02) how that worked out for
> him. :)  Or, just ask anybody who saw the
> after-effects of his attempted self-arrest with an
> "ice hammer".
>
> Iron Chef