[pct-l] ULA Helix Ice Axe

[wandering_bob at comcast.net (Bob Bankhead)]

For an excellent overview of ice axes, both ultralite and otherwise, see 
http://www.promountainsports.com/ice-axes.shtml  I would be interested to 
see what the rating is for the ULA Helix. I'm very skeptical about the 
relieability of carbon fiber in this application. Here's the URL for the 
Helix: http://www.ula-equipment.com/helix.htm (carbon fiber shaft, aluminum 
head and tip).

One excellent point made in their discussion: "Keep in mind that aluminum 
headed axes may not have the weight to penetrate hard snow or ice." Having 
taken a few glacier falls (hard ice), I was very happy to have had my good 
technical-rated 32 oz Charlet Moser axe with me instead of my lighter weight 
basic-rated Grivel Mount Blanc. It was over-kill on that particular glacier, 
but if you only get one chance to arrest a fall, you want an axe that will 
do the job, not bounce off.

IMO, the most important point made was "...take into account your level of 
experience and the type of terrain you intend to climb." The finest ice 
axe - or crampons - in the world are worse than useless in the hands of 
someone who doesn't know how to use it. Reading about it won't do the trick. 
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. Your response has to be instinctive and 
immediate; there's no time to think about it. Oh, and don't forget your ice 
axe leash; these things are easy to drop and they slide out of sight down 
the ice or snowfield in a flash.

Wandering Bob




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Skurka" <askurka@comcast.net>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 7:58 AM
Subject: [pct-l] ULA Helix Ice Axe


> Does anybody have experience with ULA's Helix Ice Axe?  At 4.5 oz, it is
> absolutely the lightest axe out there, but I have some concerns with shaft
> (which is made of carbon fiber) because it's more prone to a fatal snap 
> than
> an aluminum or titanium shaft.
>

> Andrew Skurka