[pct-l] ULA Helix Ice Axe

[jerrygoller at backpackgeartest.org (Jerry Goller)]

I'll be the first to say that I'm not a climber, I'm a backpacker. But maybe
you could clear up something I am unclear on.

I can see how a heavier ice axe would do a better job of penetrating ice or
hard snow when swinging it. But I can't see how even a pound or two greater
weight on the head of the axe could increase penetration when using it for
self-arrest considering I will already have somewhere over 100 pounds of me
pushing down on the head when self-arresting.

How does that work?

Jerry 


http://www.BackpackGearTest.org : the most comprehensive interactive gear
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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.

Wandering Bob