[pct-l] Ice axe use and respect

[Mtnned at aol.com (Mtnned@aol.com)]

Regarding Ice Axe Use:
 
I teach ice axe use during my winter snow camping clinics in the Tahoe  area. 
 Working with kids from 11 to 65, stopping an out of control descent  is only 
part of the goal.  The other part is not injuring yourself in  the process! 
 
The key to the later is to take your time learning, think of the axe as the  
cutting tool it is and always know where the sharp edges are, use the straps 
(as  Strider so perfectly illustrated) without exception on all hazardous 
slopes, and  practice by falling down in almost every conceivable way, tumble a 
little down  the hill, and self-arrest. Then practice some more.
 
Once tired of that, go back to Avalanche Beacon location and recovery with  
your probe poles, beacons, and shovels.  You can never be too certain when  you 
might trigger a spring sluff, slab, or cave in and need to perform or be  
rescued.
 
Mtnned