[pct-l] Ice axe basket

[Jeff Jones <jjonz@gte.net>]

Howdy listers,
I haven't seen this item mentioned and some of the posts reminded me of
it.  A removeable ice axe basket makes your ice axe into kind of a
hybrid ax/ski pole.   I haven't noticed one in a catalog lately but
maybe I haven't been looking.  I carried a long ice axe ( just measured
it - 32.5" or just under 85 cm).  With basket, it was really handy when
traversing soft snow, breakable crust, and suncups.  I was the envy of
the other pct'ers slip sliding along looking for that little extra bit
of balance from their axes.  If I couldn't find one to buy, I'd make
one.  Don't use it on steep slopes when you really need to plunge the
shaft in for a self belay.
                    Jeff Jones

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