[pct-l] Ice axe

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good evening, Bob,


I have no unusual affinity for ice axes, in fact I look for reasons to leave
mine home.  http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=264671  It’s a tool
which I’ll carry or not based upon my best trail showpack information.  Maybe
an axe will be posted to me at Idyllwild, or possibly I’ll decide as late as
Mojave so it can be posted to Kennedy Meadows.  Probably I won't ask it to
be sent at all.



I don’t know what percentage of hikers carry ice axes – it will depend upon
the snow season --but I doubt if it’s half.



It’s interesting to note which hikers are attracted to ice axes.  I can
believe the “traditional” – read "heavyweight" – hikers would have them, but
some ultra-lite hikers may as well.  In fact, none other than the long-time,
much-heralded, grand-high-omnipotent-guru of ultra-lite Ray Jardine
recommended in his first book that all PCT thru-hikers carry an ice axe the
entire tri-state distance.  That’s one of the many areas where he and I
disagree.  I just can’t understand that recommendation:  There are other
perfectly good options for digging a cat hole, but maybe some people just
like the security of having a weapon-like item close at hand.  Who knows…?



Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09


On Sat, Nov 20, 2010 at 5:54 PM, Robert E. Riess <robert.riess at cox.net>wrote:

> I was surfing the net to buy an ice axe, and the Univercity of Google
> routed me to the PCTA website.  I know they monitor PCT-L, and since I do
> not have their address, I'll forego CC'ing the PCTA.
>
> >From the PCTA website:
>
> Q. As a PCT thru-hiker will I need an ice axe, crampons, climbing rope,
> skis, or snowshoes?
>
> A. Depends on season and snowpack. Many north-bound hikers carry an ice axe
> starting at the Mexican border to provide an extra margin of safety on high
> steep snow slopes in early season - this assumes you are already qualified
> in the technique of self-arrest. Consider mailing your ice axe home or ahead
> when you get through the high Sierra.
>
> Starting in 1999, I have hosted over 500 hikers with starting dates between
> March 17 and May 15.  I have seen only a couple of  ice axes in San Diego.
>  In 10 ADZPCTKO's I have seen maybe two more.  Am I missing something? Or
> are they all hiding them in their pockets?  I know hikers cannot fly with
> one unless it is in checked baggage and 80% of my hikers arrive by air.   Is
> there much need of an ice axe south of Kenndy Meadows?
>
> Hike on!!  Bob Riess at the trailhead.
>
> Liberals love humanity in the abstract, but hate people, especially those
> who disagree or refuse to submit.
>
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