[pct-l] ice axe

[Brandon McGinnity]

I know there's lots of opinions here, but is an ice axe really necessary? I
wasn't going to use one, instead depending on my trekking poles, but I'm
beginning to think I should reconsider.
-Moccasin



On Mon, Jan 31, 2011 at 4:56 PM, Brandon McGinnity <bmcginnity at gmail.com>wrote:

> I know there's lots of opinions here, but is an ice axe really necessary? I
> wasn't going to use one, instead depending on my trekking poles, but I'm
> beginning to think I should reconsider.
> -Moccasin
>
>   On Mon, Jan 31, 2011 at 1:49 PM, Jason Moores <jmmoores1 at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Normally I trend towards ultra-light equipment/hiking but when it comes to
>> an ice axe I carry a 75cm. What I've found is that I use the axe more for
>> stability than for self arrest concerns. An ice axe left on your pack is
>> just dead weight. If I'm going to have one in my hand, instead of a
>> trekking
>> pole, I want something that is going to be useful. While trudging uphill
>> through the snow I am able to plant the axe in front of me and use it as
>> leverage, downhill it provides a better bite than my trekking pole.
>> Normally
>> I only carry one trekking pole but if I'm to spend long hours on the snow
>> I
>> want a second point of contact. When I consider the weight of a second
>> trekking pole along with the weight of say a 55cm ice axe, the near
>> uselessness of a short axe from preventing a fall in the first place and
>> the
>> overall usefulness of a longer axe, it becomes an easy decision for me. Of
>> course, I would prefer to leave the axe in my closet next to a dusty bear
>> canister, but if I need the tool to provide for a safer hike...I'll carry
>> it. What's the point of reducing my pack weight to sub-eight pounds if I
>> can't add a little extra safety gear without suffering unduly.
>>
>> Jackass
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>
>
>
> --
> ~ Moccasin
>
>


-- 
~ Moccasin