[pct-l] Mountain axes

[Ned Tibbits]

Hi, Luke!

Many of our students bring to class the CAMP Corsa and it performs 
marginally well for all the things we teach people how to do, like 
self-arrest, steep, anchored traverses, chopping steps, and maintaining your 
balance. The problem we have with it, or at least those our students have 
brought with them, is they are hollow, don't have the right kind of 
functional and practical shaft point, and are way too short for secure 
self-arrest technique.

Now the manufacturer says,

"The lightest ice axe in the world! The clean design provides amazing 
performance especially considering how little it weighs. Perfect for 
low-angle glacier travel, ski mountaineering and adventure racing. The 
7075-T6 aluminum alloy head and shaft meet all CE and UIAA requirements for 
strength and durability. However, the Corsa is not recommended for ice 
climbing, rugged mixed terrain, or for intense step chipping."

Let's take a look at each of these comments as they relate to a thru hike of 
the PCT:
- lightest: good
- clean design: good and functional
- low-angle glacier travel: meaning relatively flat (not what the PCT 
becomes where you'll need and axe in hand)
- ski mountaineering: good
- adventure racing: certainly could apply as long as the terrain remains 
low-angle
- certified for strength and durability: a must
- not recommended for mixed terrain: the PCT is very much this through the 
sierra, at least
- not recommended for intense step chipping: depending on when you enter the 
sierra or the route you select to traverse, ascend, or descend a steep, 
hard-surfaced spot, you may have to do more of this than you realize. Let's 
talk more about this...

Because it is so lightweight, it is a good choice for those who will be 
carrying it most of the time. For those times where you really need it as 
the tool it is, to self-arrest, a belay anchor on a steep traverse or 
straight up to a Pass, or to chop steps when the going gets slippery, it is 
durable to a point and a little tough on the hands.

Case in point: We teach practical, applicable, and functional backcountry 
skills to equip snow-hikers desiring to maximize their wisdom and safety in 
the backcountry. We've been doing this for 31 years, now. We offer an annual 
"First-In," two-week snow-hiking course along the PCT from Kennedy Meadows 
(south) up and over Forester Pass and out Kearsarge Pass to teach the skills 
necessary to identify the risks of snow-hiking exactly in the terrain thru 
hikers want to know about. This course is perfect for folks just entering 
their planning stages who are desiring to thru hike the Crest next year. 
Nothing like finding out exactly what it's like out there and learning how 
to get through it with ease!

Two years ago we filmed all the tough spots along the trail while under 
snow, all the big passes and nasty creek crossings. While ascending 
Forester, since we were the first across its steep and nasty chute right 
below the pass for the season, we had to chop foot-buckets in the 
ice-traverse below the cornice above just to get across on the trail. This 
distance is only 50 feet. It took me something like an hour and a half to 
get across! Lots of chopping, balancing, and constant concern for my balance 
(the fall will kill you). If anyone is interested in the details of this 
crossing, just email back.

So, the point of all this is to chose an axe that fits you and what you 
expect to do with it. If you don't know what the "Realities of the Trail" 
will be or how you can deal with them, you'll make, perhaps, less than 
adequate choices which you will not realize until using them and, then, you 
will be far from help and compromised.

Food for thought. Certainly, many have cruised through the sierra during 
"early" or "thru-hiker" season with the companionship of others nearby and 
have done well enough to come out the other end. We just feel that it only 
adds to your personal confidence and security if you know what the Realities 
of the Trail are before you're on your own (or amidst others who really 
don't know much, either) and have practiced using those skills a few times 
before in similar conditions.



Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
www.mountaineducation.org
-----Original Message----- 
From: Luke Neumann
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2013 2:02 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Mountain axes

Hey all-
Looking in to mountain axes right now- does anyone have any experience with
the C.A.M.P Corsa axe? It weighs in at 7.2 ounces.
Other suggestions? Im looking to buy, not rent.
Best,
Luke
_______________________________________________
Pct-L mailing list
Pct-L at backcountry.net
To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l

List Archives:
http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
All content is copyrighted by the respective authors.
Reproduction is prohibited without express permission.