The Ice Axe - Pacific Crest Trail

imported
#1

This is more of a question for past hikers of the trail. I am hiking in 2004 and am considering not purchasing an ice axe. I plan to start April 23rd and don’t expect to enter the High Sierra early. Been told by other hikers that they weren’t necessary or were pointless to carry since most people didn’t know how to perform a self arrest. There aren’t any classes I know of here on the east coast (ie near Philly) that would teach this anyways. I will be keeping an eye on the snowfall levels until I leave and know that could be a factor.

But just wondering if any of the hikers were to hike again, would they take the axe?

Ganj

#2

i recommend a stick with another sharp stick duct taped to it (perpindicularly of course). practice on your bedroom mattress set up at an angle. i know IT doesnt see any action. LOL. but seriously folks i will be here all week and dont forget to tip your waitress and bartender.

WISE OWL

#3

I carried one, but didn’t necessarily need it. I did enjoy using it, however, and was glad I took it. The thing is, you never know how bad the snow is until you get there. I’m from GA, and it was a lot of fun at least almost needing one. Just remember, we’re not talking about rain pants here. It could save your life, or prevent a very lengthy turn-around. I got lessons at Kennedy Meadows.:boy

Tha Wookie

#4

:rolleyes

This is what I’m going to deal with for six months? Geez.

Tha Wookie- Thanks for the response. You were also behind the main pack weren’t you? I have pretty much zero experience in high mountain hiking, so I really don’t know what to expect. Who gives the lessons at Kennedy Meadows?

Thanks. Please ignore Wise Owl, this is the highlight of his day.

Ganj

#5

There are lots of people more experienced on snow and ice than I. However, my inexperience may put you and I on about the same level, Ganj, so my perspective might have some worth. :slight_smile:

I crossed the Sierras this summer (July), when the snow was almost gone. And my impression was that with snow, several parts of the trail would be DAMN SCARY. (A steep chute on the north side of Forester Pass comes to mind…)

Snow levels in the Sierra vary wildly from year to year. If you’re not going to be prepared for snow, then I think you should be mentally prepared to skip the Sierras if '04 turns out to be a big snow year.

Eric

#6

Here’s the thing with ice axes: people I’ve seen with them rarely take them off their packs. They cross the passes using their poles. If you want to take an ice axe, then learn how to self-arrest, and put the damn thing in your hands.

The best ice axe planning you can do is to NOT leave Kennedy Meadows before June 15. Starting at Campo on April 23 will get you to KM way before June 15. In my opinion, the ADZPCTKO is one week too early.

In 2002, I left Campo on April 26, KM on June 4. In 2003, I left Campo on April 25, took TWELVE zeros prior to KM, and still left KM on June 11. That was one zero in every town plus 4 zeros in Agua Dulce. I took more zeros in the first 700 miles in 2003 than I took on my entire trip in 2002. Why? I was trying to push back my KM date.

Once snow starts melting, it melts FAST. The longer you can put off your KM date, the better the snow situation will be. Of course, you’ll also have more mosquitos.

The passes are damn scary when they’re covered with snow.

yogi

#7

If you are able to get up to New Hampshire this winter the following information may be helpfull to you. This winter, the New Hampshire chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club is conducting two courses of their Annual Winter Workshop. Dates: JAN. 9-11 and FEB. 20-22.
"Advanced Winter Wilderness Travel: Instruction in winter travel on steep terrain and above treeline. Subject include snowshoeing on mountain terrain, use of crampons and ice axe, dressing for extreme weather conditions, off-trail navigation and risk management."
Cost? About a $100, which includes meals, lodging, etc…
Contact persons: Trudi or Marty on Wednesday evenings 7-9 pm at (603) 679-6701; or Rick Silverberg, any day, between 7 -10:30 pm (603) 225-5921.
AMC’s website is: www.outdoors.org
Hope this was helpfull to you.

David Tosten

#8

Black Diamond Co. makes something called a whippet–a small lightweight iceaxe head that mounts to the top of their trekking/ski poles. Check it out:

http://www.bdel.com/gear/backcountry/fl_whippet.php

Good luck on your upcoming hike!

Cap’n

#9

The Black Diamond idea looks cool. However, I have Leki poles and I don’t think Leki makes the same kind of product. Thanks for sharing though, I’m sure others have Black Diamond poles.

David, I appreciate the info on the class up in NH. Really would like to go, but will have to see how much of a hit I take over the holidays as far as money is concerned. Sounds like it is definitely worth it though, if anything an excuse to go up to NH in the winter.

Im planning to start during the ADZPCTKO. Will need to worry about an early KM arrival. My problem, as Yogi described it, is the fact that people that did have them didn’t use them or wouldn’t even know what to do with them if they did. I guess at this point I will assume that I need one but will hold off until spring before ordering one.

What is considered a good axe? Considering how little it would be used, lightweight would be the biggest criteria.

Thanks everyone.

Ganj

#10

The Cassin Ghost is the lightest ice axe I’ve found. I got mine in the mail this week. Weight: 200g, about a half pound.

Other lightweight axes: Black Diamond Raven Pro and the Grivel Air Tech. All three axes are for sale online.

I’m afaid of heights, especially heights with ice and/or snow. My concern is that if I get to a place where I want an ice axe and don’t have one, what do I do? I will carry the axe in case I need it. I have had mountaineering instruction.

Jim Keener

#11

Hey Ganj-
I have had the same concern as you and have decided not to bring one. I’ll be starting on May 9th. I’m planning on using trekking poles, which is a departure from normal for me. I will be beefing up my footwear for the Sierra for step kicking. Of course, if this does turn out to be a high snow year I may have to change my mind on the axe issue. I think right now snowpack is about half of normal for this date in Cali. This could change rapidly though. If the snow is really high, I’ll be sending for my old super long ice axe and will use it instead of poles. If money is tight and you must have an axe, contact me. I’ll loan you one. If you will be near WA state this winter/ spring contact me. Theres an awesome place to practice near my home. See you out there

JJ

#12

I believe that IME in North Conway NH also teaches a course on the use of the ice axe.

Big B

#13

We left Kennedy Meadows with ice axes June 10, 2000. We were glad we had them when we reached Forester Pass as shown in this picture http://home.pacbell.net/kdpo/pct/kennedy_meadows.htm
Cottonwood Pass was totally dry and that mad us think the Sierra would be mostly snow-free. The exposure was extreme and steep!

Marcia

#14

Nice pictures, Marcia! I like your site! Yep, Cottonwood Pass has fooled me, too.

If you’ve not been on the PCT before, you may not have a good idea of what we’re talking about when we mention the passes. Imagine a ski slope. The really steep slopes—I think they’re called black slopes or black diamond, something like that. Okay, now imagine that it’s covered with snow/ice and you’re traveling across the slope, while angling either up to the crest or down from the crest. Where would you go if you slipped? You’d fly hundreds of feet down the icy slope. How would you stop? When you slam into a rock. I’ve never seen anyone slip, but I did hear of a hiker who died in 1999 when he slipped in the Sierra. This is serious stuff. In 2003, a man died when he went out of control glissading down Whitney.

Do your best to push back your Kennedy Meadows date, hike with others, and be careful.

yogi

#15

Jim- Thanks for the suggestions. I also found a Grivel Nepal Light that is 9oz.

http://www.backcountrystore.com/store/GRV0002.html

JJ- Even with your late start at Campo, you may end up leaving KM around the same time as me. Still not sold on going axe-less. I spent some time up in Mineral King (SNP) around late May this year. First time I hiked beyond 10K feet and was walking across a steepo slope with snow. I had the benefit of low pack weight, so I was more stable. However, I remember thinking to myself that it would suck to slip and fall. Nothing but rocks below.

Bob B- What does the IME stand for?

Thanks!

Ganj

#16

Noticed that some of these ice axes come in different lengths. How do you determine what size is best for you?

Ganj

#17

IME is International Mountain Equipment. Its a hiking Mountaineering equipment store across the street from the North Conway NH EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) Store and hotel. I believe that both places have ice climbing schools and mountaineering schools.

Big B

#18

IME stands for International Mountain Equipment, an outfitting store and climbing school in North Conway, NH. There is an EMS in the same town that also runs a climbing school. IME is owned and run by Rick Wilcox, who’s done plenty of real mountaineering. Check out IME’s website http://www.ime-usa.com/imcs/winter/index.html.

DebW

#19

Ganj- If you get a longer one (90 cm) you can use it as a walking stick, too. Some people recommend a 70 cm general use axe. Shorter ones are good for steep ice. At any length, when you’re traversing steep ice in your tennie runners at 14,000 ft and you fall, the time you have to successfully arrest your fall is short. The more practice the better. People with iceaxes are killed in the mountains all the time. In my opinion If you get training and practice a lot you may become more free to travel about the mountains when and where you please, if conditions allow. I still have a scar on my leg from years ago when I couldn’t get control of my axe and the pick jabbed me. For me, the more I have used the thing the better I have been able to control it. I can rely only on my own experience. Personally I think everything will work out fine this year in the Sierra.
Look forward to seeing you out there.JJ

JJ

#20

When do you need to start carrying the ice axe and when can you send it home?

raru