Tech Tip: Ice axe carry

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9 Responses to "Tech Tip: Ice axe carry"

Bob says:

December 27, 2013 at 10:02 am

In the interest of safety, I’ve considered modifying an axe, removing the pick and blunting the spike to make a decent specific self arrest tool. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

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Barrows says:

August 16, 2013 at 3:27 pm

Hi guys. I will propose a different carry method for the axe during a descent. I prefer to carry the axe in my rear hand (right, regular foot), by the balance point of the shaft, with the pick pointing away from my body. I use this technique because it allows for less disturbance of body mechanics during riding, and easy touching of the snow during turns with the axe head gliding along the snow surface. These days I use a leashless tool (Petzl Sumtec). This is going to be personal preference, I am not saying my way is “better”, but it does allow for less interference with riding style.
BTW, if anyone expects to be able to self arrest while strapped/clipped in to a board, you better practice doing this on a nice safe smooth runout snow slope. Especially practice the sliding on a heelside arrest, as this can be challenging to pull off. Search for Notchtop Spire Couloir to see video of this carry technique.

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1. clouds56 says:
  
  July 10, 2014 at 4:20 pm
  
  Thanks Barrows. This weekend i boarded with it in my front hand and did not like it at all, and subsequently fell and at first relied on the axe instead of my board to stop. Dumb move. Need to practice.
  
  Reply
brian says:

May 30, 2013 at 7:28 am

Do you happen to have any descent videos or photos holding the axe?

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1. Har Rai says:
  
  May 30, 2013 at 3:02 pm
  
  I’m still figuring it all out, but I have a few.
  
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2. shaun says:
  
  June 4, 2013 at 6:24 am
  
  Brian, I don’t have any - but it’s an excellent idea and I will try to get some up soon.
  
  Reply
Har Rai says:

March 25, 2013 at 11:26 pm

Great post! I have been searching far and wide to learn about people’s techniques for carrying the axe on descent, and your page is the first one that I have seen that touches on that directly. Thanks for the info!

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1. shaun says:
  
  March 26, 2013 at 8:28 pm
  
  I hope it helped Har Rai - nice blog by the way, the pics up the Hogsback are amazing!
  
  Reply
  1. Har Rai says:
    
    March 27, 2013 at 12:23 am
    
    Thanks! Glad you like them!
    
    Reply

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