Ice axe length pct reddit. You don't need one if you're not going to fall.
Ice axe length pct reddit No ice axe, since there are only a couple of very very short sections that have exposure off to the side, but they only hold temporary snow right after a storm. I'm 5'10. Knowing how to evaluate the conditions - whether an ice axe is needed or a stream is safe to cross is a skill you should have. Nobody is using an ice axe to make progress across snow fields that see a couple dozen hikers every day. I ran a good proper PCT. Trust your intuition. I was then able to bounce it via just calling the next post office and they kindly sent it forward. Excellent video if you've not seen it. Too many people buy 50cm axes and don't understand how big of a mistake they've made. Yeah, about length. 5-liter bucket of ice cream = 1,800 calories. Oct 21, 2024 · Ideally, you want an ice axe, that is comfortable to handle but durable to do its job in whatever terrain that you find yourself in. I really stay away from ice for the most part, but may use it to get up a 5ft section of an ice slab/bulge, but generally not purely vertical. Here's some sensible advice. 6oz for 50cm length). I used to just buy it and eat it with a spork on the nearest flat surface. Don’t buy these things until just before you go because you might not need them. " That is not a general purpose ice axe. Depending on the weather you could be on snow for days on end. You can also easily buy one in bishop or mammoth. An open community for discussion of the PCT, with a focus on the HYOH and LNT philosophies. What ice age do you recommend? I'm looking mostly at these Posted by u/Whaleobama - 4 votes and 17 comments Nov 18, 2013 · A Pacific Crest Trail planning guide. Before axes and crampons were developed enough to go on steep ice, 50cm was unheard of. If you slip, the ice axe shaft will just tilt and slide right out. Having an ankle length axe thats too long on high angle stuff is far more sketchy than having a short axe on low angle stuff for me A place for those interested in the PCT to gather and share information. Also, for backpacking on the PCT length of axe doesn’t matter. I'm heading out on a section hike starting in Tuolumne on 6/12 and heading NOBO (current plan is to end around Truckee). Based on this year’s snow levels (which again could change quickly), a last week of June start could require a high level of experience traversing steep snowy ridges and hiking for miles on snow without a trail (although the path will likely be cut by earlier hikers), a first week of July start could mean needing an ice axe and micro spikes During my PCT hike earlier this year, I mailed my ice axe forward by using a none priority box at the post office and sticking a priority sticker on it. The Pacific Crest Trail. It’s only available in a 50 cm size and is designed to be compact. 8 mi (avg: 309’/mi). Based on my read of the farout comments (and having done both the PCT and CT), it doesn't seem like an ice axe or spikes are needed but you could always bring spikes and mail back if you don't need them. In Neemor's 2016 PCT he plans to use his ice axe within the first 40 miles but just sends it home from the start and never needs it. So far i did a lot of hiking, ferratas (D) and easy climbing (UIAA 1-2, without rope) around 2500m in the austrian alps. This year, the Petzl Glacier Literide was the highest-rated ice axe on the Pacific Crest Trail. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is the Appalachian Trail’s more isolated, lonelier western counterpart. She uses poles almost all the time, so I'm wondering what works, is… I have done some alpine climbing (Adams, Hood, Baker, on Mount Rainier) I have and know how to use my ice axes full crampons etc, I did pick up some… Posted by u/LuxOfMichigan - 5 votes and 23 comments 76K subscribers in the PacificCrestTrail community. You won’t be doing either of those on the PCT. In 2023, would that be inadequate? If so, how should one go about purchasing an ice axe? Length of ice axe vs height/weight of person? I saw somewhere that new army pass may be a bit sketchy right now but maybe conditions have changed with the summer heat. Get an ice axe. The vast majority of the time, it works out fine. Even in an average snow year, hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail may encounter snow and ice in the Sierra Nevada mountains in June. I got the shortest camp corsa model. I'm a 6' 1" male and am having difficulty in deciding between a 60 cm and 70 cm axe. Icy sections are very very short. Overall elevation gain/loss on Continental Divide Trail: 917,470′ over 3029. Is this usual for SOBO? I'm bringing a 20k power bank as I'll be filming most likely. Sometimes people have a scary slide & catch themselves. 4 ounces, it is the lightest CEN-B rated ice axe on the market and excels at applications where every ounce matters and the terrain and conditions you expect to encounter aren't too burly. I believe REI members get… 10 votes, 22 comments. I like the $85- 110 Camp Corsa at around 7 oz. 3 oz / 320 g, 50 cm long axe with a straight anodized aluminum shaft and a steel adze. It is only for going up a vertical ice wall. Just watched Second Chance's video on Ice Axe self arrest featuring Jon King. While I have done only like 70 miles (50 miles of the PCT overlaps with the TRT), I do plan on about 200 miles sobo this year from Echo Lake to, well, south. All the best and thank you for all the good threads here. Quite a few people had whippets and seemed to like them. Think couloir climbing. But I have a question regarding… EDIT 2: Ice axe no matter what! —————— Crampons are for glacier travel or extremely steep slopes where you are kicking them into the snow/ice to maintain traction. Basically looking for advice from anyone with knowledge of proper ice axe length given the height of the person and type of travel. 77K subscribers in the PacificCrestTrail community. I chose the PCT a year ago when I didn't have any backpacking experience, but know I've got about 7 nights out in the back country and I'm wondering if the AT fits what I'm looking for more. 42. I would take crampons and micro spikes and see what works. It’s an 11. There is a common misperception that an ice axe should work as a cane while walking on flat ground. It’s an 8. Those are the wise alternatives to an ice-axe. Shit is treacherous. true. She lost that one to miscarriage. An open community for… I currently use a 50cm ice axe for ski mountaineering. I hiked with one man who didn't have one and he lived. I would not use this ice axe for tehcnical climbing or mountaineering(you will not have to do either on the PCT, you don't cross any glaciers on the PCT either). Tax ID#: 33-0051202 It’s a Grivel “air tech racing” axe. I'm about 6' 8. At best, you can use it on the uphill side to keep balance, but that's done just as well with a tr I didn't fuck around with low dosing PCT. Jan 19, 2021 · Highest-Rated PCT Ice Axes. I am 5'11" and use a 70cm but wish I had a 75cm, sometimes I need to bend a bit when using it on odd angles. The nature of the snow will change by the time I reach it on the PCT but I think it's good to get a feel for snow navigation at this time and I'll be finding ways to practice ice axe arrests. Stopped injections of Test E, ran HCG at 1000iu/EOD for 2 weeks. The John Muir Trail passes through what many backpackers say is the finest mountain scenery in the United States. I use that axe post pct a lot and love it. so I generally go for much shorter axes since theyre only coming out on high angle or exposed stuff. I even put a little racing stripe on it. Personally, I wouldn't trust a whip-it. 3 mi (avg: 303’/mi). An ice axe can provide extra security and stability when traveling on snow-covered or icy terrain. 258 votes, 28 comments. But they appear to have no shortage of 50s! Facepalm. Sep 23, 2019 · The Petzl Glacier Literide was the highest-rated ice axe on the Pacific Crest Trail this year. Then dropped the HCG to 500iu/EOD, and started Clomid at 100mg/day for 2 weeks, then down to 50mg/day for 2 weeks. 3 oz / 320 g axe with a straight aluminum shaft and a steel adze. I was cheating with a 56 cm Grivel Super Courmayeur with an Evolution pick that could go back and forth between mountaineering and water ice/alpine ice routes, but thinking a lighter axe might be nice. If all of a sudden, you notice that the path looks kinda faint and not very PCT-like, stop and check Looking for some confirmation: I just got to Vancouver, BC, hanging out until my start date in July and realized I left my ice axe back in… Backcountry currently has a 20% off one regular priced item code (20MAR) that can be used to pick up a discounted ice axe. For almost 2700 miles the PCT travels from Mexico to Canada. What are the trail conditions currently like in terms of snow coverage? I'm wondering if I should pack microspikes or not? I wasn't planning on bringing an ice axe but would love to hear if thats a dumb idea or not as well. Since I havent been to the US yet I have no clue how they would react to gear like that at the Airport. Every LASHer is different in terms of how many nights/miles for each section. This length of ice axe has a few problems. Hello, I'm about to start my attempt at thruhiking the PCT, and I'm a little out of my depth with picking out an ice axe. Should I order the ice axe/spikes for the shoes on the trail and have it sent to me to Meadows? Or am I completly lost now. This is a land of 13,000-foot and 14,000-foot peaks, of lakes in the thousands, and of canyons and granite cliffs. If your ice axe is too long on the other hand, it could prove unhelpful for use in self-arrest. I would skip the microspikes as well. For a traverse if which the risk of self arrest is high, you want it in self arrest grip Ice axe not firmly planted when taking next step Ice axe not planted vertically into the slope. It has a steel pick and spike. My first PCT LASH was Campo to Tuolomne in 1996: start date June 6, with crampons and goretex gaiters and ice axes. In his videos he is rocking crampons as of late so the ice/conditions are very real. It should hang down to your ankle when holding it by your side. Just don't fall. Pacific Crest Trail Association 2150 River Plaza Drive, Suite 155 Sacramento, CA 95833; 916-285-1846 main 916-200-3502 fax; PCTA is a 501(c)(3). It's probably the most common ice axe you'll notice hikers toting on the PCT. She got pregnant the same month I was running that PCT. A place for those interested in the PCT to gather and share information… Mar 21, 2019 · Low weight is certainly why you buy this ice axe. :) 43. The number of PCT hikers who carry an axe but don't actually know how to use it is pretty high. Honestly, smart to maybe skip this part of the trail. Learn how to use one properly, ideally in a course. Special gear for each section (bear cannister, ice axe, rain gear). A curved handle is found on a "north wall hammer. In general purpose ice axes, you can get a long one, and it is good to use as a walking stick until you get to the slippery part. Ice axe in cane position. When self arresting correctly with the head of the axe at shoulder height the shaft should go under your armpit. Posted by u/doxzer52 - 6 votes and 34 comments Overall elevation gain/loss on Pacific Crest Trail: 824,370′ over 2668. Thinking of the Petzl Summit and wondering about length and whether 52 or 59 cm. I prefer crampons to micro spikes (and I plan on starting early), so went with the Kahtoola KTS Crampons (682g/24oz) - with the anti ball plates (which are pretty flimsy looking, so may not last very long). However, in general, the need for an ice axe depends on the current snow and weather conditions in the Sierra Nevada. The CAMP USA Corsa Nanotech was the highest-rated ice axe on the Pacific Crest Trail this year. I have no experience with using ice axe, but I plan on practicing with in on San Jacinto, so I'm more comfortable with its use (and self arrest) when I enter Sierra. I typically use it as a more secure way to climb up steep snow/ski routes, along with crampons, and have as a self arrest tool. It means the length an ice axe should be to walk with, and this is how that style of ice axe is measured. In the same vein as waiting to see how conditions for 2018 shape up - ice axe and/or crampons - never had to use these. So yes, either buy it first and practice a ton on your own, rent one, or take a few classes where they will rent to you. If you never slip you don't need an ice axe. Somehow the mantra "the absolute longest an ice axe should be is that the spike hits your ankle" was twisted into "the spike should hit your ankle. And 60 pound packs. Food sack just use a sea to summit dry bag. Length I often see people with ice axes that are too big for them. Many people learn how to use an ice axe on the trail. A short one still works for the slippery part, but it isn't much good as a Nov 14, 2009 · I was one of them. That’s why many more advanced climbers prefer shorter axes - they just don’t need the ax until things are quite steep, they’re fine with ski poles or nothing until then, and on that steep terrain a shorter ax will be better for swinging or dagger position or other things than It is super important that you buy an ice axe that is the proper length. The Camp Corsa Nano Tech ice axe is incredibly light (I measured 246g/8. Nov 14, 2024 · Highest-Rated PCT Ice Axes. The CAMP Corsa in one of the lightest certified ice axes on the market, but it is also probably the worst certified ice axe on the market. I was 25. For the PCT, spikes are more useful than a axe depending on your comfort level. It was June 6. The classic peak bagger of the golden age used 90-100cm, the current Euro mountaineer gets 65-70cm. Trail support isn’t the same as the PCT either so don’t expect trail angels sitting by the roadside (although there are a few) Far Out worked really well for us in terms of knowing about the water situation but like the PCT, it’s never a huge deal if you’re paying attention. Just get the shortest and lightest axe. It comes in three sizes (50, 60, and 70 cm). I'm not going to take an ice axe this year, but I will give it to someone to mail to me if i need it. A way to get an overview of this wonderful trail without being bogged down with lots of info! Updated Jan 2022. I'm not trained in using an ice axe for self-arrest, but I'm pretty comfortable snow hiking. But it weighs in at about 13 or 14 ounces, so it’s not a hyper light kind of axe. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Chances are with your start date you won’t need them but if you do, you can buy them in Kennedy meadows at Yogis before you go. For me personally, this matters less than the roughness of the trail (roots, loose stones etc), but in that department the AT is also tougher (I'm told). There were no caches or trail angels. The trail is flat at these parts. Hey folks, im planning a thru-hike für 2019 and I was wondering if I could bring my ice axe and crampons I use at home with me to the US by plane or if I should rather buy them when I Need them on Trail to prevent having them confiscated. Ice ax length depends as much on steepness of terrain as on height, the steeper the terrain the shorter the ax. 5" (apparently I'm shrinking as I get old), what length should I be looking at? I was on CAMP's site a few nights ago and all the various 70cm length Corsa axes appeared to be out of stock. And it comes in a long enough length to actually use as a general mountain axe. Word of caution: Putting on an apron doesn't automatically make you a chef. Most hikers don't have ice-axes, fewer have the practice to use them effectively, and many gamble and just get across the sketchy slopes as carefully as they can. You don't need one if you're not going to fall. I'm heading southbound from canada somewhere in between mid june to late june. So, choosing the right ice axe length is important, but the good news is, it’s also quite easy. Aug 21, 2023 · My current mountaineering axe is 70cm and is heavy. I ask here because I dont dare to bug the facebook group with all my questions <3. Here the Corsa is used on the Haute route, a 7-day ski traverse across the heart of the Alps. Im starting this year in middle om may. Best Overall: Petzl Glacier; Best Budget Ice Axe: Black Diamond Raven; Best Ski Mountaineering Ice Axe: Petzl Summit Evo; Best Mountaineering Ice Axe: Black Diamond Venom; Best Thru-Hiking Ice Axe: Camp Corsa 12 votes, 20 comments. I'm currently looking into getting my first ice axe that fits my future endeavours best. Jan 14, 2022 · If your ice axe is too short, it could actually pose a risk as the head could end up too close to your vital organs during self-arrest. If you haven’t bought an ice axe and micro spikes I wouldn’t buy them yet. I was glad I had an ice axe, though I only had to cut my own steps once. As far as the ice axe, the most important feature Is the length. I went in a high snow year, 2017 and an ice axe was a good idea. :) a 1. How to use an ice axe and how to cross a stream are skills you should attempt to learn now before hitting the trail. When you're in town, the most efficient calories = buying a bucket of ice cream. A place for those interested in the PCT to gather and share information. If you do you will just have to wait for someone who brought an ice axe. If you always stick to the footpath you probably wont have to cut your own steps. At 7. Like a 50 ft if they exist at all. Probably get training in self arresting with an ice axe if OP decided to hit the peaks. I think an 13 liter is like 1. This as a standard, is a little old fashioned. A lot PCT hikers tend to go with the camp Corso ice axe because it's damn light. I used it when the slope and run out warranted it, and used my trekking poles the rest of the time (you need them when going over miles of sun-cupped snow). If you need an ice axe, you need an ice axe. Similarly, carrying an ice axe doesn't make you an alpine mountaineer. . PLB you can use a garmin in reach mini. I know there isn't the perfect allround model but i still have to start somewhere. 9 oz / 252 g axe with a curved anodized aluminum shaft and a steel adze. 3 oz or so. I usually carry a trekking pole or two if theres a long, low angle approach. As for prep, I'm getting out to the snow whenever I can to get more experience in it. Ice axe was super helpful for me, especially for self-belay and self-arresting (twice). I think it’s one of the lighter axes that still has a steel head instead of Al-yew-min-ee-um. Shopping for spikes for my wife (shhh!) and maybe an ax. Unfortunately, he had his ice axe and microspikes waiting for him in the post office 10 miles north of Apache Peak in Idyllwild. But made it despite originally aiming for Belden. brlzgvg gpszq ozocu lxt xorc rpqsox cnuuvot ggbys cbed eqg