Ice axe

[ward]

This may have been covered before, and if so i apologize.
I am interested in purchasing an ice axe , and i see they come in different lengths. How does one determine what is the proper length?
P.S. minus ten on the old thermometer this morning ....woohoooo:)

[ElectricMan]

I am interested in purchasing an ice axe , and i see they come in different lengths. How does one determine what is the proper length?

Some good information can be found here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_axe).
What do you intend to use it for?

[Jay H]

I was taught that if you are holding the ice axe by the head with your arm by your side, that the spike of the axe should just about reach your ankle (assume with boots on). This of course, is a generalization but has worked for me. With roped glacier travel, the rope is on the downhill side if traversing a snowfield so your axe is going to be on the uphill side. If you're going straight up a slope, then it doesn't matter. In either case, the axe is going to be generally carried on the uphill side hence, they aren't as long as you would want for a trekking pole but neither do you want to constantly be crouching over if you need to use it as a balancing device.

Then they do make ice axes that have a spike extending to a trekking pole and they do make Whippets.... :)

Jay

[ward]

Thanks Jay. After struggling up the ladder on Armstrong last weekend, i began thinking that maybe it might be a good idea to carry one.
We still have many winter peaks yet to do.

[Oldsmores]

I was taught that if you are holding the ice axe by the head with your arm by your side, that the spike of the axe should just about reach your ankle (assume with boots on). ..

Not to split hairs, but the distance from your hand to your ankle is the same with boots on or off.

[ward]

Point to my constituent from Walworth........

[spaddock]

I was taught that if you are holding the ice axe by the head with your arm by your side, that the spike of the axe should just about reach your ankle

I bought mine with this same rule of thumb, which for me, was 75cm. I picked it up for general mountaineering where it was primarily for glacier travel.


-Shayne

[ward]

Ahh yeah;uhhuh,:rolleyes: thanks for the info pete.....I think!?

[eddogg12]

I was taught that if you are holding the ice axe by the head with your arm by your side, that the spike of the axe should just about reach your ankle (assume with boots on)...

That is a good rule of thumb for Alpine use. I have a 75CM axe, i'm 5'11".

[ADKJack]

That is a good rule of thumb for Alpine use. I have a 75CM axe, i'm 5'11".
Hmmm, I must have ape arms I am 6'1" and use a 70CM and I know Spaddock is at least 6'5" and he uses a 75. Does this mean that everyone can scratch their knees from a standing position or is it just me.:D

[Jay H]

Well, people buy ice axes for different reasons and use them in different ways. I carried an ice axe when I was on the lower great range a few weekends ago, because of the ladder on Armstrong. I was pretty sure I wouldn't need it for self-arrest except for perhaps on Gothics but that wasn't deep or seriously icy not to use snowshoes. I have a 65cm BD Raven Pro that I've used on mtns out west for self-arrest and that is what my general guideline is for, mountaineering. I'm only 5'4" and can't scratch my knees when standing ;)

Sometimes, it's nice to have a longer ice axe, at least for the east coast mtns where it is more of a hiking aid, than self arrest device, but I bought mine for Rainier a few years ago.

Jay

[JoeCedar]

I got the shortest ice axe I could find, about 58 cm, because it spends most of its hiking life on my pack. I noticed on others that a longer axe just increases the probability that it will knock snow down your neck and snag on blowdowns. Since my only expected use is on limited ice flows like on LWJ and Armstrong, length doesn't matter.

[ElectricMan]

I got the shortest ice axe I could find, about 58 cm, because it spends most of its hiking life on my pack.

Mine has spent most of its life collecting dust. This is one piece of gear that has a very low return on investment (in the NE) IMO.

length doesn't matter.

Just your opinion? :D

[eddogg12]

Hmmm, I must have ape arms I am 6'1" and use a 70CM and I know Spaddock is at least 6'5" and he uses a 75. Does this mean that everyone can scratch their knees from a standing position or is it just me.

....Maybe I just have stumpy arms! using that standard rule of thumb indicated, it appears to be the right size. I was on some mild grade 2 ice over the weekend, and the 75cm fit the bill perfectly. I liked the leverage the longer axe gave me.

....I mean sure...2 swings and I was 110 feet up! :D

[Skyclimber]

Mine has spent most of its life collecting dust.

I baught one and never used it. It is now a decoration on my porch. :D Sometimes it comes in handy to chop the ice off the front steps.

[TFR]

I baught one and never used it. It is now a decoration on my porch. :D Sometimes it comes in handy to chop the ice off the front steps.Like a hiking pole, it has many uses! (http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3028) :D

[pete_hickey]

Since my only expected use is on limited ice flows like on LWJ and Armstrong, length doesn't matter. And that's why we differ. I will frequently use it much more. I've even done a 22 mile hike with no pole(s), only an ice axe. Longer is better for me.

So the bottom line is.... The rule of thumb, is something that someone said. There is much more flexibility there than in.... say shoes.. You never hear someone saying that they have a size 9 foot, but like a size 7, or 13 shoe. You will hear that with ice axes.

[TFR]

Longer is better for me.Maybe you should just bring the one in your avatar! :D

[ElectricMan]

Really…..what’s with all these large dangerous objects?
I’d hate to see what you use to start a fire. :D

[ward]

.........and better yet how does he get across the border with said "dangerous objects":D

[pete_hickey]

.........and better yet how does he get across the border with said "dangerous objects":DOnce upon a time... I crossing the border, going through customs, I was asked,

"Do you have any weapons or alcohol?"

"No."

"OK, pull over."

<Stand while they search through car.>

Customs guy pulls out axe...

"This is a weapon, son."

OK, That was back in the early '70s... These days, they call me, "Pops"

[Jay H]

The one time I crossed into Canada from NY on my bike, the customs guy asked me if I had anything to declare. I so wanted to say "A queen size bed and an armoir" but sheepishly told him "nope, just visiting for the night".

I entered Canada north of Plattsburgh and rode the Richelieu (sp?) canal bikepaths to Fort Chambley and then on the way back, crossed the canal and rode down towards the Hero Islands and VT...

Jay

[spaddock]

Hmmm, I must have ape arms I am 6'1" and use a 70CM and I know Spaddock is at least 6'5" and he uses a 75

To match the rule of thumb I was actually in between a 70 and a 75 but since I was going to be planting it in the snow all day instead of swinging it I wanted the extra length, turns out I made the right call.

I agonized over it for a month like I I do just about every piece of gear.


-Shayne

[alombard]

I'm one for a short ax (19 inch). The reason for this is I use 2 poles while hiking. Any harry sections, steep or icy or just plain scary, I shrink the poles, put them in the pack and get out the ax. The ax is just something to help be pull my self up and possibly self-arrest. Hope this helps.