Author Topic: Ice axe for winter walking  (Read 2337 times)

Hillhiker1

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Re: Ice axe for winter walking
« Reply #15 on: 08:40:17, 20/12/18 »
Apologies to Hillhiker for the thread hijack  :-[



Not a hijack at all Mel, Perfectly valid discussion O0

April

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Re: Ice axe for winter walking
« Reply #16 on: 08:47:23, 20/12/18 »
Apologies to Hillhiker for the thread hijack  :-[

 :-[ Sorry Mel, I didn't mean my post to imply it was thread hijack. I should not have used the word "Back".
Hate will never win

Jim Parkin

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Re: Ice axe for winter walking
« Reply #17 on: 18:06:20, 20/12/18 »

An ice axe is primarily for self arrest if you slip on a snow slope, although can be used to steady yourself on a slope, and for cutting toe holds in hard snow.


I went up Fairfield last February: snow conditions were excellent but the snow was hard - so hard that it was difficult to kick a step, despite wearing heavy winter boots, and I did use the axe to cut a few steps in a steep gully. Whilst on the walk, I was surprised and a little dismayed to see so many people using poles instead of an ice axe - they would have been in trouble had they taken a fall.
Practising self-arrests in safe locations is also fun and confidence-building

I remember being on Broad Crag in the ice and chatting to a fell runner from Keswick about (cough) 25 years ago. He ran down to Esk Hause, and fell and instantly self-arrested several times, and continued quite happily - presumably all the way back to Keswick. 


« Last Edit: 18:12:57, 20/12/18 by Jim Parkin »

richardh1905

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Re: Ice axe for winter walking
« Reply #18 on: 19:11:35, 20/12/18 »
Practising self-arrests in safe locations is also fun and confidence-building



Absolutely! Best for me was an 800 foot descent down the northern slopes of Blencathra.
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