RE: Re: Camp Corsa review

I guess I just like to live on the edge….  ;o)

 

Jerry

 

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ned Tibbits
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 7:55 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BackpackingLight] Re: Camp Corsa review

 






As you guys know, we informally teach self-arrest skills (amongst many other really practical snow skills a hiker may want to know to stay safe, alert, and informed). Been doing it since 1982. I’ll keep this brief...

 

The ULA Potty Trowel is useless as an emergency stopping tool when you slip on the snow while on a slope and start sliding downhill. As a matter of fact, Rick Sanger, the NPS Ranger in LeConte Canyon at Bishop Pass trail junction, showed me the results of a ULA used in such an emergency and, of course, it was in two neat pieces—the head simply slid right off the shaft when used to self-arrest! Don’t always go with the lightest weight item—there may be a reason why it is so light. So, the solution to the issue is to buy only certified axes (stamp on the head or sticker on the shaft of the axe). These are designed to be used under stress, like any good tool. (Yes, there are standards for technical ice axes). 

 

We endorse the Black Diamond Raven http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/shop/climb/ice-axes-piolets/sortby/relevance/sortdir/asc/ which we have used and abused for years while teaching winter skills and spring snow camping and hiking every year along the PCT/JMT.

 

Now, let me clarify why a backpacker needs an axe while crossing steep snow patches. Obviously, a hiker doesn’t need one normally as his shoes should have enough traction on dirt and rock to prevent slippage and subsequent falls. But once you step up onto the snow (and it doesn’t matter how big or long it is, just how steep), your friction coefficient goes out the window and your balance, much less your progress forward, is based on training and experience. 

 

Without going into shoe design, edging, heel-plunging, toeing-in, stepping vs. pushing, and other methods of balanced, over-snow walking on slopes, let’s just talk about slip-and-falls. They will happen to you whenever you lose track of your surroundings and think you can move along just a bit faster. Speed is not your friend on snow. Everything is about balance and expected traction. When you lose one, down you may go, so be careful out there—especially when on any slope steep enough that you’d like to downhill ski it!

 

Once you hit the deck, the object is to stop your downhill slide before you hit the trees or rocks below. Suncups can either slow you down or just make the ride that much rougher. The object is to use the ice axe in your hand (having been used as either an uphill anchor in a climbing traverse or just “at the ready” while going downhill, seated or standing, walking or traversing or plunging with each step). If you do not have your ice axe in your hand when you fall or you do not know how to use one to self-arrest, well, it’ll be time to pray! Thus, do not travel over steep snow (even just a burm across the trail) without one in-hand). Now, we know most of us do not always have our axes in-hand all the time because we have learned through experience/training how to maximize balance and traction over snow such that we feel safe most of the time dealing with not-so-steep patches of or fields of steepish snow.

 

However, when it comes to tackling typical high sierra passes, a fall on those steep traverses might be your last. So learn how to self-arrest and, most importantly, know how to identify dangerous snow conditions ahead and be prepared for them so you come out the other side safe and sound. I’d like to simply tell you that, once you have fallen, to roll over onto your axe, dig its pick into the snow and you’ll slide to a stop, but it’s not that easy and takes a little guided skill instruction. Some folks can learn the principles in pictures or a video and go out and figure it out while most can’t (at least that’s our experience after teaching lots of long-distance hikers over the last 30 years). Many places teach these skills near most of you. Check out your local colleges, mountain shops, wilderness schools, outdoor clubs, and retailers to find something near you. 

 

Last word, don’t trust your life to something you haven’t tested for yourself in conditions expected. This goes for everything we carry, wear, eat, use or otherwise rely on.

 

 

Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
www.mountaineducation.org

 

From: Roleigh Martin <mailto:[email protected]>  

Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 11:21 AM

To: [email protected] 

Subject: Re: [BackpackingLight] Re: Camp Corsa review

 

  

I'm not sure the ULA potty trowel ever got stress tested, the suluk46 has.  He has a link to the stress testing that was done on his axe. A long thread at BPL with lots of information. It is not certified by any outside agency though but it is tested.
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Visit my Google Profile <https://profiles.google.com/104440166440169700478/about>  (lots of very interesting research links)
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