Ice Ax Uses

“Besides self-arrest and belaying, what other tricks have you found for your axe.

Mine: camera monopod, self-defense, digging cat-holes.”

“Chipping ice chunks for water and digging holes for snow anchors. Picking off the snow which has balled up under my crampons.”

“Fries
The variety and scope of french fries produced in this country is truly horrifying and blasphemous. Shoestring, wedge cut, crinkly, curly, spicy, cheesy, the list goes on and on. There's a theory going around which I just made up that says that there is a one-to-one relationship between subatomic particles discovered and french fry variations created. Think about it. A while back they finally pinned down the "top" variety of quark, (don't ask) and that same week I found a place that serves "Irish Cut Fries." Weird. Eerie.

Chips
I'm going to have to take an unpopular stance here. Potato chips are kind of gross. Oh, sure, I'll ransack any bags or storage cylinders of chips you have lying around, but I'll feel remorse afterwards, because potato chips are pretty much as vile as you can get with a snack food that has no "creamy filling." Even worse are flavored potato chips; sour cream and onion chips, barbecue chips, salt and vinegar chips that burn an acidic hole through your cheeks. I need to go wash now.

Baked
Baked potatoes give me eighties flashbacks. Somewhere in there someone decided that baked potatoes were health food, so they came up with "potato bars" which are like salad bars with more of an emphasis on chives. Then various health-conscious young professionals made themselves nice "healthy" lunches with about a one-to-one relationship of potato and sour cream, making the humble potato the denial diet food of the decade. It was a sad time.

Toy Heads
Not that these are actually made out of potatoes any more. And they don't put a lot of work into making him look like a potato. Really, he should be called "Mr. Potato-esque Plastic Blob Head." Which I think is my new band name. But I digress. Better than the usual toy are plastic face and body parts you can buy and stick with wild abandon into actual potatoes, giving you a juicy, starchy quality you don't usually find in playroom fun.

Animals
Yes! Potato animals! Oh, come ON! You remember! Pathetic rainy day activities! Four pencils, a toothpick, a pink eraser and a potato and you had an odd malformed creature that could easily haunt your nightmares. This was always sort of a last resort activity, once you had done the paper airplanes and the connect-the-dots and you couldn't stand to look at another damn Colorform. And why? Because it didn't DO anything! You took about thirty seconds to make and just stood there. Sometimes it's tough being a kid.

Oops, thought you asked about other uses for potatoes.”

“snackboy? is that you?”

“I've used my axe in the past as a penitration to to be used on the head, and administrated by one who is agrivated with the one with the axe in head.”

“actuly, I've never seen them in use other then when I went to NM BSA camp (phillmont) it was in the summer so I could never figuere out why they needed them. The adult leaders just said, that the dude had it to look kewl. I agread”

“anyone know a good, cheaper one to buy?”

“i don't really know what size to get either.

don't know much about them at all actually.”

“so why do you want one?? to kill somebody!!!”

“Somebody warn Batman Luke!!!!!”

“need to get them for some winter hiking up the Glens Trail in Ricketts Glen this February.

Come with us Geo! We're car camping!”

“yea it's gonna be fun!

except i don't know jack about ice axes.”

“When it comes to ice-axes, it really doesn't matter which size, as long as it's the right size.”

“Keep the talk going. It's a possibility if My two leg doctors can keep things rolling.

Serially Scorch, if you need an ice axe, you don't want a cheap one.”

“well the funds are kinda low and it's only for ricketts glen, so it's not like i'm climbing k2 or anything. i'll probably hardly use it, as i don't go ice climbing a lot lol.”

“Hey scorch, wanna come on my private trip to K2 next weekend?”

“I'd try to pick up a good used one. Also, check out Sierra Trading Post sales. They will probably have one in January to offer winter gear at decent discounts.

What you don't want to happen is to find the handle in your hand while the head is buried in the ice. Not good.”

“what size? i've been looking at them and there are different cm sizes.”

“Scorchy, sweetums... REI rents equipment.”

“Sweetums??? Scorchie???”

“i'd rather buy in case i need it again in the future.”

“i thought you said you were broke. Face it, if you're broke, you can't by certain NECESSITIES like an ice ax.”

“I'M BUYING ONE DAMNIT!! I NEEEEED IT!”

“Oh, its like that. Have some chocolate.
Sheesh.”

“nah that was 2 weeks ago, deary.”

“Chocolate is good for irrational babes all cycle long.”

“Sweetums, ... that was just too funny. Everytime I pick myself up off the floor, I see it again!”

“geo, i'm coming after u : P”

“Seriously, the way I choose my correct ice axe length is to grab the ice axe by the head and stand with it at my side with my arm hanging down and the tip should just touch the ground. Some say it should hit the top of your foot instead of the ground, but I prefer a little longer axe.

See if this link works

http://www.rei.com/rei/learn/noDetail.jsp?URL=rei/learn/climb/chicetoolf.jsp&vcat=REI_SEARCH#ORIG

If not, try this and click on the link in the "Expert Advice" box.

http://www.rei.com/category/4500718.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CLIMBING_TOC”

“thanks, buck!”

“"The optimal length for an ice ax may depend more on what you plan to do with it than on how tall you are." Understanding Ice Axes

250 Uses of the Ice Axe

This might be nice for Christmas.
Sterling Silver Ice Ax Pendant
last edited: 12/21/04 6:08:46 PM”

“thanks for the links and info.”

“Sweetums!”

“a wrinkled nose at geo:


last edited: 12/21/04 8:27:29 PM”

“Hey sweetums!

Ya know - theres just not many things sexier than a redhead with an ice ax!”

“watch it boy. i might get 2 just to terrorize ya.

i guess that means i'll have to do more rocky mountain climbin'

and don't call me sweetums!
last edited: 12/21/04 8:43:38 PM”

“Why don't you rent one.”

“haven't used one for year, practicing self-arrest is fun though.”

“you are under arrest”

“repeat that ten times and you've got it”

“you are under arrestyou are under arrestyou are under arrestyou are under arrestyou are under arrestyou are under arrestyou are under arrestyou are under arrestyou are under arrestyou are under arrest”

“next thing you know she will be carrying fuzzy handcuffs.”

“were u snooping through my drawers????? i have 2 pairs : ) black and red.”

“the red I think tonight hunny ;op”

“i was in more of a black mood (pout)”

“Scary ;o)”

“black works for me”

“it's all black when the lights go off....”

“Sweetums...LMAO”

“Buck's correct for the length.

There are two types of ice axe, you want the general mountaineering one.

like the BD Raven pictured here available from Northernmountain.com for $65


Do not get an ice climbing axe with a reverse pick like this


The main purpose of a general mountaineering axe if for self arrest if you fall, secondary for belaying so a rubber coated handle is less good, 3rd is for cutting and chopping ice for steps or to clear a flat patch to set your tent.

Light is good, but some have the piolet (point on end of shaft) mad of alum, they do not last you need steel.

Suggestions
BD Raven
Grivel Nepal

You really need a leash to connect your wrist with the axe when it is in use. If you do fall you need the axe with you.”