Ice Axe Leashes

AndyP <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

As far as I can tell there are 4 choices regarding ice axe leashes.
1. No leash
2. Leash fixed to head of axe

I use a grivel with strap attached to head of axe, use sling through loop on harness to tension when
resting.......but remember you only have about 5 minutes befoere it starts melting out!....much
longer on turf placements

stuart

Quoted message said:

3. Sliding leash
4. Spring type leash worn around the chest which I believe is supposed to

be

Quoted message said:

a benefit to swapping hands.

Anyone got any opinions as to which is the best option? Also is the curved shaft of the DMM Cirque
of any major benefit over a straight one?

"AndyP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

As far as I can tell there are 4 choices regarding ice axe leashes.
1. No leash
2. Leash fixed to head of axe
3. Sliding leash
4. Spring type leash worn around the chest which I believe is

supposed to be

Quoted message said:

a benefit to swapping hands.

Anyone got any opinions as to which is the best option? Also is the curved shaft of the DMM Cirque
of any major benefit over

a

Quoted message said:

straight one?

For regular hill walking use ( not Climbing ) I have used the Grivel Spring Leash for the last 3 or
4 years. At a cost of about £10 from Tiso it has been a great buy and is so much easier to use than
the previous sliding wrist strap that I used before this. As you state the spring leash has a loop
which is worn round the chest and then a "spring" section before the attachment to the head of the
axe. The benefits to ease of hand changing are immense specially if zig zagging a long slope. It is
also long enough to easily park the axe between shoulder and sack for short periods if both hands
are required to be free.

I now would not consider any other type of leash or strap for normal walking use.

Cheers Graham

AndyP said:

As far as I can tell there are 4 choices regarding ice axe leashes.
1. No leash
2. Leash fixed to head of axe
3. Sliding leash
4. Spring type leash worn around the chest which I believe is supposed to be a benefit to swapping
hands.

Anyone got any opinions as to which is the best option? Also is the curved shaft of the DMM Cirque
of any major benefit over a straight one?

For walking or for climbing? Assuming walking: I just use a long leash fixed to the head of the axe.
It's long enough that I can keep it round the same wrist throughout, swapping the axe from hand to
hand as required. And curved shafts are of no benefit for walking. Simon

message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

As far as I can tell there are 4 choices regarding ice axe leashes.
1. No leash
2. Leash fixed to head of axe
3. Sliding leash
4. Spring type leash worn around the chest which I believe is supposed to

be

Quoted message said:

a benefit to swapping hands.

Based on walking only (not climbing). Adventurous end of walking nonetheless.

I prefer: option 1 (no leash) - easy to swap hands, post axe into belt loop when needing free-hands,
without taking on and off the wrist, nor having long dangly bit flapping about when not on wrist. I
reckon I hold on to it a bit tighter as well as there's no 2nd chance !

I've tried option 2 - with a bit of tape tied on the head and found it a pain as I like to freely
change hands. I've noticed companions faffing considerably swapping their wrist loops 'round every
10 seconds too and / or holding it in the "wrong" hand on zig-sags. If you don't bother putting it
on your wrist then you have a great flappy bit causing nuisance. Is there actually any purpose in
having such a leash ? I'm not at all convinced you'd be able to wind in a windmilling ice-axe in a
fall and then subsequently grap hold of it to do a self-arrest. I've seen someone nearly stab
herself in such a circumstance and grabbing the whirling axe didn't look feasable at all.
(Fortunately only bad bruises ensued)

Option 3 - sliding leash - presumably with a steel ring on the shaft with a cap-screw to stop it
sliding right off. I've never tried this but would give this a go. Perhaps the flappy bit is less of
a nuisance if not bothering to put wrist in loop? Worth a try I'd have thought. Must file out a
suitable bit of steel.

Option 4 - dunno, not tried it but would guess it may have many of the problems of option 2.

Proper climbing is obviously another matter.

Enjoy

Hywel

"AndyP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

As far as I can tell there are 4 choices regarding ice axe leashes.
1. No leash
2. Leash fixed to head of axe
3. Sliding leash
4. Spring type leash worn around the chest which I believe is supposed to

be

Quoted message said:

a benefit to swapping hands.

Anyone got any opinions as to which is the best option? Also is the curved shaft of the DMM Cirque
of any major benefit over a straight one?

Option 1 a leash can be useful Option 2 usually wrapped around the head and not used unless I need
it. Option 3 I have tried and seen no benefit over option 2 Option 4 I wouldn't want anything I
can't let go of! Something attaching the thing to you could easily cause more damage than a slip -
would you really want a piece of sharp metal bouncing around at head height? If you have let go you
ain't going to catch it (except in the eye)!

Carol

AndyP wrote:
|| As far as I can tell there are 4 choices regarding ice axe leashes.
|| 1. No leash
|| 2. Leash fixed to head of axe
|| 3. Sliding leash
|| 4. Spring type leash worn around the chest which I believe is supposed to be a benefit to
|| swapping hands.
||
|| Anyone got any opinions as to which is the best option? Also is the curved shaft of the DMM
|| Cirque of any major benefit over a straight one?

1: Leash fixed at the head & at the wrist WITH a large loop, so that in case of an uncontrolled
fall, it will hopefully rid itself from your person.

2: No leash.

3: Use crampons if an ice axe is neccessary;-)

And also make sure you can use one effectively! It's not a fashion excessory ;-)

CB
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Sliding leashe in my opinion - some suggest that no leash is better in case you fall.

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"AndyP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

As far as I can tell there are 4 choices regarding ice axe leashes.
1. No leash
2. Leash fixed to head of axe
3. Sliding leash
4. Spring type leash worn around the chest which I believe is supposed to

be

Quoted message said:

a benefit to swapping hands.

Anyone got any opinions as to which is the best option?
Also is the curved shaft of the DMM Cirque of any major benefit over a
straight one?

Hywel & Ros said:

on your wrist then you have a great flappy bit causing nuisance. Is there actually any purpose in
having such a leash ? I'm not at all convinced you'd be able to wind in a windmilling ice-axe in a
fall and then subsequently grap hold of it to do a self-arrest.

It can be quite handy such that dropping something doesn't mean a very good chance of losing it.
Aside from that, on steep ground it can actually be used for a degree of support as well as your
primary grip on the shaft. If you don't want a faff changing hands just put your hand over it to
stop it flapping around and it won't slow you down, and it's there if you want it.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

CB said:

3: Use crampons if an ice axe is neccessary;-)

Not necessarily. In soft, heavy snow (quite common in the UK) an axe is useful for support but
crampons just ball up and attach unhelpful spikes to your feet to add to the danger. Crampons start
coming into their own in ice, where an axe is of use in quite a lot of snow conditions.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

CB wrote

Quoted message said:

3: Use crampons if an ice axe is neccessary;-)

I would never advocate crampons without an ice axe. It's too easy to trip over in crampons and an
axe gives you that extra bit of stability. An ice axe without crampons is OK, however, conditions
depending.

Chris

Peter Clinch wrote:
|| CB wrote:
||
||| 3: Use crampons if an ice axe is neccessary;-)
||
|| Not necessarily. In soft, heavy snow (quite common in the UK) an axe is useful for support but
|| crampons just ball up and attach unhelpful spikes to your feet to add to the danger. Crampons
|| start coming into their own in ice, where an axe is of use in quite a lot of snow conditions.
||
|| Pete.
|| --
|| Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells
|| Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
|| dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

And I've witnessed walkers in the UK with axes and no crampons wereas a better option would have
been crampons!

Balling up easily dealt with, tapping the foot with said axe, quite common practice. Anyway swings
and roundabouts, I'll deal with winter conditions in the way that I've been taught.

CB
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Craven Bird News

mysite.freeserve.comcravenbirdsOpen ↗

Chris Gilbert wrote:
|| CB wrote
||
||| 3: Use crampons if an ice axe is neccessary;-)
||
|| I would never advocate crampons without an ice axe. It's too easy to trip over in crampons and an
|| axe gives you that extra bit of stability. An ice axe without crampons is OK, however, conditions
|| depending.
||
|| Chris

Who said; crampon without an ice axe?

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"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hywel & Ros said:

on your wrist then you have a great flappy bit causing nuisance. Is

there

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

actually any purpose in having such a leash ? I'm not at all convinced

you'd

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

be able to wind in a windmilling ice-axe in a fall and then subsequently grap hold of it to do a
self-arrest.

It can be quite handy such that dropping something doesn't mean a very good chance of losing it.
Aside from that, on steep ground it can actually be used for a degree of support as well as your
primary grip on the shaft. If you don't want a faff changing hands just put your hand over it to
stop it flapping around and it won't slow you down, and it's there if you want it.

Pete.
--

Yes, there is that. Maybe I'll have another go contriving one of those slidey ring things. I still
think a long leash is a bit of a nuisance though - till I drop my axe one day. I guess it's a choice
between "I hope I don't drop this", or "this bloody leash is a pain".

Cheers

Hywel

In article <[email hidden]>, CB

url=''URL:/url said:

Peter Clinch wrote:
|| CB wrote:
||
||| 3: Use crampons if an ice axe is neccessary;-)
||
|| Not necessarily. In soft, heavy snow (quite common in the UK) an axe is useful for support but
|| crampons just ball up and attach unhelpful spikes to your feet to add to the danger. Crampons
|| start coming into their own in ice, where an axe is of use in quite a lot of snow conditions.
||
|| Pete.

And I've witnessed walkers in the UK with axes and no crampons wereas a better option would have
been crampons!

The only time I can think of using crampons without axes[1] is on fairly level but frozen ground.

Quoted message said:

Balling up easily dealt with, tapping the foot with said axe, quite common practice. Anyway swings
and roundabouts, I'll deal with winter conditions in the way that I've been taught.

Ah, so you do have the axe and the crampons!

[1] Thinking about it I have sometimes when ski-touring used crampons and ski-poles to get up a firm
slope. However in such circumstances it has been whilst belayed on a rope if there is a serious
run-out. I do also carry a lightweight axe when ski-touring, but it is usually reserved for very
serious slopes.

Mike <URL:http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/~mrc7/>
--
o/ \\ // |\ ,_ o Mike Clark <\__,\\ // __o | \ / /\, "A mountain climbing, cycling, skiing, "> ||
_`\<,_ |__\ \> | immunology lecturer, antibody engineer and ` || (_)/ (_) | \corn computer user"

CB said:

Chris Gilbert wrote:
|| CB wrote
||
||| 3: Use crampons if an ice axe is neccessary;-)
||
|| I would never advocate crampons without an ice axe. It's too easy to trip over in crampons and
|| an axe gives you that extra bit of stability. An ice axe without crampons is OK, however,
|| conditions depending.
||
|| Chris

Who said; crampon without an ice axe?

Mike.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Mike Clark wrote:
|| In article <[email hidden]>, CB "]<URL:[email hidden]> wrote:
||| Peter Clinch wrote:
||||| CB wrote:
|||||
|||||| 3: Use crampons if an ice axe is neccessary;-)
|||||
||||| Not necessarily. In soft, heavy snow (quite common in the UK) an axe is useful for support but
||||| crampons just ball up and attach unhelpful spikes to your feet to add to the danger. Crampons
||||| start coming into their own in ice, where an axe is of use in quite a lot of snow conditions.
|||||
||||| Pete.
|||
||| And I've witnessed walkers in the UK with axes and no crampons wereas a better option would have
||| been crampons!
||
|| The only time I can think of using crampons without axes[1] is on fairly level but frozen ground.
||
|||
||| Balling up easily dealt with, tapping the foot with said axe, quite common practice. Anyway
||| swings and roundabouts, I'll deal with winter conditions in the way that I've been taught.
|||
||
|| Ah, so you do have the axe and the crampons!
||
|| [1] Thinking about it I have sometimes when ski-touring used crampons and ski-poles to get up a
|| firm slope. However in such circumstances it has been whilst belayed on a rope if there is a
|| serious run-out. I do also carry a lightweight axe when ski-touring, but it is usually
|| reserved for very serious slopes.
||
|| Mike <URL:http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/~mrc7/> --
|| o/ \\ // |\ ,_ o Mike Clark <\__,\\ // __o | \ / /\, "A mountain climbing, cycling, skiing, ">
|| || _`\<,_ |__\ \> | immunology lecturer, antibody engineer and ` || (_)/ (_) | \corn computer
|| user"

Yes I gotta ice axes and crampons some of them are over 30 years old;-) And well used.

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