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[pct-l] Ice Axe +/- Clearanc
Hi -> These are described as having positive clearance and negative =
>clearance. In a positive tip design, the tip of the pick angles away =
>from the shaft of the axe... kind of like this:>
> ____________
> /_____ _____|
> | |
>
>In a negative tip design, the pick angles towards the shaft, like this:>
> ____________
> \____ _____|
> | |
>
>Now, the ice axe info at REI says that a postive clearance design is =
>better for self arrest and that a negative clearance design is better =
>for overhead hooking in ice climbing. On the other hand, Climbing =
>magazine's online site argues that a =
>negative tip design is superior because the postive tip can catch in =
>hard snow and yank the axe away... they state that a postive tip is used =
>for vertical ice tools.
The 4th edn. of _Mountaineering:_The_Freedom_of_the_Hills_ agrees with REI
on the matter of self-arrest. Picks with positive clearance, it says, do a
good job of biting into the surface. Picks with negative clearance tend to
skate or drag along the surface. That's a rather old edition I've quoted
from, however; does anyone have a current edition they can consult to see if
perhaps this information has been revised?
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