Splitboard.com Forums

In my experience, if you need to arrest this type of fall while skinning or booting then the user waited too long to switch to proper gear (cramps and axe) or didn't stop the slide soon enough....possibly from only having one whippet. The whole point (for me) with dual whippets is to prevent that type of slide in the first place. Its important to know the window of their limits and when to switch to the right gear if you're on ice.

Also keep in mind that the owner's manual is written from the SKIERS perspective. Their speaking about a skier descending with a single whippet while on skis whereas when we talk about it from the splitters perspective we're talking about the ascent.

Lately I haven't been hiking with the wrist straps on so I can jettison the poles in the case of an avalanche. Even if I were wearing the straps I would not stick my hand through the way the straps hang, instead stick them through from the bottom so that when you are holding onto your poles your straps are between your hands and the poles. That way if you let go the pole drops out of the way but doesn't go too far and you still get the support of the strap when you're poling your way up hill.

I love the dark humor in the next point taken from the manual ... "When climbing or skiing, try to avoid self-evisceration should you wipe out."

@jimw - Different Ludwig. Sorry.

@stuka - LOL. I know!

@bcrider - No kidding. Too true.
In my search for more options than BD's whippet (homemade mods looked waay too sketchy), I found URL Petzl's Snowscopic ice axe.
It's a nice step in the spectrum from trekking poles to ice axes. IMHO it's too heavy/awkward for the vast majority of what I do.

Bottom line, if you are using your whippet as directed, you've made at least one mistake (in either your purchase, choice of equipment for the day or any combination of the two).

I whippet>2
For the reasons Hans said and if you think 2 whippets is as good as 1 ice axe for safety you are crazy. I climb a lot with 1 whippet and 1 axe and that is my preferred method for most steep ascents. If it's steep and scary I want 2 axes.

Basically, I don't think there's any logical reason to ever use 2

Oh, and homemade whippets are waay better than BD's for stopping power if you make them wide. At least the one's I've seen. BD pick absolutely sucks for self arrest. I'm gonna have a buddy mod one of my BD expeditions for me and sell my whippet.

I think the basket in lieu of a spike on an ice axe is a poor idea. If I slip, I stab first, arrest second. The problem with products that attempt to meet multiple purposes is that there are usually compromises. While this design approach is ok for an all-in-one printer, it has little place in an alpine environment. In fact, I wouldn't even recommend something like this to a hiker.

@HansGLudwig - I know your not endorsing this product, I just never knew it existed and somewhat surprised that it does.

So how do you all with whippets carry them on your pack to prevent yourself or any of you gear getting stabbed in the event of a fall on the way down? I dislike riding with anything in my hands 99% of the time and being that most runs involve tight trees at one point or another, riding with poles in my hand is just asking to mess up my shoulder.

Just like you would an ice axe.

Have never used a whippet and would'nt consider using them.
If i'm crossing some shitty hardpack or windhammered stuff put on mr chomps
if i'm bootpacking, i'm going to be going up something steep in the alpine therefore always 2 ice axes and crampons,if you wanna get all core mountaineering,use proper tools.

In the deep snow picture above Id rather have one whippet and one axe. Unless you are climbing very firm and steep snow (using ice tools), two axes are overkill and problematic for self arrest if they are both strapped to your wrists. To each their own though, looks like you have the "core" part figured out.

My preffered method is one whippet and 1 axe for steep snow climbing. The whippet pole can provide balance if the axe sinks down too easily. In a fall I drop the whippet and use both hands on the axe which is leashed to my right wrist.

As stated previously, whippets are great for skinning using them cane style, for short snow climbs not worthy of an ice axe, for steep kick turns, for lifting heel risers, for shaving, etc. Haters gonna hate though.

Right on man,i dont use leashes on either of my axes,but my arrest axe is always in my right hand and im ready to chuck the other 1 clear should i fall,i guess it's all to do with preffered method and snow conditions,if the snow is deep,then im just digging down anyway making stepping and working extra hard,much nicer bootpacking on some windpacked stuff.
Had a climb recently on rimed stuff at the top and was so glad i had the 2 axes to hack that shit to death

I used to work at a bar in a forest and one of the wisest things I heard there came from an off duty (and slightly drunk) sheriff
Sheriff: Do you know what a 4-wheel drive vehicle is really good for?
Hans: Idunno. Sticking to the road in icy conditions?
Sheriff: You can get stuck in places there is no way in hell a 2-wheel drive can!

I know with my whippets (in 4x4 mode) I have found myself in climbing farther, higher, and waay sketchier than I would otherwise. I suppose that's a personal problem but there is something to be said for insurance policies increasing moral hazard.


Some of the fringe benefits have been compiled into these two blog posts. . .
http://tetonsandwasatch.com/2010/a-doze ... d-whippet/
and
http://tetonsandwasatch.com/2010/anothe ... -ski-pole/

1. Scraping snow out from beneath Dynafit toe pieces
2. Removing ice from in between boot buckle adjustment slots
3. Hooking tree branches on the ascent for a lever up
4. Sawing snow
5. Protection against wild animal attack
6. As an anchor on sketchy, steep ascents
7. Bar wrapper opener
8. Itch reducer
9. Skin scraper
10. Bottle opener
11. Boot scraper
12. [Heel lifter lifter]
-and-
1. Scraping out the snow that accumulates inside of buckles
2. Impromptu downclimbing anchor
3. Scaring away ‘Extreme Skiers’
4. Breaking off ice that has accumulated over the boot buckle, locking the clasp into place
5. Thule pull down device
6. Pole Anchor (for laying them down on a slope)
7. Shaking snow off overhanging branches
8. Lowering less capable skiers over cornices
9. As a maximum length handle
10. Slope angle measuring device (because a normal pole just won't do)
11. Cleaning out the Dynafit binding notches on my boots
12. Goggle Rack

My personal fave is a drying rack for sweaty, thin gloves I use during ascent.
And apparently they make badass looking razors (but only for the right side of your face).