last year I was going for it, carving nice big fast turns on a long but pretty cruisy slope with a wee bit of schrund exposure each side, had a bit of a load in my pack and because we were in glaciated terrain i had my axe in hand, riding with my leash on. Due to some bad riding, inattention due to soaking up the moment view etc, set back stance and a load on my back, I hooked a turn out of nowhere and just highsided like I was on a superbike!!! Next thing I know i am tumbling full noise and then my axe shaft went in to all the way to the head and ripped the leash and glove off my hand and hurt my shoulder pretty bad I felt quite beat up. This was pretty freaky and wierd i recon and a bit of a one off, I still would ride with my leash as I do not want to leave my axe behind in a nasty tumble. It hurt but i was riding again after a few minutes sorting myself out eh. my 2cents eh cheers, Rich

karkis, I gotta agree with ya. ESPECIALLY the part about practicing first! You might be surprised at how ineffective at self-arrest the axe can be depending on how you’re sliding, and your attempted arrest position etc. It’s not the same as self-arrest when you’re climbing and you fall. Don’t find that out the first time you slip at the top of an icy chute.

About this:

-self arrest, when you’re riding carefully (slowly!) on a hard surface and losing your edge would be consequential. if you put yourself in this situation you should have practised first with a safe runout and should know how the leash will help or hinder you.

Agreed, and I think it’s implied that you would then put it away as soon as it’s not needed? That’s what I haven’t quite figured yet. Sometimes I’ll use it at the top of a sketchy chute. Going slow, but once in and if I don’t need it anymore, I won’t necessarily stop and stash it, as I don’t want to be hanging out in the firing zone. So I might ride the chute out to the apron – which is likely to be high speed, and have the potential for axe mishap. I haven’t figured a good way to secure it quickly w/o taking off the pack… which isn’t always that quick. Thoughts?

jim yah i usually stash my axe asap, i just tuck over to a side, undo my pack’s sternum strap but not the waist strap, spin my pack around to my front, fasten the axe, spin it back and go, i feel its worth the pause to be able to shred batshit kamikaze without any inhibitions.

nick’s solution is decent, ive done that before, not often on the down

but maybe i should qualify, growing up i was considered the proof of Murphy’s Law, once i skewered my face with my ski pole in a crash :scratch: so I’m a bit sensitive about holding sharps at speed.

but honestly, ‘improper use of ice axe’ causes a lot of trauma out there, richie’s story and others like it are quite common, it’s not so much an issue of the leash as it is the axe

haha, yeah i agree you need to be damn careful not to nail yourself with it, that crash was kinda due to a rush of blood to the head in a moment of bliss! good example of how not to do it. I’m always in 2 minds whether to carry it in hand or stash it, for me its mostly a climbing aid not a riding tool so if I am really exposed then i’ll stop and put my board on my back and not my axe. I use a whipet on the ascent in split mode as my pole and as a backup for a slide.

cheers
Rich

I am pretty much in agreement with karkis here. I used to never ride with an axe in hand, even in no fall mountaineering type situations. Then, on one descent I found myself perched on my toe edge, on a 50+ degree slope, on a patch of water ice, above a 1000′ face. My axe was on my pack… I very carefully and gently reached back to my pack (which had quick release tool holders), retrieved my axe, and slammed it home. I had not paid enough attention and gotten myself into the only real patch of water ice on the entire face.
So, now there are some times where I do ride with an axe in my rear hand, but only when it really could be necessary. If one thinks they are going to be able to self arrest from a sliding fall with a board on their feet, one must have practiced doing so in a safe environment first.
I always put my axe away when it is not needed, even if I have to take a couple of minutes to put in on the pack.
I prefer to use a leash, although new school folks may not, just a preference, and I prefer to hold the axe in my rear hand, by the balance point of the shaft as it is easier to ride smoothly with that grip. I have practiced getting the axe from that grip to self arrest quickly.

Good discussion. Take a look at some of Kyle Miller’s recent pics from his Cascade adventures. A couple of shots show what i would consider good axe technique on steep slopes. I agree that this is meant for technical, steep riding at slower speeds. Note how he has one hand on the head with pick facing the slope and the other hand in a proper arrest position. If necessary, he can quickly get some purchase with the axe and use a proper bracing technique in the event of a quick slip or even for a little security/feel good rest :thumpsup:

There is a reason mountain guides have long used the space between pack and back to stash an ice axe for quick access. I think with steep riding, use the axe for the technical sections, then stash it when the turns speed up and steep fall potential goes down.

If I have to consider using an ice axe, I’m over my head. I have 3 little girls to grow.