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Ice climbing ax
A solid ice climbing ax is essential for any ice climber and can be used by any outdoorsman. Axes are usually two to three feet in length and made from a sturdy, lightweight metal, such as aluminum or titanium, and solid steel. Many parts of the ax can be used in any form of mountaineering, but caution should be used, as dirt and rocks will dull vital parts more quickly than ice.
Five major components of an ice climbing ax:
• Head – The top of the ax (includes the pick and the adze), usually made of heavier steel and including a carabiner hole.
• Pick – The hooked or curved end of the head. It will be pointed and lined with teeth.
• Adze – The flat, wide part of the head used to chop steps in snow and ice.
• Shaft – The lightweight metal handle of the ice ax. Usually flat on the sides and wider in the adze-to-pick direction.
• Spike – Also known as a ferrule, this is a steel point at the bottom of the shaft.An ice climbing ax may also include extra features such as a leash. This is a length of webbing with an adjustable loop used to secure the ax to the hand. Most will include a leash stop to keep the leash from falling off the ax. A snow basket may also be included. Similar to those typically found on the ends of ski poles, they can be mounted to prevent the spike from going too far into the snow.
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