A mountaineer without an ice axe is like a bird with out wings, they are both kinda stuck without much mobility. that why its important to have a piece of equipment your comfortable with. i just recently picked up a Black Diamond Raven Axefrom my local shop.
From the first time I held the Raven in my hands it felt comfortable, my hands wrapped around it perfectly, and weighing in at 452 grams(without leash) for the 60 cm model, it felt light, but not cheap though there are lighter axes on the market if you are concerned about weight. where i purchased my axe, the Black Diamond Slider Leashwas included. i really like this leash over other ones i have seen because it is long and attaches to the head of the axe allowing it to be carries by the adze or pick without unleashing, also the slider that tightens the wrist cuff slides very smoothly.
I recently got to use this axe a bit on a hike at Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania which is known for its high amount of ice due to the waterfalls along the trail. though i did not fall and need to self arrest, i tested out many other things with this axe and was please with the performance. playing around on a column of ice, the adze easily allowed me to chop steps in the ice giving me much better purchase with my crampons. while traversing a steep slope near an ice fall, the pick helped my stay attached to the 45 degree slope as i made my way to the other side. the pick also faired quite well on the many columns of ice along the narrow trail, one or two swift swings of the axe into the ice gave me additional confidence while moving around some of the more tricky areas of the falls trail. finally the point on this axe is sharp and
digs in easily, it also has a knock out in the center for a carabiner or sling. using this ice axe made my travel along the falls trail much more enjoyable, and i hope to get to use it more rigorously in a few weeks when i head to Mt. Washington in New Hampshire.
if you are looking for an axe to get into general Mountaineering and don’t want to break the bank, this axe can be had with the leash for under a hundred dollars, and as alway Black Diamond did a fine job with this piece of equipment.
