Foo - Eventually....New ice axes

Three weeks averaging three to four hours a day, plus a week on and off faffing with paint etc, has turned two tired looking walking axes into a pair of technical axes :-)

Couldn't believe it when I came across four Mountain Technology walking axes at £2.50 each (c. $4.10). Couple of DMM picks for £15 & £25, then just a few bits of aluminium, some odd bolts, that's about it.

They're not perfect by any means, Hammerite is rather frustrating to paint with! And obviously don't know exactly how strong they are, but certainly should be good enough for my first season, just need some cold weather now!

Three weeks averaging three to four hours a day, plus a week on and off faffing with paint etc, has turned two tired looking walking axes into a pair of technical axes :-)

Couldn't believe it when I came across four Mountain Technology walking axes at £2.50 each (c. $4.10). Couple of DMM picks for £15 & £25, then just a few bits of aluminium, some odd bolts, that's about it.

They're not perfect by any means, Hammerite is rather frustrating to paint with! And obviously don't know exactly how strong they are, but certainly should be good enough for my first season, just need some cold weather now!

Let's hope you don't find out the hard way they weren't strong enough. :eek:

Let's hope you don't find out the hard way they weren't strong enough. :eek:

Yeh, I'm confident that they're strong enough not to come apart. Think they'll give plenty of warning that they're not really up to the job, rather than simply disintegrate! At least I hope so ;)

Now if only you had a Grim Reaper cloak, you'd be all set to answer any knocks at your door tonight, with one of those in your hands.

http://spinellimd.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/maxi-posters-grim-reaper-71949.jpg

Three weeks averaging three to four hours a day, plus a week on and off faffing with paint etc, has turned two tired looking walking axes into a pair of technical axes :-)

Couldn't believe it when I came across four Mountain Technology walking axes at £2.50 each (c. $4.10). Couple of DMM picks for £15 & £25, then just a few bits of aluminium, some odd bolts, that's about it.

They're not perfect by any means, Hammerite is rather frustrating to paint with! And obviously don't know exactly how strong they are, but certainly should be good enough for my first season, just need some cold weather now!

In the meantime, they'll make great Halloween props :twitchy:

Let's hope you don't find out the hard way they weren't strong enough. :eek:

The first three rules of ice climbing may be that you never fall on lead, but it shouldn't be the end of the world of one of those breaks. That's what ropes and ice screws are for.