[tele-bum]

been hiking some steep places then skiing them. need input on what's practical. suggestion on what crampons fits well over a scarpa terminator would help too. duckbills suck on boot pack.

[Tele Till You're Smelly]

I actually used my whippet today on a fall. Wouldn'a died without it, but nice to have. Unless you plan to ski with an ice axe in your hand, go with a whippet.
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Reluctant enthusiast, part-time crusader, half-hearted fanatic

[J]

My Bumble Bees worked with Camp Aluminums after I cut grooves in the sole for the bales.

Pull the shaft plug from a Camp Alum Ax and the bottom half of an adjustable pole fits inside for a self-arrest pole/ax. Needs a bolt or clevis to secure in place.

BDs self-arrest works but practice with them 1st.

[tele-bum]

i strap my skis and poles on my backpack going up. could have a slightly bigger pack to accommodate the axes when i ski down. worry about skiing with a pole that has an pointy end attach to...
trying to minimize the size of the pack and weight.

[jellero]

all ski poles are self arrest if you slide your hands down and dig them in. i had a design for a pole with a hook that popped out of the grip but never went with it, for the above reason. j

[James]

I prefer a whippet over an ice axe while skiing by a long shot. I take and pack the upper only and switch it with the top of my BD traverse ski poles when I need it. I don't like using it unless I need to even if the pick is covered. That is why I go through the trouble of carrying the extra top section. The whippet feels more natural to use as a normal ski pole both kick stepping and skiing. The adjustable height is real nice when climbing

I also prefer lighter aluminum crampons for skiing. You don't want to walk on rocks with them but that is not a problem for me very often when skiing. The BD Neve Pros fit all my duckbill tele boots really well. Funny thing is they don't fit my NTN bots as well. I think the Camp ones are pretty good also but don't know how they fit tele boots.

[JPL]

If you need crampons you need an ice axe. They go together like white and rice. This is mountaineering 101. Ski poles, even with whippets, are a second-rate substitute.

With everything on the line, why would you want a second-rate self arrest device in your hands while in a slide for life?

[J]

[bergbryce]

As a general rule, if I'm going to ski it, I've found a whippet is sufficient. However, I don't consider side slipping really steep, narrow couloirs skiing. YMMV.

I think more important is the ability to recognize the point where a whippet becomes insufficient as an arresting tool and to not cross that point on those days when that's all you've got.

[ghostofcarl]

Whippet > Ice Axe for ski mountaineering. The theory with a whippet is you stop yourself quickly, before you slide far much less slide for life and I'll agree with what bryce said - if I'm going to ski it, it's whippet capable. That applies to most mortals and more than a fair few immortals. an axe length comfortable for self-belay is too long for practical skiing on the pack, an axe short enough to not smack you on the head is too short for self belay on most terrain

[dschane]

[Hacksaw]

[J]

regardless of the tool, if self-arrest is not initiated instantly self-arrest is not likely...simple fact of physics.

If your rule is to use minimal tools to discern maximal conditions gc, well that is a novel approach indeed.

[ghostofcarl]

[Mr. T]