a story overheard...

wow....just f'in, wow...: (

what boggles my mind is where would you get just a handle? ..... ???

I found a handle in the brush near the top of Skyline/Heather ridge this fall on a "training hike." I like to hike where I ski and pick up skier generated garbage for exercise in the fall.

(That hike in particular was pretty absurd, the alder/bushwhack down from the ridge to the PCT was THICK, and when I ducked into a little stand of trees for a break near the bottom I looked down and saw a fairly large pile of bear scat, not quite steamy but still shiny and new. I realized that I had been blindly and somewhat silently bashing through brush without a thought of bears- I could SEE the highway! I modified my light swearing mumble into a song and beat it the heck out of there.)

However, I always have a shovel- both parts- even in bounds. I have too many friends who whine about how they can't ski as well with the weight of the pack so I decided a few years ago to just always have something back there, and shovel/probe/food/water/dry clothes are the minimum.

I have been wondering about the shovel in/out of the pack thing for a while- thought it was just a regional thing, since most of my Montana buddies have it outside, and most of my friends here have bought my argument that it might get ripped off in the trees. Maybe ALL of those people with it sticking out are just faking it?

Just for reference it may look like I dont have a shovel, but its in there.
I keep mine in my pack becuase my pack wasnt specifically designed for skiing, so there doesnt happen to be a spot to attach it to the outside, unless i just rigged something up. Another tool I rarely leave home without, is my ice axe. I normally always pack that. (never know when your gonna have to take care of some snowshoer messing up the skin track, hehe)

Another tool I rarely leave home without, is my ice axe. I normally always pack that. (never know when your gonna have to take care of some snowshoer messing up the skin track, hehe)

Now is this the entire ice axe or just the shaft. It would appear that you had an ice axe with you but really you could just give the snowshoer the shaft saving tens of grams.
Brilliant!

Sounds like the Alpental BC. Always amazed at the number of folks going solo/unprepared there. Was out there yesterday and saw at least 20 people on the traverse and out at P Pass, only 2 carrying packs. Its only a matter of time until someone breaks the cornice off on top of 261 and sends a slide down to the party at the cleaver. Saw boot tracks damn near the very edge of the cornice which was severly undercut and overhanging. I'm an advocate of the Baker system being implemented at Alpy gates. That way a large percentage of the yahoos without gear and smarts would be held to Nash and Snake Dance leaving the pow to people who understand that avalanches exist. Sad but not surprised at the Baker incident. Just glad no one was hurt.

Sounds like the Alpental BC. Always amazed at the number of folks going solo/unprepared there. Was out there yesterday and saw at least 20 people on the traverse and out at P Pass, only 2 carrying packs. Its only a matter of time until someone breaks the cornice off on top of 261 and sends a slide down to the party at the cleaver. Saw boot tracks damn near the very edge of the cornice which was severly undercut and overhanging. I'm an advocate of the Baker system being implemented at Alpy gates. That way a large percentage of the yahoos without gear and smarts would be held to Nash and Snake Dance leaving the pow to people who understand that avalanches exist.

Couldn't agree with you more.
Today there were a lot of people stopping mid way on the high traverse, just gaping away. Not a one of them thought to look up to see large hanging cornices just above their position...