Arresting with a Whippet

I just use my axe and a ski pole with the given scenario.  Usually if the slope is steep enough for me to need an axe, then if I carry it on the uphill side (switching back and forth on kickturns), I have never had a need for a whippet and my axe is just the right height (70 cm).

That would work only for a max-steepness skin -- otherwise the ice axe is going to be too short. Any pitch that varies between super steep and less so would require switching between (and stowing) ski pole & ice axe.
Given the low cost & weight penalty for the Grivel Condor, and the super quick & easy deploy/retract, I'm a big fan.

I had a pair of those a long time ago -- I'm pretty sure they were Chouinard (pre-BD).

Just checked, they were made by Gipron, which has made a lot of stuff for BD.

Their weakness is that they can flex under a hard load, th blade could conceivably break in a hard arrest. We have used them for glissading though and they worked fine. They have come in very handy on a lot of skiing and climbing trips where an ice axe would have been overkill or a pain to climb/ski with. But if I couldn't detach and stow them so easily (the blades are small, light, and dull enough to put in a pocket), I probably wouldn't use them nearly as much.

I had a whippet 2 weeks ago on Eldorado when I had a slide above the boulder field. With a full pack and momentum, there was no chance to arrest. Even with an axe it would have been nearly impossible. I use a whippet as others have mentioned, more for uphill climbing security or to stop a minor slip. I'm not a big believer on being able to count on executing self arrest successfully with an axe. I think of it more of a last ditch tactic. It's more important to prevent a slide from happening in the first place.

For what it's worth, I believe that Martin Volken advocates and instructs using an axe for downhill descent if needed rather than a whippet although I couldn't find anything in his recent book on it.

[/That would work only for a max-steepness skin -- otherwise the ice axe is going to be too short. Any pitch that varies between super steep and less so would require switching between (and stowing) ski pole & ice axe.]

Anyone ever try one of these? I'm not really sure what the intended use of the "snoscopic ice-axe" is.

i thought they were a huge gimic until i saw a friend arrest a high speed fall with a pack on that would have sent him airborne and into a pile of rocks. Since i got mine i've been glad to have it on uphills and for steadying myself on very steep downhill sections.

edit: talking about whippets not that thing ^^^^^

I use my Whippet on steep and scary slopes, as a tool for veggie belays; it hooks nicely on branches <3 inches in diameter. Sharp horns and cracks work too.