Ice Axe vs Zombies/Badguys....don't laugh.

The problem with ice axes and tomahawks is that they stick or bind in the target, usually requiring you to wrench them free to strike again. Sometimes the target falls, or pulls away, taking your weapon with it. This is not good if target #1 has a few friends who want to eat your brains. A warhammer would be a little better. The lighter the better. A framing hammer would make a nice weapon, and it has a small bit on the backside, should you require it.
 
Sonny said:
Awwwwww man just thinking about the "prolonged scream + thud" made me sick to my stomach just now...
Click to expand...

It's a sobering thought that you should really hang onto. If you climb long enough, you are very likely to either witness a bad accident first hand, or have it happen to yourself or someone you know.


I watched a friend take a nasty lead climbing fall that broke both bones in her lower leg, ending up with a compound fracture. We had to tend to her and try to keep her stabilized while we waited for the paramedics. I didn't climb at all (not even in the gym) for months afterwards, and it was a full year before I could bring myself to lead climb. I still haven't completely recovered, mentally, from watching that accident unfold right in front of me.



Climbing is dangerous. If you make a mistake, it can be incredibly dangerous. Always have that thought in your mind, and use it as motivation to make sure you do one thing - DON'T SCREW AROUND!
 
:( (nods)

Is she ok now? Has she taken up climbing again?

Very sobering indeed...so it seems like it's just a matter of time and statistics...with zero room for mistakes...

I was sort of hoping modern technology with all of its atc belays, self-locking devices, grigris, cams, pitons, hexes, bolts, and ice screws would've virtually prevented tragedies like what your friend and others has gone through...but I guess not from the stats and stories I'm hearing...:(
 
If you follow the accidents and incidents forum on r/c.com. Every couple of weeks or so you hear about MAJOR injuries and or deaths from a fall. Compound fractures are barely middle of the road. I have never had a fear of heights but I do have a very healthy fear of falling to my death. Literally, I have had nightmares about falling from great heights from time to time. Ever since I was a kid. As I began to get into climbing, reading and watching video, this fear INCREASED greatly. Now for a little climbing footage. This guy is one of the best sport climbers in the world. Enjoy.
[youtube]UlcQ3mxlNfs[/youtube]
 
dttomcat said:
If you follow the accidents and incidents forum on r/c.com. Every couple of weeks or so you hear about MAJOR injuries and or deaths from a fall. Compound fractures are barely middle of the road.
Click to expand...

Exactly. My point wasn't that I witnessed a horrifying accident, but that I witnessed one period. All the statistics in the world don't mean jack when you're watching your friend being lowered off a wall with her leg twisted the wrong way. In many ways, I'm actually fortunate that it is the most serious accident I've witnessed. It really screwed me up to watch that accident happen - imagine if it had been even worse. Climbing is no joke, and the belief that all this modern gear makes it safe is one of many reasons people get complacent and make mistakes. Ice climbing has the potential to be one of the most dangerous and unpredictable types of climbing you can try - no amount of gear will help you if the ice column you are climbing on collapses.


As for your question, Sonny, as far as I know, she has rarely climbed since, and hasn't lead climbed at all. She did get back into running, so has the strength in the leg.
 
Sonny said:
Phaser,
Ahh yep, from all the reviews I've been reading, I'm slowly realizing that as well. As for the hammer feature, how important is it?...I'm guessing very important for the ice-screws right? Gadgets and tools make Sonny a happy man!:thumbup:
Click to expand...

the hammer is pretty handy. even if you don't use it for ice screws, it can be pretty usefull for putting in dead men as well (the shaped metal plates for belays on snow)
 
dttomcat said:
If you follow the accidents and incidents forum on r/c.com. Every couple of weeks or so you hear about MAJOR injuries and or deaths from a fall. Compound fractures are barely middle of the road. I have never had a fear of heights but I do have a very healthy fear of falling to my death. Literally, I have had nightmares about falling from great heights from time to time. Ever since I was a kid. As I began to get into climbing, reading and watching video, this fear INCREASED greatly. Now for a little climbing footage. This guy is one of the best sport climbers in the world. Enjoy.
[youtube]UlcQ3mxlNfs[/youtube]
Click to expand...


Whoa! First Ascent! (Bows down):thumbup::thumbup:
This guy must have enormous grip strength!!!! (jealous)

Captians of Crush don't fail me now! lol

Guys I'm getting excited and very scared at the same time.

I'm reading the stats that say that on average, dedicated climbers faced nearly a thousand lead falls a year...so if you climbed everyday you could hypothetically face 3 major falls a day!?!?!?...omg...:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

And just read that even if you don't make contact with the ground, fingers can get amputated by rope entanglement. (faints)

Mustard,
Awesome point. "Complacency is the enemy."

Hmmmm...What do you guys here know/think about dry-tooling??
 
You just watched Sharma take several falls. It was no big deal to him. You see how relaxed he looked just swinging from the rope. He was glad to be getting a rest. He knew he would be just fine. He KNEW his equipment would protect him. Make sure you ALWAYS know that you will be ok. Otherwise you could get stuck in the middle of a nasty pitch and just lose you head. At about 80 feet off the deck, ...scary.
 
Mountaineering axes(straight shaft) would be all right I guess as far as zombie slaying is concerned. The ice axes(curved shaft) I see moreso as a makeshift grappling hook kind of deal(think Captain America: Winter Soldier.)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
 
Speaking of zombies, this is an old thread from 2010.
25297d1309921005-intruder-recall-zombie-thread.jpg
 
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