I just picked a S30V AR from the boys at TAD. The next day I took it along on a rescue training exercise that involved climbing a alpine route that is just under 1000 feet in the middle of nowhere. The three other guys on the team had never seen a folder as big as my AR before and they teased me mercilessly about it. Bear in mind that the largest blade these guys tend to carry is a Leatherman or SAK. In order to go light we did't bring ice axes or crampons, just our survival BOB packs and ropes and hardware & trauma kit. Well halfway into the climb we come upon a snow slope that was 300 ft of spring neve and ice. Everyone starts slowing down and slipping & sliding...I whip out my AR and quickly cut four hiking sticks. Limbing off those branches in three whacks with the Strider shut down everyone's ribbing. It cut way faster than a Leatherman or SAK saw.
Going back down this couloir I gathered a bit too much speed and broke my hiking stick in half. I then whipped out the AR and used it in reverse grip to self-arrest down two hundred feet of snow and ice. Whenever I would build up too much speed from glissading I would just roll onto the balls of my boots and STAB the AR intothe slope to slow down. Beat everyone down to the base of the route and everyone made it back to the bar before closing.
By the way - after all that my AR still cuts like laser and looks brand new. Just lost a bit of that new Strider smell.
George
Going back down this couloir I gathered a bit too much speed and broke my hiking stick in half. I then whipped out the AR and used it in reverse grip to self-arrest down two hundred feet of snow and ice. Whenever I would build up too much speed from glissading I would just roll onto the balls of my boots and STAB the AR intothe slope to slow down. Beat everyone down to the base of the route and everyone made it back to the bar before closing.
By the way - after all that my AR still cuts like laser and looks brand new. Just lost a bit of that new Strider smell.
George
