When i measure for axe i measure at 72.3cm, should i get the 70 or 75cm axe? or am i over thinking it a bit,lol. Also does anyone have any exp with the bd venom ice axe? Thanks.

Get 70 cm for a basic glacier ax. I measure about the same size, but 75 is so long that it can be awkward to handle during self arrest. On steeper slopes I could almost go 5-10 cm shorter. If you are getting the bd venom and plan on doing steeper climbs, you are going to want something closer to 60 or 65 cm.

thanks,yeah good point about the 75 i forgot about that,i like to get an axe like the venom for use with things a little more technical,in a couple weeks im going to Shasta to climb the Hotlum/Bolam Ridge,not sure but maybe Liberty Ridge next year,i have only climb Baker so far,anyway thanks and my name is Jeff too.

Unless you are taller than 6'6", I would go for 65cm and if you are < 6' get a 60cm axe. They are axes meant for climbing steep snow and ice slopes, not walking sticks. The longer the axe, the more effort it takes to lift it high enough to plunge into steep snow slopes. I'm 5'9" and my partner is 5'11". We both use identical axes in a 58cm length and have never wished for anything longer.

I'm 6'1 and have climbed with a 60cm for most of my career. It was/is never long enough for the majority of Denali, Rainier/volcano climbs and never short enough for really steep (65+) technical ground.

It works but always a PIA. I can tell you from experience that an axe on snow is simply a walking stick with some added features that are helpful in a fall or a number of ways to climb steeper terrain with.

If you are asking I'd suggest a 70 but a 75 is easy enough to use. And at times even more helpful. When you get into terrian where you really want a shorter tool it won't be a general mountaineering axe.

I use a 50 cm axe most of the time these days and ski/trekking poles.

But I have often wished for a longer axe when using even a 60cm axe....seldom... if ever... wished for a shorter one.

j4ever wrote:thanks,yeah good point about the 75 i forgot about that,i like to get an axe like the venom for use with things a little more technical,in a couple weeks im going to Shasta to climb the Hotlum/Bolam Ridge,not sure but maybe Liberty Ridge next year,i have only climb Baker so far,anyway thanks and my name is Jeff too.

For Liberty Ridge you would need ice tools. Probably not a good idea to go from Hotlum Bolam to Liberty Ridge unless you do a lot more other mountaineering maybe ice climbing too.
Get an axe depending on your height. If you are medium sized get a 60cm. If really tall maybe 65 or 70cm. Just get something light weight. If you want to use it for general mountaineering of slopes up to about 45 degrees you do not really need to buy another axe. You do not need the newest gear to climb mountains to be honest. Sometimes it helps, but not really required.

Vitaliy M. wrote:

j4ever wrote:For Liberty Ridge you would need ice tools. Probably not a good idea to go from Hotlum Bolam to Liberty Ridge unless you do a lot more other mountaineering maybe ice climbing too.

I agree, Liberty is a big step up on Shasta. More experience is a lot more important than your tool choice. But depending on the time of the year...spring and summer ascents of Liberty seldom if ever require a pair of ice tools. A general mountain axe and another shorter tool (a short axe) of some sort will work fine. I've taken clients up Liberty a number of times with them using nothing but a 70cm axe. Just takes some thoughtful route finding around the upper 'shrund.

Dane1 wrote: A general mountain axe and another shorter tool (a short axe) of some sort will work fine.

+1. I did LR, plus many other classic steepish alpine ice routes with a 60 cm SMC axe paired with an SMC Himalayan hammer. A more modern version might be a Petzl Sum'Tec axe and an Aztarex hammer.

For moderate snow climbing, I've read that you should hold the ax by the head and let your arm hang down at your side. The spike should come down to right about where that knobby bone sticks out of your ankle. I'm 6 ft. tall. I used this sizing method when buying a BD Raven, and wound up with a 65 cm one. Has been the perfect length and design for a general mountain ax. It isn't super cool-looking, but it was about 60 bucks, doesn't weigh much, and is pointy in all the right places.

Flattlander wrote: is pointy in all the right places.

That's important.

wow,thanks everyone! i was going to take an intro to ice climbing course before the end of the year but after this Shasta climb there is a good chance i will have to get a partial tear repaired in my left shoulder,so that will knock me out a couple of months. What would be a good step up from the Hotlum/Bolam Ridge climb?

From my point of view you need to build a strong base of technical skills including: waterfall climbing, multi pitch trad rock routes, grade IV and V aid climbs, crevasse rescue and glacier travel skills, etc. If you are not able to start ice climbing this season, perhaps take an avalanche course, an orienteering (
map and compass) course, and a wilderness first aid course. Once you have these basic skills down you can start stepping it up in the alpine. Here are some suggestions for moderate alpine routes to try:

Mt Baker, North Ridge
Mt Adams, Adams Glacier
Mt Rainier, Kautz Glacier, Fuhrer Finger
Mt Shuksan, Fisher Chimneys
Forbidden Peak, West Ridge
Mt Hood, Sandy Glacier Headwall
Colchuck Peak, North Buttress Couloir
Mt Stuart, Sherpa Glacier

Never hurts to aim for the biggest size available ..