Optimal Picket Length
Posted:
Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:13 pmby vanman798
I've noticed that pickets come in 2 foot or 3 foot lengths. What is the optimal length? And why?
thanks
For example:
http://www.rei.com/product/474241
Posted:
Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:29 pmby ExcitableBoy
24 inches. Ever tried to carry a 36" picket?
Posted:
Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:41 pmby vanman798
24 inches. Ever tried to carry a 36" picket?
Thanks, why is 24 better, just because of less weight?
Posted:
Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:57 pmby mrchad9
And snagging on stuff, assuming you have something of an approach.
Posted:
Sat Jun 26, 2010 2:16 amby Brad Marshall
vanman798 wrote:24 inches. Ever tried to carry a 36" picket?
Thanks, why is 24 better, just because of less weight?
I believe a 24" picket will act as a sufficient anchor in most situations. Also it's short enough that you can clip it to your harness at times or secure it to the side of you pack without it catching on things.
Posted:
Sat Jun 26, 2010 11:33 pmby Norris
Here is a really worthwhile analysis of snow anchors. Lots of factors are much more important than the length of the picket
http://www.mra.org/drupal2/sites/default/files/documents/grants/FortiniSNOWANCHORS3B.pdf
Posted:
Mon Jun 28, 2010 9:50 pmby vanman798
thanks, the 24 incher seems like the way to go.
Norris, thanks for the link. It was interesting to learn that both the horizontal and the sierra pickets are 3 times as strong as the traditional vertical picket.