Crampon and ice axe question

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Originally Posted by GeezerSteve

I almost always see skiers with >65-75cm general mountaineering axes around here unless they are doing a technical climbing route that requires tools. Maybe that's because much of the ski mountaineering in the WA and OR Cascades includes glacier travel and/or because many, maybe most, PNW ski tourists also do basic mountaineering routes, including but not limited to glacier routes, on foot later season...Use the best tool for the route.

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This. ^ On all counts. ^

I'm in MT and ski/mountaineer largely in MT/WY. I've been known to go to the occasional volcano but often stay closer to my (largely) non-glaciated home. Technical and steep terrain without much risk of crevasse fall is my current MO when using this type of equipment. So shorter tools, and less *axe* use for me. YMMV