Image of the July 2019 Wilderness Magazine Cover Read more from the
 July 2019 Issue
Home / Articles / Skills

Attaching an ice axe to your pack

Steps on how to attach an ice axe to your pack.

19 June 201919 Jun '19

Ice axes are a vital piece of kit for snow expeditions, but wrongly attached, they can damage your pack or body. Here’s a safe technique to have you packing your pick like a pro.

 

Step one: Locate your loops. Most tramping packs have two small loops at the bottom rear corners. Set your pack down on its straps and thread your ice axe spike-first through one of your loops.

Step two: Pull it through. Pull the shaft all the way through, until the head catches on the loop. Ensure the pick is facing towards the centre of your pack.

Step three: Flip it. Hold the handle, and flip it like a lever towards the top of your pack. The loop should catch and hold.

Step four: Secure the shaft. Your pack should have a small loop on the back, which sits in line with the bottom loops. Secure the shaft in this loop, and you’re good to go.

Step five: Protect your points. To keep your ice axe from puncturing your pack, it’s worth investing in a protector to cover the sharp pick and adze.

Watch the video:

Support Wilderness

Since 1991, Wilderness has had one simple goal: to help Kiwis ‘See more, do more, live more’ of New Zealand.

If you value our mission, please consider subscribing. As a loyal supporter, you’ll receive these benefits:

  • New Zealand’s best outdoor journalism We’ve won multiple awards for our journalism and magazine production.
  • NZ’s best trips. Browse more than 610 trips with downloadable maps and route notes.
  • Trustworthy gear reviews. Each month we review gear we’ve been bashing and thrashing for months so you can determine if its worth your money.
  • Member benefits. Our WildCard provides discounts at more than 20 partners throughout New Zealand.
  • Your support goes a long way. Your subscription will help us fund NZ’s best outdoor journalists and writers and ensure Wilderness will be there to inspire the next generation of outdoor Kiwis.

A subscription costs as little as $7.00/month for instant access to all articles, trips, gear reviews and gear guides.

View all our subscription options and join the club.

Already a subscriber? Login Now.