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How do you safely carry picks shovels, pointy heavy things on steep slopes, rough terrain?
4/10/2012 12:50:12 AM
How do you safely carry picks, shovels, pointy heavy things, on steep rugged slopes, rough terrain?
We've been hiking rough terrain the past couple years and the past year are carrying tools on some difficult terrain.
I've been wondering for awhile the safest way to carry, say, a full sized pick, –– I've been carrying one generally with my right hand under the pick end, more pointed end forward, so if I fell [and that isn't unusual] I can control the weight and move it away and sort of behind me.
Same question for shovels, auger bits, most any heavy and pointed tool that falling on could ruin your day.
We've been hiking rough terrain the past couple years and the past year are carrying tools on some difficult terrain.
I've been wondering for awhile the safest way to carry, say, a full sized pick, –– I've been carrying one generally with my right hand under the pick end, more pointed end forward, so if I fell [and that isn't unusual] I can control the weight and move it away and sort of behind me.
Same question for shovels, auger bits, most any heavy and pointed tool that falling on could ruin your day.
4/10/2012 12:55:29 AM
sharp points should always be pointed DOWN. things like a pick axe is going to be a judgement call. maybe make something to protect the points to help prevent puncture if you fall on it.
4/10/2012 1:18:43 AM
This is truly a bizarre question to posit on the internet. The only thing I can think of, is if you've been doing it for years as you've said, carry them in the manner which has successfully kept you from stabbing yourself in the past.
4/10/2012 1:40:44 AM
Originally Posted By Madcap72:
This is truly a bizarre question to posit on the internet. The only thing I can think of, is if you've been doing it for years as you've said, carry them in the manner which has successfully kept you from stabbing yourself in the past.
This is truly a bizarre question to posit on the internet. The only thing I can think of, is if you've been doing it for years as you've said, carry them in the manner which has successfully kept you from stabbing yourself in the past.
I haven't been doing it in the condx posited for years. Only recently since we discovered a spring.
As far as bizzare, I'd suggest the first person who avoids getting hurt having read some of the ideas here will be happy it was brought up.
Mylt1 already has suggested a great idea that I stupidly didn't think of.
Today I had to drag an auger up about 250 or 300 feet altitude change and decided to post this silly question.
4/10/2012 1:55:33 AM
Never said it was silly, far from it.
And re-reading I see that I read to fast, and mashed together hiking for years with carrying tools for the past year into years generalized.
And re-reading I see that I read to fast, and mashed together hiking for years with carrying tools for the past year into years generalized.
4/10/2012 1:57:01 AM
Pickaxe with a jamb handle? Break it down and carry the head parallel to the handle in some sort of pouch or pack. Last resort, wrap both in heavy cloth and duct tape them together.
Wedge handle (which, honestly, I can't recall seeing on a pick), I'm thinking tennis balls on the ends of the blades and carry the pick vertically on your back with the blades parallel to your shoulders.
Regular axe, carry it with the head in some sort of case–– leather if you can manage. Holster it in other words. One neat way to protect yourself from the bit is to take some suede and make a sort of cap for the cutting edge and then dip the suede cover into that rubber crap that you use to treat tool handles.
I've never had to hike over rough terrain with a standard shovel. Are we talking T handled spade or full on long shafted shovel? If it's the latter, you might consider using it as a walking stick, and just cover the head with something that'll keep it from slicing you open if you fall on it.
I seem to recall that somebody used to make canvas covers for shovels and axes for use on the old military vehicles. You might want to check with Raf. If anybody knows about that stuff, it's him.
Wedge handle (which, honestly, I can't recall seeing on a pick), I'm thinking tennis balls on the ends of the blades and carry the pick vertically on your back with the blades parallel to your shoulders.
Regular axe, carry it with the head in some sort of case–– leather if you can manage. Holster it in other words. One neat way to protect yourself from the bit is to take some suede and make a sort of cap for the cutting edge and then dip the suede cover into that rubber crap that you use to treat tool handles.
I've never had to hike over rough terrain with a standard shovel. Are we talking T handled spade or full on long shafted shovel? If it's the latter, you might consider using it as a walking stick, and just cover the head with something that'll keep it from slicing you open if you fall on it.
I seem to recall that somebody used to make canvas covers for shovels and axes for use on the old military vehicles. You might want to check with Raf. If anybody knows about that stuff, it's him.
4/10/2012 2:02:36 AM
Originally Posted By Madcap72:
Never said it was silly, far from it.
And re-reading I see that I read to fast, and mashed together hiking for years with carrying tools for the past year into years generalized.
Never said it was silly, far from it.
And re-reading I see that I read to fast, and mashed together hiking for years with carrying tools for the past year into years generalized.
No problemo buddy.
4/10/2012 2:14:28 AM
And in retrospect, even if you had been doing it for years, obviously there is no reason not to find out a better way to do it.
4/10/2012 2:54:13 AM
How about trying to utilize a 1950 weapons case?
Used for jumping various weapons into combat.
I have an old one that I got for free with a busted zipper. They are heavy canvas with thick padding inside.
Used for jumping various weapons into combat.
I have an old one that I got for free with a busted zipper. They are heavy canvas with thick padding inside.
4/11/2012 3:34:04 PM
I have had slings made similar to these:
The concept might date back to the French and Indian war and earlier but it works really well.
The concept might date back to the French and Indian war and earlier but it works really well.
4/11/2012 3:43:16 PM
You simply dismount the head of the pick axe and put it in the pack.
4/11/2012 4:20:30 PM
someone invented mules for this kind of thing.
you can make a tip protector for the pick out of PVC pipe and a bungee cord. slide the PVC over the ends and hook a bungee from one to the other.
shovels may require you to wrap the dangerous end in leather or canvas.
other pointy things i would use the PVC and get creative with attaching it.
you can make a tip protector for the pick out of PVC pipe and a bungee cord. slide the PVC over the ends and hook a bungee from one to the other.
shovels may require you to wrap the dangerous end in leather or canvas.
other pointy things i would use the PVC and get creative with attaching it.
4/11/2012 4:41:59 PM
Used to work for state parks, and we'd have to haul tools in for miles along trails if there wasn't an access road nearby. Toss the stuff over your shoulder and start walking. No other way to do it
4/11/2012 7:04:57 PM
Originally Posted By tc556guy:
Used to work for state parks, and we'd have to haul tools in for miles along trails if there wasn't an access road nearby. Toss the stuff over your shoulder and start walking. No other way to do it
Used to work for state parks, and we'd have to haul tools in for miles along trails if there wasn't an access road nearby. Toss the stuff over your shoulder and start walking. No other way to do it
We don't have manicured trails at the taxpayers expense to do it that way.
I'm happy you did! I'm sure it was a piece of cake!
4/11/2012 7:06:40 PM
Originally Posted By EXPY37:
We don't have manicured trails at the taxpayers expense to do it that way.
I'm happy you did! I'm sure it was a piece of cake!
We don't have manicured trails at the taxpayers expense to do it that way.
I'm happy you did! I'm sure it was a piece of cake!
They weren't exactly manicured, but they weren't any worse than any other similar park.
