The Classic Trash Hammers: Where are they?

[Xcott]

"Mixed climbing" in Oregon can often mean a combination of consolidated snow, rime, rock of widely varying quality, sword ferns, tag alders, high angle dirt and barely congealed volcanic mud - especially if your year-round quest is for always new climbing within day range of Portland. There is one essential instrument for full self-expression in this strangely rewarding medium (trash climbing) ...

 

A couple of the old-timers (Jeff T., Mike S.) have these old Camp hammers with short 35-40cm) ash handles, a piton head on one side and a nice long "trash" (ice) pick on the other: a tool designed in days before beta, when climbers would take a direct route to any objective picked from the skyline.

 

I have been watching for years, and maybe one will show up at the annual Mazama used gear sale every couple years, but Schoen always beats me to it anyway. ANYBODY??? OK, I could break down and consume a late-model third tool, but you gotta understand my style's at stake here. Any & all leads deeply appreciated.

 

- XC

[Bronco]

I see these on ebay about once a week.

 

http://listings.ebay.com/pool2/plistings/endtoday/all/category30105/index.html?from=R0

[lummox]

what you want was called an 'alpine hammer'. chouinard made em in the early seveties but for us-based gear makers i havent seen one like that since the forrest moljinar (sp?). you can always just get a brick layers hammer and trim the pick end. fuckin cheap that way too.

[Crackbolter]

Here is my hammer:

 

Now it probably isn't the best for ice but it is great for grubbing cracks, nailing or tapping on the handdrill.

[Rodchester]

I seem to recall that SMC still made a "Himlayan hammer" that was a classic alpine hammer. It was heavy, if I recall correctly.

 

Any of you shop guys have an SMC catalogue handy?

[Crackbolter]

That would be this:

 

 

[Rodchester]

Are you looking for something like this?

 

Hammer

 

Or something really old school...like this?

 

Nazi Hammer

 

The second one would make a cool collectable to go with an old wooden handled ice axe.

[Rodchester]

You got it crackbolter...is that from a web page?

[cj001f]

lummox said:

what you want was called an 'alpine hammer'. chouinard made em in the early seveties but for us-based gear makers i havent seen one like that since the forrest moljinar (sp?). you can always just get a brick layers hammer and trim the pick end. fuckin cheap that way too.

Yes, and no. The tool was the standard tiny Chouinard alpine/crag hammer,(see here http://climbaz.com/chouinard72/ch_page30.html) but had a replaceable pick. They had a standard alpine pick available, but also had several "cleaning" picks available. I know a store that still had some of the replaceable picks (no hammers) as of last year. The hammers show up a couple times a month on eBay.

 

[Crackbolter]

To see the page, right click on the image and click properties. You can then funk around with the URL until you find out where the image came from.

 

I also know a certain someone who has a trash hammer. Chounard I believe. Not worth lugging up into the mountains but definately worth looking at sitting in the corner of a dining room.

 

I'd say get one of the two I posted. Hell, get both and you have an armory with your ice tools.

[Szyjakowski]

Crackbolter said:

Here is my hammer:

 

Now it probably isn't the best for ice but it is great for grubbing cracks, nailing or tapping on the handdrill.

nice geologist hammer you got there sonny!

[Freeman]

Xcott - check your PM's

[Crackbolter]

Szyjakowski said:

Crackbolter said:

Here is my hammer:

 

Now it probably isn't the best for ice but it is great for grubbing cracks, nailing or tapping on the handdrill.

nice geologist hammer you got there sonny!

 

It's my scientific speciality!