ice tool = shovel handle

[dbconlin]

I have old BD Black Prophets that I use as the handle to my shovel blade on multi-day trips. This works really well, an idea I originally got from Twight's book. The handle design on the BD tools, including the cobras fit perfectly into the blade of a Backcountry Access shovel (with the oval shaft).

 

Question: has anyone come up with other tool/blade combos that work, or ways of jerry-rigging them to work? The reason I ask is that I am considering purchase of new (i.e. modern) tools, but I do not want to lose that functionality.

 

Thanks.

[Don_Serl]

the nob on the end of the shaft on most "modern" tools will interfere with this function. but, in the old days, i used to carry a couple U-bolts with wingnuts and washers, sized to fit the shaft of my iceaxe, with holes drilled thru a deadman so as to function as a shovel. you cld probably fritz something together using this concept. it's a great idea to avoid duplicating weight on flat aluminum objects. or tubular, for that matter...

cheers, don

[Nick]

Shovels designed to fit on ordinary ice tool shafts used to be made by various companies. You run into used ones from time to time. I use an old Choinard shovel that fits most of my Grivel axes. Black Diamond kept making the design for a while, and there is a scandinavian brand as well. These shovels are a bit on the small side, but I carry one when weight matters a lot and avy danger isn't a big issue. The design is fairly simple; you could make an OK copy of one if you're handy with aluminum. Don's u-bolts would be easier, but slow to put on in an emergency.

[kurthicks]

I saw one of those old BD shovels on eBay yesterday.