Our latest Christmas Cracker is an interesting idea from the nice
people over at Grivel. It's called the Condor and it's
designed to convert your standard trekking pole into a handy
self-arrest tool.
Effectively
the top-section of a trekking pole with a new grip, the Condor has
the same dimensions as a normal trekking pole, so all you need to do
is unscrew and replace the top section of one pole et voila.
Once fitted, the anatomical handle gives you the option of folding
out a serrated steel, hot-forged blade ideal for self arrest purposes
or even less severe ice tool work. When not needed you can simply
fold the blade into the handle.
At 300 grammes on the OM digital scales, it's pretty light, plus
of course it means you no longer need to choose between poles and an
axe on those days when you might like to have both. You'll still need
a proper mountaineering axe for technical ground, but for general
winter walking and ski-touring it's a great compromise solution.
Okay, so it's arguably not the most romantic Christmas present
idea out there, but then there's nothing particularly romantic about
sliding over a crag because you couldn't be bothered to pack an ice
axe on a marginal sort of day...
Priced at around £40, more information from www.grivel.com
