Black diamond whippet attachment vs alpine whippet.

Just ordered the black diamond alpine whipet for steeper ski lines and was surprised it looks like more of an adze than I expected. Thoughts on the whippet attachment vs alpine whippet?

primarily plan for when I unexpectedly find firmer conditions that I planed on for lines like dragontail in Rmnp the mountaineers route on Whitney or the avalanche gulch on Shasta if the steeper bits are firm.

wisam wrote:

Just ordered the black diamond alpine whipet for steeper ski lines and was surprised it looks like more of an adze than I expected. Thoughts on the whippet attachment vs alpine whippet?

primarily plan for when I unexpectedly find firmer conditions that I planed on for lines like dragontail in Rmnp the mountaineers route on Whitney or the avalanche gulch on Shasta if the steeper bits are firm.

I was using the alpine whippet for a while until I recently broke the pole part of it. In my experience it gave me confidence in exposed skinning in corn cycles. I don’t think I would put much faith in it to stop a fall while skiing down something steep in firm conditions. But I would probably say the same about a regular whippet. That’s just me though

I have both the alpine and normal whippet (the newer versions that screw into and out of the top of the pole).

I typically tour with one of each as the alpine does better in soft mushy snow and the standard whippet is more confidence inspiring in my uphill hand for touring and skiing in firm icy conditions.

If you want extra confidence on icy sections get the standard whippet or take any ice axe you like and use two ski straps to attach it to a ski pole with the pick about 3 to 6 inches above the top of the pole. I did Denali with one whippet and one ice axe ski strapped to the other ski pole and found it very comfortable and useful. 

Lastly, some athletic tape wrapped around the top of the shaft and top of the whippet / ice axe insulates your hand / glove from touching the colder metal that likes to suck the heat out of your hand.