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Reviews > Snow Gear > Axes and Shovels > Backcountry Access Traverse shovel > Owner Review by Andrea MurlandBackcountry
Access Traverse EXT Shovel
Tester Information
I began hiking frequently in 2006 and have since hiked in Western Canada, Australia, and spent 2 months backpacking in the Alps. I spend most weekends either day-hiking or on 2-3 day backpacking trips, with some longer trips when I can manage them. I also snowshoe and ski in the winter, but don’t have a lot of experience with winter in the backcountry yet. Elevation is typically 500-3,000 m (1,600-10,000 ft), in the Canadian Rockies and the Selkirk, Purcell, and Monashee ranges. I try for a light pack, but I don’t consider myself a lightweight backpacker. Product Information
Description The Backcountry Access Traverse EXT Shovel is an aluminum backcountry snow shovel with a handle that is removable from the blade and also extends.The blade is made from 6061 Aluminum and is blue. The blade has four holes (one at each corner) that can be used for things such as rescue sleds and anchors. At the top of the blade an oval tube protrudes, which the handle fits into. This tube has a set of small holes which the “buttons” on the handle fit into…more on that later. The handle is oval in cross-section, and is made from two aluminum pieces which telescope. The top of the handle has a plastic t-grip. Near the bottom of each piece of the handle is a set of silver “buttons”. These buttons are mounted on a U-shaped spring inside the handle. They are used to lock the handle pieces into place on the blade and on each other. The buttons on the lower piece of the handle can be pushed in to slide the handle into the blade, and when the buttons line up with holes in the blade they pop back out, locking the handle in place. If I wish to remove the handle, I can depress the buttons and pull the handle out. A similar system is used to extend and retract the handle, with buttons on the upper section of handle and holes on the lower section of the handle. Field Conditions I have been using the Traverse shovel as my avalanche shovel since the winter of 2008. Since that time, I have used it to dig snow pits, do snow study tests (e.g. compression tests), dig through avalanche debris, dig through simulated avalanche debris (e.g. snow ploughed from roads), dig several shelters, and dig out a couple stuck vehicles. I have also used it once as a sled to sit on while sliding down a snowy (and rocky) slope. I estimate that I have used the Traverse shovel about 25 times for digging, in addition to carrying it around a lot, in temperatures ranging from -25 C (-13 F) to 10 C (50 F).I carry the blade and handle separated, and both (along with my probe) in an exterior pocket on my pack that is stretchy and has a drain hole. The top of the pocket is covered by the lid of my pack, so I can reach the shovel quickly but don’t risk catching it on something or losing it in a fall or avalanche. This shovel is stored full-time in my search & rescue pack in the winter, always ready for action. Review Summary
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