[pct-l] walking poles

[Tortoise]

I have a pair of Leki titanium adjustable hiking poles and I usually use 
them when out hiking. I haven't done any l-o-n-g backpacks with them but 
have done a few shorter ones as well as day hikes.
Reasons I like them:
* assist my balance and reduce sprains, strains, and falls.
* enables me to walk faster particularly downhill and on trail with loose 
rocks, gravel.
* provide stability on difficult terrain such as crossing narrow gullies 
(down one side and up the other) and going off the trail.
* probe into the ground cover ahead to determine footing.
* can use them to improve my balance walking across narrow logs or stepping 
stones.
* a couple of times I used them to brace my backpack so I could use it as a 
backrest (minor point)

My Lekis have wrist straps like a portion of a glove so I am pushing down 
on the edge of my hand instead of on my grip. This is similar to the way 
one uses ski poles in skiing. Also these have quick-release / safety 
release attachment to the pole so are easy to detach for a few minutes. 
Also the handles are canted (15 degrees (?)) to give a more ergonomic grip 
which reduces strain on my wrists.

Mine are not "shock absorbing" nor do I want this. Instead of use a swing 
and plant which eliminates the shock in most use. When I plant, I want the 
pole to transmit the plant to help me retain my balance.

My $.02.  As others suggest, buy or borrow a pair and try them on a hike 
preferable with some difficult trail.


Tortoise

<> He who finishes last, wins! <>


Steve Fosdick wrote:
> I can see that opinions on water caches are as wide as an ocean. Thanks
> for all the comments.
> 
> Now, my next big dilemma is whether or not to carry walking poles. In a
> lot of photos in journals, I see many hikers using them. I rarely use a
> walking stick of any kind. Here in Oregon, if I really feel the urge to
> use one, there are always plenty of tree limbs lying around that will do
> the job just fine. However, I find that I soon tire of carrying it, so I
> toss it far off the side of the trail as though it had just blown down
> like all the other tree limbs lying around. I'm sure there won't be a
> lot of poles lying around on the So. California stretches of the PCT, so
> if I want them, I'll need to bring my own along.
> 
> Will I be the only hiker on the trail without walking poles? Other than
> using them to flick off a rattle snake, hold up a tarp-tent (my tent has
> its own poles) or defending myself from a charging bear (yeah, right!),
> will I wish that had some on my thru-hike? I'll have an ice ax for the
> parts of the trail that have snow. When hikers get out their ice ax, do
> they put their walking poles away?
> 
> I understand that ski poles are not the same as hiking poles. And Keen
> Fit Poles are NOT hiking poles, according the Keen Fit website! (That
> was really funny. I followed the link "Hiking Poles" to the Keen Fit
> site, and one of the first things on their video was "These are NOT
> hiking poles!")
> 
> I hope this topic is not as controversial as water caches! But I would
> like to hear some advice from experts out there.
> 
> Hikin_steve
> 
> 
> 
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