[pct-l] Fw: Trekking poles?

[Steve McAllister]

I have read that Grizzlies are afraid of things taller than them.
Raising your arms high with any object has been known to scare off
aggressive bears.
Any extension of your body helps.

They are especially good with dog encounters.


On Thu, Jan 14, 2010 at 8:19 PM, Don Billings <dbillings803 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> I seriously don't know that sticks will help much in a bear encounter. Playing dead is the usual expert advice given to that dangerous situtation. Poking around through brush to give advance warning of snakes seems likely.
>
> I'm still trying to get myself to try them on the trial. I can see where they're clearly helpful in fording a stream, or on ice/snow, or downhill hiking, but I did notice during my training class with them at REI that there was additional stress on my wrists. (Yes, REI actually has a lady come in and provide an hour long class w/ practice on using them.)
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Thomas Jamrog <balrog at midcoast.com>
> To: Paul Mitchell <bluebrain at bluebrain.ca>
> Cc: pct-l <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Thu, January 14, 2010 3:47:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Fw:  Trekking poles?
>
> Trekking poles have saved me.  I'm not shy about it.  Countless incidents of being able to keep my ankle from flopping too far and getting sprained, hundreds of avoided falls, excellent ability to assist in crossing streams, balance assistance in walking over slippery elevated log walkways,  brakes on downhill treachery when descending icy trails, and a super way to improve mobility and srength functioning in those of us with significant shoulder issues.
> Uncle Tom
>
> Blogging about the Great Outdoors
> on http://tjamrog.wordpress.com ( hotlink)
>
> On Jan 14, 2010, at 6:04 PM, Paul Mitchell wrote:
>
>> I can't imagine hiking without them.  Invaluable to have those extra points
>> of contact when descending rocky passes.  Definitely a huge help in stream
>> crossings, and equally so on snow.  Comforting to know they're usually going
>> to be between you and the next rattlesnake or bear when you mutually startle
>> each other on the trail.  I never found mine a nuisance, used them all the
>> time.  Unless my memory is way off I recall seeing very few hikers without
>> them on the PCT.
>>
>> I can't reference the source but I recall reading that they take a huge
>> amount of weight off your knees over the course of a single day ... tons if
>> I'm not mistaken.  I can really feel the difference.  Without them my legs
>> are working noticeably harder to balance and I'd definitely trip and fall
>> more often.
>>
>> -P178
>>
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