[pct-l] Using Trekking Poles

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

I think you would have to use the poles in a Nordic skiing type of  
way to burn the extra calories. I've read how most hikers don't even  
use them "correctly" but that was the point for me. I didn't want to  
use them correctly, I just wanted them available to help keep me  
upright in tricky conditions. I generally just poked them lightly,  
rarely putting any real weight on them. As a result, my poles have  
over 3000 miles on them and there's no wearing down on the tips at  
all. I often held the two in one hand, using them like a single  
hiking staff, and sometimes even just held them not using them at  
all. May sound like a total waste, but they were always at the ready  
for downhill spots, creek crossings, obstacles, slippery spots, etc.  
I use them to set up my tent and for whatever else having a stick  
handy can be used for. And just holding them in my hands helps keep  
the edema in my fingers away. That's the biggest benefit for me,  
actually.
On Feb 2, 2011, at 9:00 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> In Health.com an article on *51 Ways to Increase Burning Fat*  
> includes this:
>
> 13. *Add poles.* Use Nordic poles while you walk, and *you'll burn 20
> percent more calories*, says research from The Cooper Institute in  
> Dallas.
>
> Well. This may cause re-thinking the use of poles! No need to  
> expend 20
> percent more calories. This would mean we'd have to carry 1/5 more  
> weight in
> food just to maintain--simply for swinging poles. Is this worth it?
>
> Naps-On-Trail