[pct-l] [John Muir Trail] Hiking sticks.

[Ned Tibbits]

We were talking about this the other day and I remembered seeing what the PCT thru hikers over-snow had to do to their twist-locks to make them predictable and reliable.

After running our own tests of twist-lock poles vs. cam-lock poles on our video-instruction tour of the southern JMT in early May, June, and July of 2010, we were thoroughly disgusted with twist-locks and raved about the cam-locks. 

While we were on-trail, on 8 to 10 feet of snow between Cottonwood Pass and the Muir Trail Ranch, we met many a PCT thru hiker struggling to maintain their miles per day quota and frustrated with their twist-lock poles! If each hadn’t used duck tape to keep their poles from slipping, more than a few had actually dented (with rocks) their poles so they wouldn’t unpredictably compress under load or force. 

Poles are not only good for propulsion forward (what you do when on a snowy ascent), lateral balance (to keep yourself from losing you balance), and slowing on descent (poles forward), they are critically important to save you from those sudden slip-and-falls (that’s when you hastily place a step on snow without pre-considering its stability and your shoe’s traction/grip and you feel yourself going over. What happens next is the typical quick side-step and forceful pole-stab to catch your balance). If your twist-lock pole can’t take this type of force and suddenly gives way, you go down.

So, buy poles that will stay put and not collapse just when you need them the most! Cam-locks are the best! 


Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
www.mountaineducation.org

From: Roleigh Martin 
Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2013 5:48 PM
To: johnmuirtrail at yahoogroups.com 
Subject: Re: [John Muir Trail] Hiking sticks.

  

I completely agree with John's recommendation about Black Diamond. 

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On Mar 3, 2013, at 8:45 PM, John Ladd <johnladd at gmail.com> wrote:


    
  Yes. Yes. Yes. Use trekking poles.



  They are much more efficient if adjusted for the terrain (shorter on uphills, longer on downhills) so get some that adjust easily and don't slip after adjustment. Avoid internal locks (twist locks), Get external locks like Black Diamond flip locks. You don't want your adjustment to cause the pole to suddenly compress just when you need it.










  John Curran Ladd
  1616 Castro Street
  San Francisco, CA  94114-3707
  415-648-9279



  On Sun, Mar 3, 2013 at 4:56 PM, baldeagleearthquake <baldeagleearthquake at yahoo.com> wrote:

      
    Any thoughts on hiking sticks...yes, no? If yes, any that you would recommend? Just finished a week of 20 to 30 below wind chills with 6 to 10 inches of snow tonight.Sitting by a warm fire planning our trip. Thanks for your help. 




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