[pct-l] ski poles as trekking poles

[jape at nethere.com (Eckert)]

(sorry Tom, I forgot to change the address)

    I hiked 2.5 seasons w/ thrift store ski poles.  I did not like the 
grips, so I removed them, and replaced them with some soft bicycle grips 
I found at Target.  If I recall correctly, I built up the shaft under 
the bike grips with a couple of wraps of tape.  I usually used them 
without any other tip, particularly on compacted dirt trails, but 
eventually converted to using rubber tips.  The Komperdell replacement 
tips fit just fine, and I've never lost one.  I also used the ski poles 
as an "A" frame support for the front of my homemade tent. I'd have to 
remove the tips to fit it the poles to the tent, but the on-again, 
off-again use of the tips never seemed to weaken them.

Now I am using a cheap pair of telescopic "official trekking" poles. But 
I've had to doctor the grips to simulate the old ski poles.  My hands 
don't like to conform to the engineered hand grip, I find it too 
restraining.  I like to move my hands about on the grip, from the top 
(remember choosing "ups" with a ball bat?) of the grip to the actual 
shaft of the pole.  So with a little razor blade work, and some 
sandpaper, I made the grips fit my style.