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View Full Version : Hiking Poles On Katahdin



B Thrash
09-23-2005, 18:29
I do not think that I have read anywhere advising hikers climbing Katahdin not to take hiking poles on their climb. With all the rock scrambling that is done on the climb the poles are in the way. Also, if you decend using the Knifes' Edge you will throw the poles off the mountain just as I did when I started the decend down and up The Chimney, then down the Helon Taylor Trail for three miles. :datz

MacGyver2005
09-23-2005, 18:39
I know that I was thankful to have my poles going up Katahdin. I may have had to carry them a little bit, but they kept me from falling over several times as the 40mph winds blasted us. I would rather tell someone to take them, and if they decide that they do not want them then they can simply strap them to their pack.

Regards,
-MacGyver
GA-->ME

Lone Wolf
09-23-2005, 18:42
I took a driver up once and drove a golf ball towards Millinocket.Had a nice fade to it.

Moxie00
09-23-2005, 21:46
My hiking poles, Leiki, have done the Grand Canyon, rim to rim, Bryce Canyon top to bottom and back, much of Zion, a hike from the Mexican border to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument north boundery. The CTD in Montana, including all of Glacier and Ga. to Me. on the AT and many sectoin hikes. They have been up Katakdin several times. My point is I've used them on rocks, glaciers, the desert, everywhere and I won't leave home without them. They have prevented many bad falls, been bent around a tree and saved my tired old knees. The shock feature is a knee saver. I tried rubber tips for a while but sent them home in North Carolina when they slipped on the muddy trail. I have replaced the tungsten tios several times. Yes they do make small holes in the trail but as a trail maintainer I do not see any perminent damage from them. In winter hikes they work wonders on the ice, they hold on the rocks and can save you fron ankle damage in the mud. Some folks hate them but that is why Ben and Jerry make so many flavors, everyone had different likes and dislikes. Don't ever ford a fast moving river or stream without them.
:jump :bse :clap :dance :jump :jump :jump

SnakebiteSurvivor
09-25-2005, 04:34
I had a funny experience (well, not so funny at the time) with poles on Katahdin. I climbed using a day pack with zippers meeting at the top, using 3-section Black Diamond poles that telescoped to about 23 inches. The plan was to use the poles as long as I could, then stash them in the pack and continue with arms free.

Well... I put the poles in my pack just above tree line. They were just a bit too long and the zippers wouldn't close, but I figured they would be OK with just part of the handle sticking out.

Just above the rebar area, in the krummholz, my companion (hiking behind me called out) "Hey, somebody left a glove in the trail!". I hadn't noticed it, and turned around to check. "Hmm, what a coincidence... that looks the same as the gloves I use". Ooops...

Needless to say, my pack had come completely open with all my stuff hanging out and about to drop off. A good thing this didn't happen in the rebar section or everything (including my lunch!!) would have dropped off down the mountain. Fortunately, I was able to improve a cord, using duct tape, to keep my pack closed.

The poles definitely came in handy on the downhill from tree line to Katahdin stream campground. I don't think my knees would have made it without 'em!

mattydt20
09-25-2005, 22:08
I just hiked Katahadin this weekend and I'm glad that I had my poles with me. No, you don't necessarily need the poles for most of the ascent, however, the descent is another situation. After climbing down all of the rocks on the way down the mountain I was glad to have the poles once I came back down to the tree line. If you climb down the Abol Bridge trail, you definitely want your poles, it'll save you some spills in the loose rock.

Mouse
09-26-2005, 07:13
I kept my poles and found when I needed a free hand or two all I had to do was let the poles dangle by their wrist straps instead of folding them away. That way, they were instantly available when I needed them again.

Tim Rich
09-26-2005, 07:52
I took my hiking stick up Katahdin. A few spots where I need all fours I just tossed it up ahead. It was useful in wasn't an overall nuisance. I'd take it again.

Take Care,

Tim

billdnc
09-26-2005, 09:38
I did not take poles with me when I climbed Abol Slide in July with my son who started his thru hike. They definitely would have been a pain to carry on the climb and also my sarcastic 19 y.o. son makes fun of anyone using poles. But man I wished I had them on the descent down the Hunt Trail! My knees hurt so bad that I made some poles from some sticks and hobbled back to Abol Campground.

MDSHiker
09-26-2005, 09:42
LOL at L Wolf...

Strap'em to your pack just in case !

Jack Tarlin
09-26-2005, 11:50
I think Tim said it best: I'd bring the sticks along; use 'em when you think they're useful, especially on the lower parts of the mountain, and toss 'em ahead on the places where you need both hands free for rockwork.

Better to have 'em along and not need them for the whole thing than leave 'em behind and later regretting their absence.

D'Artagnan
09-26-2005, 16:39
Jack, would you agree that in many respects hiking poles are like condoms?

-Better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.

-You can extend or shorten them depending on your height/size.

-You can spend a lot of money or a little but they essentially serve the same purpose.

-Some people like them, some don't, but they're here to stay regardless.

-They help keep you out of trouble.

Your thoughts?
:D

Spartan Hiker
09-26-2005, 16:57
Jack, would you agree that in many respects hiking poles are like condoms?

-Better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.

-You can extend or shorten them depending on your height/size.

-You can spend a lot of money or a little but they essentially serve the same purpose.

-Some people like them, some don't, but they're here to stay regardless.

-They help keep you out of trouble.

Your thoughts?
:D
More like Viagra...a rigid pole when you need one...

Jack Tarlin
09-26-2005, 18:21
One other thing.....tho usually reliable, both items are prone to breaking at the worst possible moments, with unfortunate results. And surprisingly, most folks don't use them properly, mainly due to lack of instruction at point of purchase.

On another recent thread, a well-known hiker posited that hiking poles caused more problems than they solved, and gave people a false sense of security.....personally, I think that while abstinence (from trekking poles!) may work for some people, I think a wiser approach would be to use them wisely and carefully, whether you're with a partner, or all on your lonesome.

As to whether trekking poles should be discussed in the public school system, I think that's best left up to the States to decide for themselves.

Everything I know about treking poles I learned in the schoolyard or on street corners; I can't recall ever discussing the matter with my father. One way or another, people find out what works for them.

Footslogger
09-26-2005, 18:26
...always practice SAFE hiking !!

'Slogger

weary
09-27-2005, 23:37
I do not think that I have read anywhere advising hikers climbing Katahdin not to take hiking poles on their climb. With all the rock scrambling that is done on the climb the poles are in the way. Also, if you decend using the Knifes' Edge you will throw the poles off the mountain just as I did when I started the decend down and up The Chimney, then down the Helon Taylor Trail for three miles. :datz


regardless of their usefullness, it you carry poles on Katahdin, you should carry them off Katahdin. It's totally irresponsible to trash the mountain with unwanted gear.

BTW I have always found my one wooden pole extremely valuable both ascending and descending the AT on Katahdin.

Weary

MedicineMan
09-28-2005, 01:40
We went up Abol slide where poles are worthless, and down the Hunt where you will eventually enjoy having carried them.
I'd listen to Jack about condoms or poles...he did a great job of selling me a pair of Leki's in Harpers Ferry after I snapped a pair of carbon poles in the roller-coaster.

B Thrash
09-28-2005, 18:42
regardless of their usefullness, it you carry poles on Katahdin, you should carry them off Katahdin. It's totally irresponsible to trash the mountain with unwanted gear.

BTW I have always found my one wooden pole extremely valuable both ascending and descending the AT on Katahdin.

Weary

Weary:
I threw the poles down from one of the peaks on the Knifes' Edge and when I got to the gap below on that peak and the Chimney, I picked them up and acended the Chimney with them in hand. The poles were never left on the mountain or any other trash as you may have took it in my post. These poles have been with me for about 1900 hiking miles and I hope to finish the AT with them.

Cookerhiker
10-03-2005, 10:42
My view is similar to Mattydt20. I summitted Katahin for the first time on Sept. 14. I found that the poles became useless as I neared treeline and for the remainder of the ascent to The Tableland. So I shortened them and stuffed them in my pack.

The descent was another matter; the instances where I jettisoned one or both poles to use my hands as a booster were surpassed by the times where the pole(s) proved very necessary as a "third leg." And of course once about 1/4 mile below treeline, the descent became typical of any other steep descent where poles help save the knees.