Other than the hat yes.Originally Posted by Wise Old Owl
I have seen that!It looks like this!
Blue Jay could you imagine your surprise if Gandalf came down the trail?
Dogs are excellent judges of character, this fact goes a long way toward explaining why some people don't like being around them.
Woo
Hiking poles are kinda like Viagra. They help you to do what you want when what you want to do becomes more difficult (I was gonna say "harder", but some of you would read too much into that.
For me, they've helped me keep my feet out of mud and streams by allowing me to step on smaller rocks without losing my balance, and I find that my arthritic old knees get quite a helping hand (pun intended) by applying some force with my biceps while climbing hills. After long trips I'm surprised at how much more well defined my forearm muscles appear than before. Using them probably helps with the triceps as well, cutting down on that underarm "jiggle" with which so many of us couch-bound, donut-fed Americans adorn ourselves.
As I live, declares the Lord God, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn back from his way and live. Ezekiel 33:11
This is the first year in a long time I have not met or even heard of a Gandalf on the Trail. Like I said, other than the hat, I have seen alot of people who look like him.
I love to give credit to my two poles. They take pressure off my knees when descending. They give me extra support and points of contact in dangerous places (rocky, steep stretches). I will use them to help push on up an incline, particularly when I am getting tired. My trekking poles (Leki) have held up well, and I am sure they have saved me from a spill or three.
Yes, there are times when they are not needed, but flat or gently sloping trail which is relatively smooth is uncommon. Thus, one pole would 50% less effective in providing these benefits.
Nimblewill Nomad comes to mind as a likeness to GandalfThis is the first year in a long time I have not met or even heard of a Gandalf on the Trail. Like I said, other than the hat, I have seen a lot of people who look like him.
The trail was here before we arrived, and it will still be here when we are gone...enjoy it now, and preserve it for others that come after us
The only Nimblewill i know is Nimblewill Gap and that is home of the hill from hell!
Dogs are excellent judges of character, this fact goes a long way toward explaining why some people don't like being around them.
Woo
Yep, That's Eb...one of the quietest, calm, spiritual people...
good books, and he uses Leki's!
Over the years, I've hiked with no poles; one pole; and two poles.
Today I always use two, and based on what I've seen while helping out in various Outfitter shops on the Trail, the most popular; most available; most easily repairable; and most reputable, are Lekis.
Am leaving for a two week section-hike tomorrow; wouldn't think of leaving without the Lekis.
Two poles are deffinately nice for balance in rocky areas. It's like having. I took my friends trekkers with me on a trip not too long ago and they worked well. Its all personal preference, I actually think I hike better without them. On my last trip I just carried a 5 foot stick with me. It helped me with balance, plus, after you get hammered with rain you can tie all your wet clothes to it and they can dry as you hike!
Jorge
George E. Bailey
"Jorge of The Jungle"
Sophomore - Criminology
North Carolina State University
Delta Upsilon Fraternity
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For me they are
Got a bum ankle - I can twist it on a flat, smooth trail - and have done so and been "out of commission" for several weeks earlier this year. Finally swallowed my pride and began using poles - whether one or two depends on the terrain. Have found they not only help Mrs Klutz here w/ her balance, but they help in somewhat steep ascents, and sure make rock hopping across streams a lot more stable. Have found that here in Rocksylvania they are more of a help than a hinderance and the added stability on the rocks leads to a better pace and less injuries. When I don't need them, they just get lashed onto the pack. The added weight doesn't slow me down as much as a twisted ankle would.
I used my Wally World trekking poles today for the first time.
It went a lot better then I thought it would. It seemed to help going up and down hills and i actually seemed to want to walk faster in flatter areas.
My arms and assorted arm parts are a bit tired. I guess if I continue to use them I will get all buff!
I use two always for the many reasons sited here by other posts. But, I'll preface this by saying - whatever works for your body, do it.
Two things I'll add to think about:
1. If you use one pole all the time, unless you switch it back and forth between your left and right pretty equally, you stress (or de-stress, depending on how you look at it) one side of the body more than the other. I suspect many of use have personally experienced what happens over the long haul when you favor one foot/arm/etc. because of an injury - the other half of the body often gets stressed in a different way and may end up with its own injury.
2. One pole or two - I see many people using them like x-country ski poles - they their hands/wrists are much higher than their elbows. You can't get any stability or power that way (depending on how you use your poles). In X-country skiing, you are going to be pushing and gliding and you want a longer pole. Not for hiking. If you get adjustables or use ski poles, try shooting for a 90 degree angle between upper arm and lower arm as a starting point and adjust from there. Also less likely to be tripping over "shorter" poles.
We keep forgetting that we do differ..
My walking mate loves his water bladder, he sips from it all the time. Yesterday on a 3 hour 18km something stretch, I drunk twice, less than a cup in total, from my "gatorade" bottle.
(it was cold and wet so I was more interested in getting out fast then drinking...)
Who is right ?
On that same stretch, easy walking only about 900' elevation gain in 3 hours, I did not use my poles.
However I did the previous two days, saved my but a few times and made creek crossing a lot faster.
Just because they don't work for you it does not mean that they are stupid/waste of money.
Ask anyone that uses and likes using poles and you will find that at some point they also rubbished the idea.
Franco
My father always thought that it was "dangerous" and stupid to drink a cold beer at the end of our long day walks.
(we started at 1100 m (3600') , went up to 2000/2800m (9200') and back before dinner)
Then one day he tried that. Twenty years later in his seventies was still following the ritual...
Requires less effort going uphill.
Saves my knees going downhill.
I can use them like a metronome on long flat boring stretches.
Great for clearing limbs, branches, spiderwebs, etc out of your way.
Great for balance going over rocks, mud, etc.
Great for testing how deep that puddle really is.
Banging them together scares trail critters.
Pain is a by-product of a good time.
I carry one oak stick. And for months now, just about everyone I see has two. It looks like people are going skiing. Is this really better? I just don't get it!
Nor do I. And to answer your question, no poles is better than one or two. Oh my, here we go again.
litefoot 2000
I carry one alder stick. It's lighter than oak, and I've yet to break one so it is strong enough. I've reach an age in which some kind of support on rough trails is essential. So far one stick seems to be enough, leaving the other hand free for photos and what not.
Two hiking poles for me (preferably Leki)... when used correctly you are pushing from behind with one and pulling from the front. That is what makes me go faster than I would without poles. It is also more stabilizing and saves my knees. I stop when I take photos, and lean my poles against a tree or stick them in the ground, so I have my hands free.
I have a friend hiking now that is using 2 bamboo poles that are each a little longer than store bought poles. They are as light or lighter than anything else out there. They are strong. 4 points of balance are better than 3 or 2. They have no handles and can be gripped wherever they need to be, lower for going down hills, arms at 45 degrees for mostly level hiking and if he needs a little extra length going downhill he has it. He says nearly every hiker he has run into is impressed if not envious. To see them in action is the proof in the pudding. They are so much better than anything you could buy in a store and the best part is they are free. Just cut em, dry em and start hiking.
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