- Leki Trekking Poles
Trekking poles enabled me to hike the Pacific Crest Trail and other trails. I had “runner’s knee” prior to long-distance hiking, and I owe any trail accomplishments to trekking poles. However, there are other uses for them besides saving your knees.
1) Tarp set-up. Because the poles are adjustable, you can have multi-length tarp supports.
2) Stream crossings. Some of us know how easy it is to fall from slick rocks staggered in streams. And how quickly you can take an unplanned bath when you step on an underwater rock that chooses to wobble. Trekking poles provide stability. Prod with your poles, then step with confidence.
3) Defense. I’ve never encountered wild dogs, or a mean animal, but I know such critters are out there. I feel safer having poles. Snakes, including rattlers, hang out by rocks; poles make it easy to bang about, driving them off.
4) Splints: Joslyn, who writes the blog, UltraLight Backpacking or Bust!, reminded me that adjustable hiking poles make good splints.
5) Upper body conditioning. As your hiking legs get stronger, your upper body becomes weaker, at least on long hikes. If you push off regularly, especially to drive yourself up hills, you will maintain upper body strength.
That’s the mighty Columbia shot from the center of The Bridge of The Gods. PCT thru-hikers cross this river, which separates Oregon and Washington.
Related articles
- Ultra Distance Z-Poles aid hikers (sfgate.com)
- A writer revisits the Pacific Crest trail of tears (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- Leki Diva women’s trekking poles (gearflogger.typepad.com)
- Trekking Poles – Weapons of Balance (hikeitforward.wordpress.com)
- Touring and Trekking poles Komperdell @123Mountain.com (123mountain.biz)
- DIY: Homemade carbon fiber trekking poles (makezine.com)
For all the hike-lovers out there,
My boyfriend recently wrote an app on android for hikers and he’s looking for people to try it out. It’s a really great all-in-one hiking app (free and pro version) and with it you can draw routes, plan, calculate time, anything you need to do with your hiking trip. Very convenient or your next hike. He also created a packing list as well. He’s going to add a GPS tracker devise soon!
Please download to support him and spread the word if you find it useful!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.outdoorapps.hiketimecallite
Thank you! -Phoebe
To my readers: I have not downloaded this app. You may want to try it.