Re: Hiking/trekking poles? Yay or Nay?

Siskuwihane wrote:
> Do you use them? Only one or a pair? Purchased or home made? Wood or
> metal? Do you just pick up a stick along the way?
> 
> Mine is purchased, aluminum and only used occasionally in the warmer
> months, always used in winter. Just curious what others use  (or
> don't).

Mine is a hand shaped hickory staff, purchased at the Indiana State Fair 
maybe 30 years ago from a guy who made the staffs and hand hewn axe 
handles. I smoothed the staff with a spokeshave and a pocket knife, and 
put tung oil on it for protection. it has a brass tube on the foot of 
the staff (I heated a piece of tubing, then pushed it on the staff while 
still hot), which has kept the staff from wearing out.