Re: Hiking/trekking poles? Yay or Nay?

On Aug 25, 1:04=A0pm, Siskuwihane <Siskuwiha...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 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 =A0(or
> don't).

I'm going to go against the grain here and say that, after 40+ years
of hiking and backpacking, I find they just get in the way. I use them
only if I know I'll be walking along a watery rocky streambed.  I'd
just rather have my hands free, all the time, for various and sundry
things.

OTOH, my son enjoys a good old-fa****oned walking stick of appropriate
height - but he will readily admit that it is more a mental-fantasy
thing than a practical requirement :-).

YMMV.

Bruce Jensen