[pct-l] Trekking poles

[Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com]

I just want to give a plug for trekking poles. Aside from the regular  
things most people know about them, with poles you can:

* Knock ticks off the grass before you brush up against them
* Cross them in front of you so dogs won't rub up/slobber up against  
you or be able to bite you as easily
* Fold poison oak branches out of your way as you walk by
* Create a buffer zone between you and motorists as you walk along  
busy highways (they worry more about their paint than about your soft  
little body)
* Poke things to see if they are still alive
* Stay upright as you approach the Tehachapi area

I hope this year's bandanas are orange again like last year.

~Piper