[pct-l] Fw: Trekking poles?

[Thomas Jamrog]

Trekking poles have saved me.  I'm not shy about it.  Countless incidents of being able to keep my ankle from flopping too far and getting sprained, hundreds of avoided falls, excellent ability to assist in crossing streams, balance assistance in walking over slippery elevated log walkways,  brakes on downhill treachery when descending icy trails, and a super way to improve mobility and srength functioning in those of us with significant shoulder issues. 
Uncle Tom  

Blogging about the Great Outdoors 
on http://tjamrog.wordpress.com ( hotlink) 

On Jan 14, 2010, at 6:04 PM, Paul Mitchell wrote:

> I can't imagine hiking without them.  Invaluable to have those extra points
> of contact when descending rocky passes.  Definitely a huge help in stream
> crossings, and equally so on snow.  Comforting to know they're usually going
> to be between you and the next rattlesnake or bear when you mutually startle
> each other on the trail.  I never found mine a nuisance, used them all the
> time.  Unless my memory is way off I recall seeing very few hikers without
> them on the PCT.
> 
> I can't reference the source but I recall reading that they take a huge
> amount of weight off your knees over the course of a single day ... tons if
> I'm not mistaken.  I can really feel the difference.  Without them my legs
> are working noticeably harder to balance and I'd definitely trip and fall
> more often.
> 
> -P178
> 
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