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Hi Steve,<br>
<br>
I use poles and wouldn't consider a long hike in the mountains without
them. I've found they save the knees a lot of stress on steep
downhills. I also like having poles on steep uphills because I find it
easier to get into the rest step using poles.<br>
<br>
I've done lots of off-trail hiking near and above timberline in the
North Cascades. I used to use a long handled ice axe as a cane for
stability on the off-trail routes, very helpful for steep sidehilling,
crossing snowfields, etc. The poles serve the same function. <br>
<br>
Because I was used to carrying the ice axe like a cane, I found some
poles with a cane-type handle. To me, this type of handle is far less
stressful on my wrist than the ski pole type handles. <br>
<br>
Poles also come in handy for stream crossings. And, some folks use
poles as part of their tent/tarp setup.<br>
<br>
If you're going to stay on the PCT and don't plan any off-trail
excursions, you can get by without poles. You'll have to weigh the
advantages and disadvantages of poles and then make your decision.
Advantages: helpful on steep descents and ascents, helpful for stream
crossings, nice to have when crossing snowfields. Disadvantages:
mainly weight, although some folks feel they can hike faster and with
less effort on flat (or slightly rising or descending) sections of
trail without poles.<br>
<br>
I'm sure other folks will chime in on this topic.<br>
<br>
Greg<br>
<br>
Steve Fosdick wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:709998.58500.qm@web45404.mail.sp1.yahoo.com"
type="cite">
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">I
can see that opinions on water caches are as wide as an ocean. Thanks
for all the comments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Now,
my next big dilemma is whether or not to carry walking poles. In a lot
of photos in journals, I see many hikers using them. I rarely use a
walking stick of any kind. Here in Oregon, if I <em>really</em> feel
the urge to use one, there are always plenty of tree limbs lying around
that will do the job just fine. However, I find that I soon tire of
carrying it, so I toss it far off the side of the trail as though it
had just blown down like all the other tree limbs lying around. I'm
sure there won't be a lot of poles lying around on the So. California
stretches of the PCT, so if I want them, I'll need to bring my own
along.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Will
I be the only hiker on the trail without walking poles? Other than
using them to flick off a rattle snake, hold up a tarp-tent (my tent
has its own poles) or defending myself from a charging bear (yeah,
right!), will I wish that had some on my thru-hike? I'll have an ice ax
for the parts of the trail that have snow. When hikers get out their
ice ax, do they put their walking poles away?</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"></span> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">I
understand that ski poles are not the same as hiking poles. And Keen
Fit Poles are NOT hiking poles, according the Keen Fit website! (That
was really funny. I followed the link "Hiking Poles" to the Keen
Fit site, and one of the first things on their video was "These are NOT
hiking poles!")</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"></span> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">I
hope this topic is not as controversial as water caches! But I would
like to hear some advice from experts out there.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"></span> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Hikin_steve</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br>
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