RE: [Philmont]: Trekking Poles?

I can appreciate your opinion on this, it seems very valid. For some of the
advisors though, it makes Philmont accessible whereas it may otherwise not
be. So to trek with poles, or to stay home can be the question. I
backpacked it without, but the crew running the same trek as us had 100% of
their crew running (quite literally) with 2 poles each. An extreme case,
but I believe it was their goal to reduce their backpacking time to the
shortest possible, leaving more quality time for program and communing with
nature at rests and at camp. They certainly were faster than we were except
on a couple of the days when we were very efficient with breaking camp and
they slept in :-)

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-philmont@troop47.com [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com] On
Behalf Of Jack Bolinger
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 8:05 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Subject: RE: [Philmont]: Trekking Poles?

I guess I am in the minority here, but the "Click and Clack" of hiking poles
while going down a quiet scenic trail or path is just too much for me. They
are very noisy. If you have 4-6 members of your crew using them the crew
will sound like a drum set coming down the trail.

     The chances of coming up on deer or other wildlife to see with that
racket going on is close to nil. Like smokers, those who use them tend to
adapt to this noise and forget about the imposition on other hikers. They
tend to use them all the time even when on the flat roads at Philmont. I
have asked them to remain behind the main body of hikers so that those up
front will have a chance to see wildlife and they seem to be offended that
some has noticed the noise created by the constant "Click and Clack".

    To hike at Philmont on some of the most beautiful trails and have the
"Click and Clack" going on around is a little much for me. The effect is
like bringing a radio on a nice canoe trip, constant background noise where
there should be none or very little. I do understand that many of those who
use them are addicts and don't like to hear about the negatives and learn
that the clicking and clacking is annoying to others but I think it needs to
be said. If you are a pole user, and are going down a quiet backcountry
trail sometime, pick your poles up and listen a while to the others pole
users. The sound of those things will carry a long way. For some I guess the
sound of the poles acts like bear bells so their trek encounters no
wildlife, some may like this idea but I enjoy quietly slipping thru the
woods... I guess I am in the minority though on this point.. My apologies in
advance to you clickers and clackers.....

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-philmont@troop47.com [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com] On
Behalf Of Scott Berger
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 8:45 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Subject: [Philmont]: Trekking Poles?

Does anyone have a strong feeling, one way or the other, about using
trekking poles? Do they really make it easier?

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