Re: [Philmont]: Opinions on Treking Poles - Bamboo Poles

I'd say trekking poles are a must for adults. Get used to using them during
prep hikes. They provide extra points of balance which can be especially
important when you are packing a heavy load up or down a trail or when crossing a
flowing stream on boulders. Used with care, they are like extra legs!

Depending on your technique, experience and what you've got in the basement
or garage, you can use bamboo cross-country ski poles. I did in 2003, had no
major problems, and I got a few interesting comments along the trail ..'hey,
aren't those ski poles?'

I decided against the expense of "modern" trekking poles and used some old
(1970s vintage) bamboo cross country ski poles left over from my days in
Colorado and New England. I had never used poles prior to my preparations for
Philmont. I'm 56. I broke a couple of poles during our prep hikes in the southern
Appalachians, but still had a mis-matched pair for Philmont. It does not
matter as long as both poles are the same length. I wrapped two, 3 ft strips of
duct tape around each pole (that's 12 ft of duct tape on 2 poles) both for
strength/reinforcement (a nice place to keep crew duct tape handy). Nobody wanted
my poles for the dining fly!

Only had a small problem: one of the wrist straps (leather) broke from old
age a few days into the trek. Duct tape fixed that. Bamboo poles survived the
trek and are back in Georgia ready for another hike on the AT or X-C skiing.

Remember, ski poles by design are not collapsible, so they can be a nuisance
to carry to/from Philmont in summer when the airlines are not primed to
transport ski equipment. They are not variable length like modern trekking poles.
They do not have shock absorbers like modern trekking poles. They cannot be
telescoped into a short 18-inch length like modern trekking poles. To be good
for trekking, your ski poles should be long by alpine (downhill) skiing
standards. The poles you use should have wrist straps. If you are unsure about
your ski pole length or your success with them on the trail, try using them on
your practice hikes.

I shipped my bamboo poles by UPS both ways (saved the carton in our locker at
base camp). I have no experience with fiberglass or aluminum ski poles at
Philmont or on the trail. In theory, they would work, but will be heavier than
bamboo, stiffer and more durable than bamboo. Metal or composite ski poles
will be less flexible than bamboo. Bamboo has more natural spring in it than
metal or composites. Bamboo is fragile by comparison.

My philosophy was to use equipment I already had rather than buy new
equipment for a 10-day hike in the mountains of New Mexico. As long as you know what
you're doing, your equipment is well maintained and in good condition, you
have repair materials/kits for what you take, you know yourself and your
equipment, and you are not troubled by style or fashion, you may be surprised at how
much equipment you already have. A lot of the fun and success of Philmont
comes from technique/expertise, not the equipment. This discussion is limited to
poles.

Bamboo ski poles can work just fine. Whatever you decide to use, practice
with the equipment on several hikes before you arrive at Philmont.

Charlie Pineo
Crew Advisor 2003, Trek 4, 721-B2
Woodstock, GA

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Received on Wed Dec 31 09:47:14 2003