RE: [Philmont]: Trekking poles

A few thoughts on the "closet rod" which are not intended to sway any
thoughts, but provide some more to think about.
 
 The "Scout staff" is a single pole, and heavy. It does not collapse. We
had one adult on our crew who used one, and I must admit I thought he
was nuts, but it worked very well for him. Our Ranger also carried a
solid, "natural" hikng staff/stick (many rangers carry either a heavy
hiking stick or an ax handle to use as a "cat stick" should the need
arise, but that is a different discussion). The solid staff is usually
long and does not allow you to get your weight over the pole when
walking. As mentioned before, you can't fold them up and put them on the
pack either. But I think the biggest difference is that you are using a
single pole, rather than two which provide better balance and walking
cadence. If you are thinking about one pole verses two, then consider a
single collapsible pole. My son used this method and his pole spent
about half the time on his pack, but when he needed it, it was
available. The cane handle top served as a sitting platform for 5 minute
standing breaks. I would also recommend the small 1-1/2" baskets on you
hiking poles to keep them from sinking too far into the mud and loam.
For shipping inside your pack, remember to put something protective over
the points to save your other gear from being poked. I have no idea how
to carry a staff through the airlines, but I'm sure it's no major
problem.
 
 Long solid staffs are better for stream crossings I think. I would
suggest that you don't have anything protruding from the surface of the
staff that might grab your skin. I have inlaid all those medallions on
my staff for that reason.
 
 This best advice that others have mentioned is to make your choice
early and get some experience with that method. Day 3 on an 11 day trek
is no time to discover that you made a major mistake in choosing gear. I
found a neat little coffee filter at REI on our way to Philmont last
summer, and left my old reliable behind in favor of the new one. I
regretted it for the entire trek. Anybody wanna buy a neat little coffee
filter (cheap)?
 
Now if I can find my crampons and ice ax, I think I'm gonna get out for
a hike myself.
Happy Hiking,
 Tom
SM T66
West Hurley, NY
IWGBTP (808-F1, '04)

 
I would assume this would include the "closet rod" type of hiking staff?
The kind for which one can buy hiking staff medallions and nail them on?

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Received on Mon Dec 27 11:40:21 2004