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McPilchuck Wild Bagger
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 856 | TRs | Pics Location: near Snohomish, Wa. |
Both Scott and Mtn. Goat speaketh true: if one is going to cross steep snowy/glacier slopes and or ascend/descend places of similar nature, it's best to use trekking poles for balance as well as preventing slips or falls. Poles are also very useful on regular trails, though I use a hand-carved hazelnut stick/staff (very strong with flex) for trail and off trail stuff mainly as a brace coming down...you'd be surprised at how well a good stick can be useful, also you can probe the snow patches covering creeks for depth. Though I have used these staffs or sticks (like the old apple stocks of the turn of the century climbers used) on scary slopes, trekking poles on steep slopes are the way to go. It's better to be safe than sorry . . .
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Knapsacker Guest
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Knapsacker
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Wed Jan 02, 2002 1:00 pm
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I find an ice axe a much better tool than poles, but am definitely in the minority. Maybe having good knees makes the difference. I tried poles but they just get in the way (even snowshoeing).
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Tsolo Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 166 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Tsolo
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Wed Jan 02, 2002 6:24 pm
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Hey, one of my favorite subjects… I've used poles for 4-5 years, and wouldn't be without them. I'm even on my second set (I slipped and landed on one pole a couple of times, and eventually it just gave out). Basically, I came to the conclusion that anything that reduces the pounding on your knees, especially when going downhill, is going to prolong your useful outdoor life. And I've never thought of them as wimpy, since I've watched Rainier Mountaineering guides use them for 30 years on the climb up to Camp Muir. After using the poles for awhile, I discovered they have many other benefits besides cushioning for your joints, some of them mentioned in the previous messages. Here's my list of benefits:
Maintain proper walking stride and rhythm, including arm movement. (Because of this, I don't think the extra weight is really a factor).
Increase efficiency on flat terrain, with effort shared by upper body.
Increase power on uphill terrain.
Improve circulation in arms and hands.
Reduce momentum during downhill sections.
Reduce knee and hip stress on downhill sections.
Help with balance on rough terrain.
Prevent slipping on slippery trails or boardwalks.
Assist in balancing on logs across streams.
Calibrate water depth of streams.
Provide extra support and balance when fording streams.
Help break minor slips and stumbles.
Substitute for ice axe on moderate snow (at least a lot better than nothing at all).
Useful for probing snow for holes and meltouts.
Use to brush aside foliage along overgrown trails.
Use to knock dew and spider webs off foliage.
Protection from dogs (theoretically).
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Newt Short Timer
Joined: 21 Dec 2001 Posts: 3176 | TRs | Pics Location: Down the road and around the corner |
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Newt
Short Timer
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Wed Jan 02, 2002 7:04 pm
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Tom...
tho i don't believe we've ever met, you appear to be a real gear freak.
So my humble suggestion is to go get a pair of Leki Ti poles. You then have light weight tent poles, plus some valuable light weight practicle gear that may be very useful.
You could use them to roast weinies
Use for splints
If the are the telescoping kind then a fishing pole?
and hey, if the are also avalanche probes they could double as a flag pole.
All top notch light weight multi purpose
I don't use the coupons, ebate and such but if you do you may get a heck of a killer deal to boot.
Just some thoughts to help you decide. hehe
NN
It's pretty safe to say that if we take all of man kinds accumulated knowledge, we still don't know everything. So, I hope you understand why I don't believe you know everything. But then again, maybe you do.
It's pretty safe to say that if we take all of man kinds accumulated knowledge, we still don't know everything. So, I hope you understand why I don't believe you know everything. But then again, maybe you do.
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polarbear Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 3680 | TRs | Pics Location: Snow Lake hide-away |
Didn't someone awhile back say that Value Village had some real cheap trekking poles? Anyone know if they have telescoping ones?
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Tom Admin
Joined: 15 Dec 2001 Posts: 17851 | TRs | Pics
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Tom
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Wed Jan 02, 2002 10:37 pm
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Newbie newt, I actually have some very light poles already. Just never bothered to use them in the summer. As far as killer deals, I did notice some pretty darn light non-telescoping poles for $19 at the downtown REI store in the bargain shop, no coupon or ebate necessary .
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MtnGoat Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 11992 | TRs | Pics Location: Lyle, WA |
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MtnGoat
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Wed Jan 02, 2002 11:51 pm
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I shop at the Villagio often, and their selection of poles is great. My newest pair don't even have the "Scott" graphic scraped off yet! Yes, the best poles $4.99 can buy. I'm a gear freak, can you tell?
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. - Will Rogers
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. - Will Rogers
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Newt Short Timer
Joined: 21 Dec 2001 Posts: 3176 | TRs | Pics Location: Down the road and around the corner |
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Newt
Short Timer
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Sun Jan 06, 2002 1:53 pm
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Here's something that Grivel has to say about using poles.
Interesting
Pick products then poles
http://www.grivel.com/
NN
It's pretty safe to say that if we take all of man kinds accumulated knowledge, we still don't know everything. So, I hope you understand why I don't believe you know everything. But then again, maybe you do.
It's pretty safe to say that if we take all of man kinds accumulated knowledge, we still don't know everything. So, I hope you understand why I don't believe you know everything. But then again, maybe you do.
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Rich Baldwin Mister Eddie
Joined: 22 Dec 2001 Posts: 1686 | TRs | Pics Location: Martinique |
I love 'em. I want my knees to last.
Was you ever bit by a dead bee?
Was you ever bit by a dead bee?
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Backpacker Joe Blind Hiker
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 23956 | TRs | Pics Location: Cle Elum |
Leki makes some really nice Titanium trekking poles. As Miss. Allison says, MSR is coming out with carbon fibre poles soon. Light is right!
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
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twocoots Member
Joined: 04 Jan 2002 Posts: 31 | TRs | Pics
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twocoots
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Wed Jan 09, 2002 5:08 pm
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I also use one pole and it has done wonders for the knees and general stability. Highly recommended.
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Backpacker Joe Blind Hiker
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 23956 | TRs | Pics Location: Cle Elum |
I have a solo Leki with a cane handle that I really like. Keeps one hand free and helps mucho in the balance dept.. Those little carbide tips grab everything. I flew down aasgard last year with my cane. It really helped with my speed.
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
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jad Member
Joined: 07 Feb 2002 Posts: 6 | TRs | Pics
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jad
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Mon Feb 25, 2002 11:20 am
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I use the gabels. Every now and then I leave them behind, thinking they're overrated. And every time I miss them. I'm a total convert to poles now.
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Lazyboy Member
Joined: 05 Feb 2002 Posts: 34 | TRs | Pics Location: Butte Falls, OR |
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Lazyboy
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Mon Feb 25, 2002 11:35 am
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I love my Leki's and the only time I'll go without is on a short hike. I'm old and the knees kill me going downhill especially if I have a backpack on.
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kleet meat tornado
Joined: 06 Feb 2002 Posts: 5303 | TRs | Pics Location: O no they dih ent |
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kleet
meat tornado
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Mon Feb 25, 2002 3:19 pm
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At first I was reeeeealy skeptical about their usefulness; you know...just another yuppie toy to spend money on, but some friends raved about their usefulness, so I tried them.
I ended up finding some Simond Mountain Goat poles at Climbnow.com last year for $26, and I've not been sorry. I like the way they add some stability during stream crossings and the way they take some strain off my knees on downhill sections. They collapse small enough to fit in my pack if need be or I just lash them on the outside if I'm not using them.
A fuxk, why do I not give one?
A fuxk, why do I not give one?
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