By Robin Shortt
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence
then, is not an act but a habit.
-Aristotle-
I remember watching my boys growing
up. They would go to their Scout meetings
and bring home a pole that they had
cut from a sapling. They made it into a pole
by stripping the bark and carving different
designs into it. They would talk about
how they used it for hiking and on campouts.
Today things have changed a lot. The Scouts
still make their trekking poles, but more hikers
are now going high-tech.
Todays poles have much of the same
benefits the scouts used them for.
Hikers also use two of them for
hiking. Which double the benefits.
1.This includes pack weight distribution
to the arms, thus increasing indurance.
2.Makes keeping your balance easier
as you cross rivers and streams as
well as rough terrain.
3.Lowers stress on the joints, knees, hips
and lower back.
4.Gives a more upright, hiking posture.
This in turn will make breathing
more efficient.
5.Helps you go up those steep inclines.
Also helps you keep your balance on the
declines.
6.Dispite some drawbacks concerning
them, the advantages far outweigh
the drawbacks.
7.Trekking poles today are high tech
in design and with adjustable telescopic
features make them ideal for summer and
winter. Most are made from materials
such as aluminum or titanium.
8.Trekking poles have adjustable wrist straps
and can have plastic or cork handgrips.
9.How to use your trekking poles
is done by keeping your forearm parallel to
to the ground on flat tarrain. If you”re
assending the poles will need adjusting. You
will need to make them shorter, so you will not
over reach. The opposite is also true as well.
When going down a hill you will need to lengthen
the poles.
10.Its very easy to use trekking poles. Just walk
naturally one arm forward with the opposite
leg. The poles will soon become apart of you
as you walk.
As you become used to using the poles you”ll
find how easy it has become to hike and how much
faster and farther you can travel.
Check out your local Scout Shop for a good quality
set of poles. You”ll also be financially helping out
the Scout troops in your area.
