"When I am finishing a picture, I hold some God-made object up to it - a rock, a flower, the branch of a tree or my hand - as a final test. If the painting stands up beside a thing man cannot make, the painting is authentic. If there's a clash between the two, it's bad art."Marc Chagall
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Hiking from Your Own Home
Picture this. You are stuck at home knee deep in household chores. Your mind wanders from taking out the trash to hiking on a scenic trail with heart pumping terrain. You are an avid hiker and yearn to strap on your hiking gear and hit the trails. ...
Hiking Shoes Offer the Support and Flexibility Needed for Walking on Rugged Terrain
One of the most important pieces of equipment to consider when going on a hike is a good pair of hiking shoes. Some important things to look for in a hiking shoe are a good grip, good support that will allow your foot to bend and flex naturally as you ...
Hiking Shoes Versus Hiking Boots
Hiking shoes versus hiking boots? Hiking shoes win. Okay, next issue? No, really. Hiking or running shoes are better for most backpacking trips, at least during late spring, summer and early fall. Boots are heavy, hot, stinky, and stay wet forever. A ...
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Are walking sticks longer than trekking poles? What about hiking staffs and hiking sticks? Whatever you call them, and whatever their differences, they are supposed to help your knees more than anything. This they do very well, at least when you're going downhill.
What else are they good for? They help you keep your balance. You can use them as defense against wild animals as well. I use a walking stick to rest my head on from time to time, and I also use it as a monopod for steadying the camera.
Do You Need Trekking Poles?
What if you don't have knee problems, and you are hiking on level ground? Then maybe there is no point to using trekking poles. They can be just more things to carry.
Do they save energy? They take weight off your joints, but logic says you'll expend more energy by carrying them. I use a walking stick at times, when my knees insist, and it's fun to poke at things, but it's not a necessity. For what it's worth, Ray Jardine, the "father" of ultralight backpacking, doesn't recommend trekking poles.
If you decide to use them, consider the incredible Bozeman Mountain Works Stix Xls Trekking Poles. They're made of a high-strength carbon fiber and weigh 2.7 ounces each! That's is half the weight of the nearest competition.
Walking Sticks and Other Options
I often cut dead sticks and use them until I lose them. I always lose my walking stick - a good reason not to buy the expensive ones. If I do still have it at the end of the trail, I leave it for the next hiker. Hand-cut walking sticks are heavier than high-tech trekking poles, but you can just leave them behind when you get tired of them.
You can use bamboo to make good light hiking staffs. It's stronger than it looks, so use a piece that's only about 3/4" thick. I bought cheap decorative bamboo at Pier One Imports, and cut it to size. You can glue some soft scrap leather on for a comfortable handgrip.
Finally, ski poles work as trekking poles. It's best if you remove the baskets, especially if you're hiking in wooded areas where they may catch on something.
About the Author
Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate of lightweight backpacking. His advice and stories can be found at http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com
Written By: Steve Gillman
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Hiker's disappearance unsolvedNorth Shore News18, when he left his Vancouver home equipped for a hike and never returned. His disappearance touched off an intensive twoday search of the North Shore backwoods that turned up no trace of the missing hiker. Now, 11 weeks after Mbaruk was last seen, ...and more » |
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Norquist asks Mass. lawmakers to reject tax hikesBoston.comDeval Patrick, saying hikes in taxes on tobacco products and soda would hurt the state's economy while doing little to encourage healthier habits. Norquist, a Massachusetts native who heads Americans for Tax Reform, recently sent a pair of letters to ...and more » |
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Senate recommends 3 percent tuition hikeMiamiHerald.com (blog)After the Florida House proposed hiking base tuition 8 percent and Gov. Rick Scott urged no tuition hike at all, the Florida Senate is meeting in the middle, recommending an increase tuition of 3 percent for workforce education and state colleges.and more » |
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B.C. Hydro seeks PR help before hiking ratesVictoria Times ColonistBy Rob Shaw, Times Colonist February 8, 2012 3:06 AM BC Hydro wants to keep a close eye on the public mood and have a mass of communications people on standby as it moves to hike rates and redefine the province's energy future.and more » |
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