For Heaven’s Sake, Use Trekking Poles
BY Herschel Smith
3 years ago
A survey of more than 700 John Muir trail thru-hikers gave researchers insight into what makes a hiker more likely to get injured or ill while backpacking.
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The study singles out three factors that were correlated with injury and illness. The first was age, and not in the way you might think: Older hikers reported fewer adverse events on the JMT. One explanation for this might be that they have more years of experience on the trail and are better equipped to identify and avoid risky situations. A study on search and rescue missions in the Polish Tatra mountains also revealed that younger tourists were more likely to need help due to inexperience and lack of equipment.
So to begin with, don’t be stupid on the trail and engage in proper planning and execution.
Given that the majority of reported injuries were to the feet and legs, Spano suggests that because older backpackers tend to use trekking poles—which are correlated with a reduced rate of lower extremity injuries—they might be more protected.
“Hiking pole use is good for preventing strain and reducing injury to lower extremities,” Spano says. “And I don’t know a lot of younger people out there hiking with poles; they just don’t feel they need them.”
I, too, see very few younger hikers or backpackers using trekking poles. I think that’s very unwise and arrogant. It takes a mushy brain full of hubris to believe your youth will save you from mechanical injuries.
You can’t control everything in the bush. But you can minimize the chances of mechanical injury with the use of good trekking poles.
Just go buy some and be diligent about using them. I do even on days hikes, and miss them if I happen to forget.
On December 19, 2021 at 9:54 pm, Tom762 said:
Herschel, when I used to long distance hike I always carried my stick. Made from a good strong piece of century plant stalk, with a steel cup for a foot, leather wrapped grip and lanyard. Walking stick, weapon, tent pole, crutch, and about a hundred other uses, literally. Along with a gun, it was my constant companion when in the backcountry, including the Weminuche!! Twice!! Mine also has a groove in the top, old mountain man trick, or use with your Pennsylvania rifle.
I wore out the steel, started using copper, did not last as long as steel but stuck to the rocks better.
Cannot tell how many times it saved my sorry butt. I still have it, I guess that means I should work the dust off of it.
On December 19, 2021 at 10:21 pm, Bradlley A Graham said:
The first time my 2 girls and I did the Grand Canyon was March 2017. My youngest insisted we get crampons and trekking poles, Well, much to my regret she was outvoted because I thought I was bullet proof.
I fell on the icy trail less that 1/2 mile from the trail head after taking South Kaibab down to Phantom Ranch and back up Bright Angel. A distance of 19.2 miles.
Destroyed my rotator cuff and displaced left scapula. $80k surgery and 4 months out of work.
About 6 months later I found an original all metal MSR ice axe at a yard sale. I stole it for $5.
Been back to Phantom Ranch twice and Havasupai once and my bright orange ice axe has been my faithful companion. I get some strange looks and comments but I have forgotten how many times it has prevented a repeat of my stupidity and arrogance toward nature’s intolerance of fools.
On December 19, 2021 at 10:22 pm, Fred said:
7ft length of thick fresh pine branch. Plenty long, heavy duty but still flexes some. Pointed at one end for purchase in both soil and crags in rock. Very versatile in a great many situations and terrain. Seriously handy to have for trail and camp. I liked the weight, substantial. Not real practical if carrying a rifle though. Price; free, but they are God’s so thank Him for it as part of your hiking prayers.
This started when I came across a bunch of branches, perhaps Hemlock, on a section of a well kept and recently maintained trail at a crossing of the Obed river. Cut the twigs off a stout branch. The flat chainsaw end didn’t work so I whittled the narrower end to a point.
On December 20, 2021 at 12:45 am, BRVTVS said:
It’s not just for injury prevention, although I’ve saved myself from many potential fall by using a staff. It’s also that many trails are overgrown in sections. Ticks wait for hikers to brush by. A staff to move or whack weeds out of the way should be part of your defense against lyme.
On December 20, 2021 at 9:07 am, PubliusII said:
Admittedly under the spell of Complete Walker Colin Fletcher, I cut down a birch sapling about an inch in diameter and five feet long, tipped it with a crutch tip, and it has been my walking stick for 40+ years now.
A single pole has for me a much rationale than the ditsy trekking poles — sorry!
On December 20, 2021 at 9:50 am, Mike Austin said:
I spent 14 years of my life solo backpacking the jungles, mountains and grasslands of Central and South America. I walked the Inca Trail, took 11 days to cross the Darien Gap from Panama to Colombia, hiked 14 days across the Peruvian Andes to the ruins of Choquequirao, walked 12 days to the Chachapoyan ruins of Gran Vilaya, descended into the two deepest canyons in the world, both in Peru—Colca and Cotahuasi—spent months in the Andes of Argentina, and twice explored the Chilean island of Navarino.
All was done with a heavy pack. Never used trekking poles. Never was injured. (Being shipwrecked, shot at, kidnapped, falling into quicksand and being attacked by wild animals doesn’t count.) My last foray was 12 days in 2011 in northern Guatemala. I was 58.
I’ve done a little solo backpacking here in the US, mainly in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Oregon. Again, no trekking poles.
On December 20, 2021 at 11:12 am, Herschel Smith said:
@Mike,
There are always exceptions. Exceptions don’t change the rule.
On December 20, 2021 at 11:31 am, Romeo Foxtrot said:
I concur 100%..
I’m not much of a treker, but to stalk trout here in NC/TN/VA, big fly fisherman and though i am very comfortable in the water, ALWAYS use a wading staff to reduce odds of a fall, etc., even on thin/skinny water i have seen guys go down HARD due to carelessness, snot covered rocks, or holes filled in by leaves…
On December 20, 2021 at 12:57 pm, Mike Austin said:
@Herschel: True enough. I have nothing at all against trekking poles. But I have tempted fate enough—I am 68 after all. I have switched to bikepacking rather than backpacking, and have biked hundreds of miles with Surly bike, tent, stove and Smith & Wesson .40. If I take up backpacking again I will go the ultralight route. No more heavy packs.
On December 20, 2021 at 7:40 pm, C said:
At my age, I use trekking poles to go to the bathrooom.
On December 20, 2021 at 10:29 pm, Herschel Smith said:
@C,
Now that right there’s funny. I laughed.
On December 21, 2021 at 3:14 pm, Levi Garrett said:
When I was growing up, I would go on walks in the woods with my dad for various reasons. He taught me that one of the first things to always do in the woods was find a good solid, straight stick for walking. It was a multipurpose tool that you could use to push tall vegetation aside when looking for mushrooms on the forest floor, push briars or small limbs and twigs out of your path, generally poke around anything you wouldn’t stick your hand in, and help with balance and footing. I still do that today whenever I take a walk in the woods (and have my hands free). Now that I live in venomous snake country (and don’t wear snake boots), I use walking sticks to probe brush an grass in front of me as I walk in order to give a little bit of advanced warning to well-camouflaged snakes. I probably look a little like Ray Charles. I don’t know if it’s ever worked in that capacity, but it makes me feel better, and I also can use it to flip or bat a snake out of the way quickly if I need to.