[at-l] (no subject)

[icw39@ncfreedom.net (Clark Wright)]

Conventional wisdom - 80%+ use two poles, but some still use one; and it
works just fine to use two wooden poles you make yourself along the way;
I'd never used poles in over 30 years of hiking, but on the AT this
spring, after the first blizzard re-froze and offered us glare ice to
skate up and down, I bought a pair of basic Leki's - it's the best
investment I ever made - even ended up using the silnylon tarp deal
where one of those Leki's does the trick as your tarp center pole. 
Also, and I know this sounds stupid, I always liked the "comfort" of
poles as a "bear scare" device - can make noise clanking them together,
or hold them overhead and clank to make yourself appear bigger . . .
probably just hiker hallucinations, but I felt "safer" on the AT with
them [which is kinda stupid, as I've been on earlier hikes where I ended
up about 30 feet from a Momma Griz and her two cubs - without any fancy
hiking poles!  The latest debates are whether poles tear up the Trail
too much, and whether they make too much noise - both legit issues to
think about.  As with most things, user handling can minimize both . . .

Hike On!

Thru-Thinker

RBSC2000@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Whats the conventional wisdom......2 poles or 1...... my experience has shown
> me that i prefer a free hand.  Also concerned that a slip and fall   could
> become an impalling. (sp)
> 
> Ron//Anxiety
> _______________________________________________
> AT-L mailing list
> AT-L@mailman.backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/at-l