[at-l] hiking poles impact on trails... (was Weary Of Shelters)

[m_factor@hotmail.com (Mara Factor)]

Yeah, anyone who routinely hikes where the ground freezes knows that the 
damage Lekis can do doesn't come close to the damage that all natural ice 
can do.  Likewise, crampons put way more scratches on rocks than Lekis ever 
will - except of course, in places where crampons aren't used.  12 sharp 
points on each foot make a little Leki scratch here and there seem 
insignificant.  It's only happened once or twice, but it's pretty funny to 
hear someone complaining of pole scratches on rocks in the Whites while they 
are pointing to crampon scratches.

I do a lot of trail maintenance with my poles...  I often didn't want to 
stop while I was hiking but I could flick things off the trial with my poles 
better than I could by kicking things off the trail.  And I've thought about 
finding some sort of scythe attachment for the poles in those horribly 
overgrown areas.  Whack away as you hike and stop complaining about those 
areas that maintainers just can't keep up with... yeah...  :-)

Mara
Stitches, GAME99

>From: Slyatpct@aol.com
>To: RoksnRoots@aol.com, rafeb@adelphia.net
>CC: AT-L@backcountry.net
>Subject: Re: [at-l] Weary Of Shelters
>Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 13:08:26 EST
>
>In a message dated 2/27/2002 12:57:29 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>RoksnRoots@aol.com writes:
>
>
> > Even in NY I've
> > seen sections of trail that look similar to the original 1920's AT track
> > wisping lightly through the brush uneroded. In many places you will 
>still
> > see
> > grass growing in the trailbed.
> >
>
>Oh, so hiking poles don't cause damage to the trail in that section and
>perhaps help in propagating continued growth of grasses.
>
>Score one for the Leki users!
>
>Also, while hiking the trail the other day I noticed what seemed to be 
>loose
>dirt or a tilled area along side of the trail and thought, *darn*  those 
>Leki
>users, until a little later I saw ice pushing up through the ground.  
>Mother
>nature can be so cruel.  : )
>
>Sly

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