Walking Poles again

Trevor Appleton said:

Unfortunately my previous view that they were an extra burden to cart along
on a tour were confirmed in a recent 8 day trek in the Jotunheimen and I
gave up on them.

You may not be using them properly. Walk with someone who has been
using poles for several years and watch how they are used.

I was converted when I watch a TV programme where Chris Brasher did a
two-day walk in the Scottish Highlands. He explained their physical
benefits (which, medically speaking, were very convincing) and
demonstrated how they should be used.

I was on a walk in the Mallorcan mountains in April and someone
borrowed a pair. Within 2 hours he had discarded them with the comment
that they were awkward and impeded him. Two hours use is insufficient
to come to a conslusion about poles. If used properly, poles should
not impede and one must persevere.

Les

On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 08:11:57 +0100, "Trevor Appleton"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

| Having been very wary of getting these things but eventually took advice
| here a bought a pair of Black Diamond.
|
| Unfortunately my previous view that they were an extra burden to cart along
| on a tour were confirmed in a recent 8 day trek in the Jotunheimen and I
| gave up on them.

June bought the Lidl ones, because if they were no good she could throw
them away at little cost. She thinks them wonderful.

--
Dave Fawthrop <dave hyphenologist co uk>
"Intelligent Design?" my knees say *not*.
"Intelligent Design?" my back says *not*.

Les said:

You may not be using them properly.

Though since Trevor is, IIRC, an XC skier he should have a much better
chance than most of grokking the technique quite quickly.

Quoted message said:

If used properly, poles should not impede and one must persevere.

Up to a point. If you're walking across reasonably easy country and
don't need your hands for anything else, then they should only help.
But there are plenty of places in the hills where they are a PITA
because there are places when /anything/ will get in the way and there
are places where you want your hands for something else, and using hands
when there's a tube over a meter long strapped to each wrist is somewhat
less easy than if they're not there...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

"Dave Fawthrop" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 08:11:57 +0100, "Trevor Appleton"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

| Having been very wary of getting these things but eventually took advice
| here a bought a pair of Black Diamond.
|
| Unfortunately my previous view that they were an extra burden to cart

along

Quoted message said:

| on a tour were confirmed in a recent 8 day trek in the Jotunheimen and I
| gave up on them.

June bought the Lidl ones, because if they were no good she could throw
them away at little cost. She thinks them wonderful.

--
Dave Fawthrop <dave hyphenologist co uk>
"Intelligent Design?" my knees say *not*.
"Intelligent Design?" my back says *not*.

Was in Switzerland last week and love them or hate them there were more
people walking with poles than without.

Dave

Dave said:

Was in Switzerland last week and love them or hate them there were more
people walking with poles than without.

They've been popular in the Alps for years longer than they have here.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

They've been popular in the Alps for years longer than they have here.

Quite right too. I wouldn't like to be tramping through a mountain range
without them, especially when carrying quite a lot of weight.

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

To mail simply put back the dots ...

On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 10:53:33 +0100, "Dave" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Was in Switzerland last week and love them or hate them there were more
people walking with poles

Ditto in the Austrian Alps last year - but they were all going a lot
slower than me!
--
R
o
o
n
e
y

"I always knew the entire Green party were nutters" - Ken Livingstone

In message <[email hidden]>

Peter Clinch said:

Dave said:

Was in Switzerland last week and love them or hate them there were more
people walking with poles than without.

They've been popular in the Alps for years longer than they have here.

Pete.

Yes, I first started using poles over 10 years ago for my Alpine trips
and then started using them more regularly here in the UK. For many
years the usual quip from British walkers was 'have you lost your skis'
or 'where is the snow'.

I'd agree with the observation that many people using poles don't use
them effectively and thus would be better off without them at all.

I've just got back from a vacation in Germany/Austria/Switzerland (left
just as the major floods were happening) and used my poles most days for
long mountain ascents and walks, and also for approaches to
via-ferratas/klettersteigs. I find using poles is an assistance to
strain on the knees, both uphill and downhill, and also helps with
balance on rough paths and crossing streams and bogs.

--
o/ \\ // |\ ,_ o Mike Clark
<\__,\\ // __o | \ / /\, "A mountain climbing, cycling, skiing,
"> || _`\<,_ |__\ \> | immunology lecturer, antibody engineer and
` || (_)/ (_) | \corn computer user"

Are you selling them? Might be interested.

"Trevor Appleton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Having been very wary of getting these things but eventually took advice
here a bought a pair of Black Diamond.

Unfortunately my previous view that they were an extra burden to cart
along
on a tour were confirmed in a recent 8 day trek in the Jotunheimen and I
gave up on them.

Photos to follow

Previous trip:

http://weather.4dinternet.co.uk/weather/4dGeiteryggen/Geiteryggen2005.htm

http://www.angelfire.com/trek/trevorappleton/jotunheimen2004/

Trevor
East Yorkshire
.

"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dave said:

Was in Switzerland last week and love them or hate them there were more
people walking with poles than without.

They've been popular in the Alps for years longer than they have here.

Called alpenstocks? Used in the Alps for Eons especially on snow :-))))))))

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If used properly, poles should not impede and one must persevere.

I've been using just ONE pole recently... Is that just a waste of time
and energy... ie... Is the benefit only gained when you use a pole in
each hand?

I've usually got a dog-lead in the other!
Cheers,
MalJ

Craven said:

Called alpenstocks?

Not really, an alpenstock is more the forerunner of the modern ice axe
rather than the modern walking pole. Walking poles are basically
telescopic ski touring poles though tend to be 3 part rather than two
part and often with rather smaller baskets.

Quoted message said:

Used in the Alps for Eons especially on snow :-)

As have ski poles, which fact is probably not entirely unconnected with
the popularity of walking poles in the Alps...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Quoted message said:

Up to a point. If you're walking across reasonably easy country and don't
need your hands for anything else, then they should only help. But there
are plenty of places in the hills where they are a PITA because there are
places when /anything/ will get in the way and there are places where you
want your hands for something else, and using hands when there's a tube
over a meter long strapped to each wrist is somewhat less easy than if
they're not there...

I agree about them being in the way when hands are required. However, I
always use two in the hills, that is serious hills other than the South
Downs. When I reach a spot where my hands are needed, they go onto the
rucksack, and then off when the hands are again free. Now, not a problem
for me as I always carry a rucksack in places like the Lakes/Snowdonia etc
with all my kit requirements for the outing. Different on the South Downs
as I never need to use my hands during a walk. So, I can then use my North
Face waist bag then with no pole straps.

I often feel that many walkers see poles as a mountain 'fashion accessory'
because so many carry them on their rucksack and never use them. Seems like
a waste to me.

--
sandy saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk
email: saunders.sandy at ntlworld.com

'Mountains or Mole Hills ... summiting still
brings the same excitement'

In message <[email hidden]>

MalJ said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If used properly, poles should not impede and one must persevere.

I've been using just ONE pole recently... Is that just a waste of time
and energy... ie... Is the benefit only gained when you use a pole in
each hand?

I've usually got a dog-lead in the other!
Cheers,
MalJ

I either use no poles or two poles. The problem with one pole is that it
is difficult to walk with any constant rhythm and obtain a benefit of
support to steps with both knees. When going up or downhill the single
pole is essentially encouraging you to limp. Of course a single pole
still provides the benefit of being able to probe bogs, and snow, and to
provide some extra balance when crossing streams. Also it still provides
a stick to fend off animals.

--
o/ \\ // |\ ,_ o Mike Clark
<\__,\\ // __o | \ / /\, "A mountain climbing, cycling, skiing,
"> || _`\<,_ |__\ \> | immunology lecturer, antibody engineer and
` || (_)/ (_) | \corn computer user"

"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Craven said:

Called alpenstocks?

Not really, an alpenstock is more the forerunner of the modern ice axe
rather than the modern walking pole. Walking poles are basically
telescopic ski touring poles though tend to be 3 part rather than two part
and often with rather smaller baskets.

Quoted message said:

Used in the Alps for Eons especially on snow :-)

As have ski poles, which fact is probably not entirely unconnected with
the popularity of walking poles in the Alps...

Pete.
--

I was told by a colleague that when he changed Critical Illness cover the
use of poles was put on as a condition for when working. Not sure how they'd
ever enforce it though.

Dave

We run guided walking holidays in Devon and Cornwall and it's been very
interesting to see how walking poles are used by people. If asked I
often recommend one pole on the basis that it is less cumbersome and
the user more likley to be aware of the pole when climbing stiles etc.
( Have seen people with two poles waving them at all angles causing
danger to those behind).

If I find that one of our group is struggling a little and doesn't have
a pole - I simply cut them a stick (remember them!) and they soon pick
up and find the walks a lot easier.

Hope this is useful and if your interested in our holidays have a look
at www.way2go4.com or just put way2go4 into google.

Mike

sandy saunders said:

I agree about them being in the way when hands are required. However, I
always use two in the hills, that is serious hills other than the South
Downs.

The South Downs can be quite serious enough if you're getting on a bit
and have already been walking all day. It's entirely reasonable to plan
a harder day on the South Downs than some of the easier Munro Bagging trips.

Quoted message said:

When I reach a spot where my hands are needed, they go onto the
rucksack, and then off when the hands are again free. Now, not a problem
for me as I always carry a rucksack

Depends on one's definition of "problem". It's not going to kill you,
but it's a faff I can do without, especially if it's the sort of walk
where I don't really feel the need to prop up my knees. Likewise all
those re-layering stops. I'd sooner be walking or admiring the view
than re-packing my stuff.

Quoted message said:

Different on the South Downs as I never need to use my hands during a walk.

Never want to look at the map? Never want to use a camera or
binoculars? Never want to apply suncream? Never want to vary clothing
at all? Never want a snack or a drink? Never want to scratch an itch?
I wonder if "never" may be an exaggeration! ;-)

Quoted message said:

I often feel that many walkers see poles as a mountain 'fashion accessory'
because so many carry them on their rucksack and never use them. Seems like
a waste to me.

A lot of people only want them for prolonged ascents/descents, so
outwith such times why bother filling your hands with them? Same
principle applies to carrying waterproofs rather than wearing them 100%
or of the time. I often carry waterproofs I never use on most days out,
but I wouldn't really class that as a "waste", even though with
hindsight you could say I was wasting my energy.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

In message <[email hidden]>, MalJ
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If used properly, poles should not impede and one must persevere.

I've been using just ONE pole recently... Is that just a waste of time
and energy... ie... Is the benefit only gained when you use a pole in
each hand?

I use a single pole primarily to reduce impact on the knees when
descending., but also on moderately steep ascents.

Quoted message said:

I've usually got a dog-lead in the other!
Cheers,
MalJ

--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

Quoted message said:

The South Downs can be quite serious enough if you're getting on a bit and
have already been walking all day. It's entirely reasonable to plan a
harder day on the South Downs than some of the easier Munro Bagging trips.

Might have been misleading with my statement. What I was infering was that
on the South Downs, I can use my poles but not have to worry about finding
somehwere for them as there isn't any requirement for hadn use in on rocks.

Quoted message said:

Never want to look at the map? Never want to use a camera or binoculars?
Never want to apply suncream? Never want to vary clothing at all? Never
want a snack or a drink? Never want to scratch an itch? I wonder if
"never" may be an exaggeration! ;-)

Literally speaking ..... yes I do need my hands, for all those you mention
.... except for sun cream, never use that in this country. But, as above I
was meaning the use of hands for rocks/scrambling etc. Now, I by chance I
fell off a cliff while walking in Dorset or Beachy Head area, then the poles
could be a problem.

Not too long ago, Clare and I were walking along the South Downs Way from
Mercury Park to Butser Hill. As often, I was in front when I heard an
almighty thud. Turned around, and Clare was flat on her face, with a nasty
hole in her chin from flintstone. Clare always uses poles, where ever we
walk .... but on this occasion, they prevented her from putting out her
hands to cushion the fall. So, even on 'flat' walks they can have there
down-side.

--
sandy saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk
email: saunders.sandy at ntlworld.com

'Mountains or Mole Hills ... summiting still
brings the same excitement'