The simple walking pole is quite often regarded as merely an aid to those of us suffering from knee,back injuries, or just merely succumbing to that aliment that gets us all and that is age.
However the walking pole is much more than just a simple aid to hike up a hill, let me quote some of its deeply researched positive advantages. Much of this info I have gained from Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, and research published by Doctors and Mountain guides. I normally pass this on to my clients or school groups I am leading in the mountains or bush over here.
The walking pole or better still two walking poles set correctly to your own height will save up to a third of your energy output throughout a hiking day. Saving this energy is important because it helps you move more efficiently and therefore less likely to making yourself prone, through fatigue, to injuring yourself. A vast amount of injuries accidents happen at the end of day when someone is descending a mountain, or hill, and certainly an extra set of legs helps your tired body maintain stability.
Using poles also tones up the muscles in your arms chest and back so gives your body a complete workout, hence the popularity of Nordic Walking (walking fast with cross country ski poles!) in Europe and N.America
For river crossings the hiking poles are an invaluable tool to help keep you upright, preventing you getting swept away or tripping on loose rocks.
When I teach Wilderness First Aid I demonstrate how hiking poles can make up several different types of splints for arms and Legs, remembering of course some wilderness areas have no trees or shrubs that can lend themselves to be fashioned into splints.
Walking with two poles is better than walking with one, walking with one can create an physiological imbalance in your body which can lead to injuries (for example to your back) especially if you are carrying a pack.
If you find it difficult to use two poles, and can only manage one, be diligent and ensure that you use the pole for an equal amount of time, throughout the day, in both hands.
Using two poles not only is a positive benefit for your overall physical fitness but also improves the cognitive ability of your brain, as does just general walking or running.
Just think of our primitive ancestors who stopped using their jaws as tools preferring to use their hands to manufacture everyday artifacts and break open fruits etc, their jaws got smaller, they grew shorter arms while their brains grew bigger.
When I am walking through thick bush I tend not to use regular hiking poles but use one pole around 6ft long (I am 5ft 6"), this helps me balance when crossing beaver damns or pole vault across creeks. Also for navigating through thick bush when using concise navigation techniques with my compass , although it would better for my pole in this use to be about 4ft longer. Several of these long poles can be tied together to make an improvised foot bridge to get a large group over a creek quickly, while keeping them dry.
To summarize all I can say is I don't go hiking anywhere without my poles.
Dave
www.mahikan.ca
