Trekking poles (also known as hiking poles, hiking sticks or walking poles) are a common hiking accessory that function to assist walkers with their rhythm, to provide stability, and reduce strain on joints on rough terrain.
When in use, modern trekking poles resemble ski poles as they have many features in common, such as baskets at the bottom to prevent the pole sinking through unstable surfaces, and rubber-padded handles and wrist straps to strengthen holding grip. Their maximum length is usually 135 cm (54 inches), however, unlike ski poles, they are often made in two or three sections and can be extended and retracted as necessary for use and collapsed for storage or transport. When fully retracted it may be possible to attach them to a backpack. Some poles come with spring-loaded sections to aid walking under normal conditions and to reduce wrist strain, but such devices may only add unwanted weight and noise to the poles. They are usually made from lightweight aluminum or carbon fiber.
Descendants of the common walking stick, trekking poles are usually used by hikers for the same reasons — to provide some rhythm to their walking pace and for added support. On flat, smooth terrain they really aren't necessary although using them can increase the exercise a hiker gets from the trip, as well as increase the speed. But on less certain terrain, or steep slopes, they provide useful lateral stability, and many turn to them for help with knee pain. They can also be used as aids when climbing rocks or boulders, to probe the depth of mud or water and facilitate a crossing. When traversing steep slopes for long distances, some hikers make one pole shorter than the other to make those trips feel more as if they were taking place on level ground.
Some backpacking tents are designed to use trekking poles as tent poles. Along the same lines, trekking poles can be used to set up a Bivouac shelter. Hikers who take to snowshoes in winter find trekking poles especially useful.
They can also be used in Nordic walking in a rural or urban environment.
An impact of trekking poles, scratches left by poles on a rock in a wilderness area
Some hikers have complained that pole use can leave a visible impact on the surrounding trail, for instance poking visible holes in the ground and damaging adjacent vegetation. In particular, the most common complaint is that the carbide tips leave visible white scratches on rock and make scraping sounds. All these can detract from the wilderness experience.[1]
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) recommends several measures to mitigate the environmental impact of trekking poles in accordance with Leave No Trace principles of low-impact backcountry recreation. Hikers, it says, should not only be aware of what they put their poles into, they should remove the pole baskets unless hiking in snow and use rubber tips to avoid scratch marks on rocks. On level sections, or in areas where the potential for adverse impact is high, the ATC suggests putting the poles away entirely.[1]
Health benefitsEdit
"Nordic walking", a type of walking with poles, has been found to have beneficial effects on resting heart rate, blood pressure, exercise capacity, maximal oxygen consumption, and quality of life in patients with various diseases, and to be superior to brisk walking without poles and in some endpoints to jogging.[2][3]
^ abJeffrey L. Marion; Teresa A. Martinez; Robert D. Proudman (Spring 2001). (PDF). The Register. Vol. 24, no. 5. Appalachian Trail Conference. pp. 1, 10–11. Archived from the original (Newsletter) on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
^Tschentscher M, Niederseer D, Niebauer J (January 2013). "Health benefits of Nordic walking: a systematic review". American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 44 (1): 76–84. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2012.09.043. PMID 23253654.
trekking, pole, also, known, hiking, poles, hiking, sticks, walking, poles, common, hiking, accessory, that, function, assist, walkers, with, their, rhythm, provide, stability, reduce, strain, joints, rough, terrain, pair, trekking, poles, contents, descriptio. Trekking poles also known as hiking poles hiking sticks or walking poles are a common hiking accessory that function to assist walkers with their rhythm to provide stability and reduce strain on joints on rough terrain A pair of trekking poles Contents 1 Description 2 Uses 3 Usage 4 Environmental impact concerns 5 Health benefits 6 See also 7 ReferencesDescription Edit Mountain guide Alice Manfield with a long wooden walking pole in the early 1900sWhen in use modern trekking poles resemble ski poles as they have many features in common such as baskets at the bottom to prevent the pole sinking through unstable surfaces and rubber padded handles and wrist straps to strengthen holding grip Their maximum length is usually 135 cm 54 inches however unlike ski poles they are often made in two or three sections and can be extended and retracted as necessary for use and collapsed for storage or transport When fully retracted it may be possible to attach them to a backpack Some poles come with spring loaded sections to aid walking under normal conditions and to reduce wrist strain but such devices may only add unwanted weight and noise to the poles They are usually made from lightweight aluminum or carbon fiber Uses Edit A man bearing a hiking staff in an etching from William Blake s Europe a Prophecy first printed in 1794 This copy of the etching is currently held by the Fitzwilliam MuseumDescendants of the common walking stick trekking poles are usually used by hikers for the same reasons to provide some rhythm to their walking pace and for added support On flat smooth terrain they really aren t necessary although using them can increase the exercise a hiker gets from the trip as well as increase the speed But on less certain terrain or steep slopes they provide useful lateral stability and many turn to them for help with knee pain They can also be used as aids when climbing rocks or boulders to probe the depth of mud or water and facilitate a crossing When traversing steep slopes for long distances some hikers make one pole shorter than the other to make those trips feel more as if they were taking place on level ground Some backpacking tents are designed to use trekking poles as tent poles Along the same lines trekking poles can be used to set up a Bivouac shelter Hikers who take to snowshoes in winter find trekking poles especially useful They can also be used in Nordic walking in a rural or urban environment Usage EditThe Appalachian Trail Conservancy ATC estimates that pole usage rates on the Appalachian Trail vary from 90 among thru hikers to 10 15 among day hikers Environmental impact concerns Edit An impact of trekking poles scratches left by poles on a rock in a wilderness areaSome hikers have complained that pole use can leave a visible impact on the surrounding trail for instance poking visible holes in the ground and damaging adjacent vegetation In particular the most common complaint is that the carbide tips leave visible white scratches on rock and make scraping sounds All these can detract from the wilderness experience 1 The Appalachian Trail Conservancy ATC recommends several measures to mitigate the environmental impact of trekking poles in accordance with Leave No Trace principles of low impact backcountry recreation Hikers it says should not only be aware of what they put their poles into they should remove the pole baskets unless hiking in snow and use rubber tips to avoid scratch marks on rocks On level sections or in areas where the potential for adverse impact is high the ATC suggests putting the poles away entirely 1 Health benefits Edit Nordic walking a type of walking with poles has been found to have beneficial effects on resting heart rate blood pressure exercise capacity maximal oxygen consumption and quality of life in patients with various diseases and to be superior to brisk walking without poles and in some endpoints to jogging 2 3 See also EditHiking equipment Hiking Nordic walking Walking stickReferences Edit a b Jeffrey L Marion Teresa A Martinez Robert D Proudman Spring 2001 Trekking Poles Can You Save Your Knees and the Environment PDF The Register Vol 24 no 5 Appalachian Trail Conference pp 1 10 11 Archived from the original Newsletter on 21 February 2014 Retrieved 18 December 2016 Tschentscher M Niederseer D Niebauer J January 2013 Health benefits of Nordic walking a systematic review American Journal of Preventive Medicine 44 1 76 84 doi 10 1016 j amepre 2012 09 043 PMID 23253654 http www nordicacademy com au Health 20Benefits 20of 20NW 20January 202013 pdf full citation needed Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Trekking pole amp oldid 1169969250, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
