Recently my family and I embarked on a photography/hiking trip to the beautiful Lake O’Hara area. We are not avid hikers, but my dad and I are both photography fans and my mother loves getting in touch with nature. So when we found out that there was another lake to see, we had to go. Everyone said that there was some stunning scenery on the way.
We made our way up the narrow gravel trails and watched the receding lake below us. It really was stunning.
An hour later, we weren’t paying as much attention to the scenery. The trail was rock valley after gruelling rock valley, with the occasional consolation of a small lake on the side of the trail. This is where we stopped for a rest.
We asked a passerby how much of the trail was left before we reached the lake, and after informing us that there was still an hour left to go, he proceeded to remark on the absence of poles in our hiking gear.
It turns out that hiking poles are essentials for hikers and mountaineers. They reduce the amount of stress on your knees. While you’re coming down the trail, you work your knees, feet, ankles, and quads a lot. You might not feel it at the moment, but the next day the area will be sore. A study in the Journal of Sports Medicine found that hiking poles can reduce up to 25 per cent of the compressive force that is exerted on your knees while hiking.
They also help with balance and traction, allowing you to stay upright even in difficult and slippery terrain and therefore increasing your speed. Finally, they allow you to use your arms in addition to your legs to propel you forward and upward, making for an easier ascent, albeit at the expense of your arms.
Hiking poles can also help you by allowing you to brush aside interfering bushes on the trail, or wave away insects. And if you do happen to have an encounter with a bear or other wildlife, you can throw your poles or wave them above your head to make you seem more intimidating.
So next time, be sure to bring poles. Here’s a tip: Ski poles work just as well if you have them handy.
Happy hiking!
