"You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love."Henry Drummond
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Hiking Shoes And Thin Socks - A Backpacking Winner
Hiking shoes versus hiking boots? Hiking shoes win. Okay, next issue? No, really. Hiking or running shoes are better for most backpacking trips, at least during late spring, summer and early fall. Boots are heavy, hot, stinky, and stay wet forever. A ...
Mountain Hiking And How To Get There
Many hikers who are bored of the normal marked trails, and discovered wilderness areas have come to a new adrenaline rush: mountain hiking. Hiking several hundred feet above sea level gives those with a taste for the extreme the rush they are looking for. ...
What Makes a Hiking Boot Great?
How to evaluate hiking boots and footwear for comfort, protection, and durability.Choosing hiking boots and footwear is one of the most important decisions you as a hiker or camper will make. They'll either make your trip memorable or miserable. To find ...
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It is the downhill ski racing competition of the winter Olympics. You watch a ski racer zoom down the slope manoeuvring through the ski gates. However, you notice that something is missing. The skier has on skis, boots, and a giant slalom skin tight racing suit. You realize what’s missing when their arms flail about causing them to lose their balance on a patch of ice. They are missing their ski poles.
It is the cross country skiing competition of the winter Olympics. You cheer from the crowd as the skiers fly down the trail. Each skier pushes hard with their ski poles. However, one skier is left far behind the pack because he does not have any ski poles. His graceful cross country rhythm has been interrupted due to a lack of balance.
In both cases, the skiers lost the race because they were missing their ski poles. Ski poles are vital because they help maintain balance, provide support, and relieve some of the pressure off your body. If the use of a ski pole is so crucial, then why is it that many hikers do not use a hiking pole during their hikes?
You might not think of a hiking or trekking pole as a necessity until you compare hiking to cross country skiing. In hiking you traverse across a terrain of varying degrees and obstacles. There is constant stress and strain on your muscles and joints as you navigate through rocks, sandy areas, and elevated terrain. Your knees and lower back are constantly adjusting to the pressure placed on them. This can lead to soreness and pain. This is comparable to the demands of cross country skiing.
Hiking pain can be reduced by investing in a hiking or trekking pole. Hiking poles have a wide range of benefits including: improved balance, endurance, and ward off knee injuries. Hiking poles can enable you to successfully cross streams and work through steeper terrain. A mental side effect is that they can boost your confidence allowing you tackle the hiking trail with vigor.
There are different types of hiking and trekking poles available. There are long wooden poles, shorter aluminum poles, snow poles, and ice axes. Want to beef up your regular hiking pole? Hiking poles have various accessories to choose from including: hand grips, shock absorbers, and camera mounts. If you are going on a winter hike you can add a basket to your pole. Another important aspect of your hiking pole is its tip. The common tip is made of carbide. However, rubber tips are also available. Each tip has pros and cons which should be considered when purchasing a pole. Consult a hiking professional to assess which pole is best for you.
If you want more stability and less stress on your body consider investing in a hiking or trekking pole. The ability to navigate through difficult terrain will become a reality. Hiking poles can cost money, but they are worth every penny.
Monica Marty is a hiking fan and the webmaster of http://hikingtrailfinder.com/
Written By: Monica Marty
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 Panel urges 13-cent increase in Ohio gas tax - WKYC
CLEVELAND -- A state task force is recommending that Ohio's 28 cents per gallon fuel tax be increased by 13 cents to raise more money for the state's transportation needs. The panel also is calling for a state constitutional amendment to allow gas ...
A Plan for Stimulus Money: National Parks - Newwest.net
Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Jim Peaco, NPS photo. Back in the 1930s, the New Deal’s Civilian Conservation Corps essentially built our national parks : The CCC built more than 200 museums, interpretive sites and park lodges, 2,000 hiking ...
Something to build upon - Times-News
In May, Smith Elementary School shipped boxes filled with pencils, rulers, crayons, paper, protractors, erasers and other school supplies to Grand Comoros Island off the eastern coast of Africa. Students at the school donated the supplies to help ...
HUGE CITY CASH SLASH - New York Post
ALBANY - Gov. Paterson's proposed new cut-to-the-bone state budget will slash more than $620 million in badly needed funds to New York City - aid that Mayor Bloomberg has been counting on to help the city stay financially afloat, The Post has learned ...
It's a dangerous time to go hiking in backcountry - Everett Herald
The snowpack is upside down this year. Cold temperatures in early December brought light, fluffy powder that coated the ground. As the month progressed, that layer was covered by deep, dense and heavy snow. The result, like stacking bricks atop ...
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