Single Night S Rim Hike?

[Robert]

You see a lot of people hiking with a pole in each hand. Very trendy but not very practical for a variety of reasons.

I couldn't disagree more. I've been using trekking poles for almost 15 years (how is that trendy) and wouldn't think of backpacking without them. I started with a single staff but it felt like I only had half the benefit so I switched to trekking poles. A lot of our hiking is off trail and the poles have saved me from falling more times than I can count.

If your foot slips or you turn your ankle and you have a single pole in your opposite hand, it isn't going to help you. With two poles you always have the pole on the side where your leg is moving off the ground which provides twice the stabilty of a single pole.

Using two poles is also very helpful, as others have mentioned, in going uphill or downhill by allowing you to use your upper body to aid in the effort and to help take pressure off of the knees. With one pole you lose half of this benefit.

The comment about how two poles somehow causes a person to fixate on where they are going is just something I’ve never seen or experienced. If you can use a single pole in stride, you can use two poles in stride just as easily since your arms move in opposite directions as you walk. Now if you are going uphill it does make sense to carefully plant your poles as you are going to be putting weight on them but that applies to one or two poles.

Trekking poles are great to have when going through brush because they can be used to push the plants away from your body and move through them. We do this all the time when off trail in cactus country. If having to climb or negotiate a pouroff, it's a simple thing to transfer both poles to one hand in order to have a free hand. It's not awkward at all because they are so light. I imagine the lightweight poles probably weigh less than a single oak hiking staff.

I've never had my trekking poles bend or break and I've had plenty of opportunities. I've worn down the tip but easily replaced it.

I think the choice of hiking staff or poles boils down to personal preference. Whatever you like is fine with me, just don't tell me that it's not practical. Sorry if this is 

[SA Bill]

Hi iCe!
I'm vowing to not carry more than 40 pounds on the start up to S Rim!! I'm not taking much gear and will only take 6L of water, unless it's really hot. The boots are broken in and the pack is about figured out. I haven't had much training time these past two weeks due to job travel during the week and moving my sister out of an apartment on the weeknds, although that task has been somewhat of a workout. I head out in 11 days so I hope to get some good miles of training in this week and next. 

Hi Robert!
I have some very light carbon fiber poles but I feel like I haven't had enough training time with them. I've probably used them less than 8 miles in total. I'm torn between taking them and leaving them behind. I'll probably make that decision at the trail head before I head up.
   Bill

[Burn Ban]

i've never used a trekking pole.  i guess maybe i don't see the point.  it just seems to be something to occupy my attention.  i much prefer the paul newman method as shown in "HOMBRE."  (both hands resting on the small of my back)

perhaps if i ever used a pole, it would show me what i'm missing.  on the other hand, i wouldn't say i'm missing it.

[stingrey]

Bill, when I beat myself to try to get up the trail as FAST as possible and when I was in dire need of assistance on the way back down, the trekking poles I carried up were worth WAY more than their weight in gold. When I took my time on the way up AND on the way down, the poles never came off the back of my pack. Not saying that you won't need 'em going slow, but I can assure you that if you do use them, you WILL notice the difference in your hike in terms of the toll taken on your knees and ankles.

If you are thinking of using these (and if you have done the incline portions of Government Canyon w/them), there isn't much "training" to 'em... Just use 'em and save some wear and tear on the knees. If you've never had problems w/your knees or ankles in any way, don't worry about taking these. They DO come in handy, but they aren't a necessity if you aren't in a hurry... Plus they make it difficult to grab the camera and shoot the mountain lions and/or bears that are passing by!

[Al]

A hiking pole or two is manna from God if you are going cross country.  Three or four legs are better than two when the going gets rough.  But that might just be me.

Al

[SA Bill]

I think I'll at least try the poles to start. I can certainly use all the help I can get for the trip up when the load on my back (and knees!) will be the heaviest. If I absolutely can't make them "work", I can strap them to the pack and carry them...they're only about 12 ounces total weight. I'll be hiking with the poles and a loaded pack for about 3 miles in the morning. That will be the first time using them with a pack. We'll see how it goes.
  Thanks for the responses!!
    Bill

[Olga from San Antonio]

SA Bill,

Oh don't scare me about getting old. I will be 63 soon and look forward to hiking the Big Bend area.  Once my husband retires the plan is to explore Big Bend Park. In the meantime to stay in shape I workout daily at the gym, tend my garden, and dream of hiking Big Bend and the Appalachian Trail too.

Olga from San Antonio

[SA Bill]

Don't worry, Olga!
Sounds like you'll be hiking for a long time if you keep up the exercise. I'm not sure I'd want to do the AT...at least not for a while. There are still too many places I've never hiked in BB so I'm trying to do a lot of those first.
   Bill

[mbent]

Yeah I dream of getting back up to the south rim again! It's been over 30 years since I've done that hike! As for the poles, I had used them last summer hiking in Switzerland and I liked them a LOT during the hiking, however, by the time we left, I had really strained my back in the nastiest way. I was surprised bc I too try to stay in halfway decent shape so I CAN keep hiking and cycling, etc. so it wasn't like I was going in to it right off the couch (like i would be right now!), so I think using the poles was kind of a new motion for me since I've never thrown my back out hiking before...maybe just get used to the motion bf you go....otherwise, I loved using them and most of the other 'tourists' (my age bracket) were using them too...now, the locals, no...they just go up and down those trails like little kids (arrrghh). I would use the poles again, however, next time, I'd build up slowly w/them...they're very cool, light weight but sooo strong and probably kept me from falling a few times as there is no up and down there...once you get up......it's a LONG way down...ALSO, what is UP at the south rim now??? campsites?? someone mentioned toilets??? Can someone tell me what it's like up there now??? Used to be nothing....but view..........no people...nada...

[iCe]

I used trekking poles (Black Diamond) on my trip up to the South Rim and I'll use them again. They were especially useful toward the end of the trip up. I set a fairly brisk pace early on (wish I had used about 3 more hours)....

[SA Bill]

Hi mbent!
30 years! Get going and get back up there. It's only taken me 20 something years to go back...assuming I make it. 

Let's see...what's up there...as far as I know since I haven't been up there lately..bear boxes, a composting toilet and wonderful views!

Hey iCe!
I'm going to try the poles and I'm allowing lots of time to get up to the rim. I plan to start at sunup and keep plodding, stopping only for lunch and photo opportunities. If I can get to camp by mid-afternoon, I figure I'll be doing well. That leaves lots of time to set up camp, explore and take pics. Same going down; no hurry...RGV showers won't be available anyway.  Lots of time to soak up the exprerience.
   Bill

[cactus boy]

I used my REI Black Diamonds on my last trip to the Bend, about a year ago, mostly to help me in my attempt to get up to the top of Casa Grande.  They did make it easer on the first part of the trail that goes off from Lost Mine trail, but they were essential when I got up to The Slide up near the top, and then later when I came back through it on the way down.  Getting down without them would have been an entirely different trip.  Probably a lot quicker but without much control.  I hike with them a lot now.