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I was dead set against using trekking poles on the Appalachian Trail until I hit that rocky section near Roan Mountain last month.
After my knees stopped screaming on the descent, I realized the guy at the outfitter in Damascus was right about taking 30% of the weight off my legs.
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reeselewis8d agoMost Upvoted
Damn, 30%? That's wild. Honestly I always figured those poles were just for old folks or people with bad hips, but now I'm kinda rethinking my whole setup for the Whites next month. Ngl, the way my lower back felt after the Mahoosuc Notch last year makes me wish I'd at least tried a pair.
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murray.cole8d ago
Huh, that 30% stat is no joke. What really sold me was noticing how much steadier I felt fording streams and crossing slick roots, not just the knee relief. Plus there's nothing quite like having a pole to poke at a suspicious looking snake before you step on it.
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