Make Your Own Hiking Stick

"Walk softly, and carry a big stick."
T. Roosevelt.

Many hikers enjoy using a stick, or walking staff. when they are on a trail. Some hikers use an adjustable walking stick or a trekking pole that they have purchased. Sometimes experienced hikers will even travel with two! This is because a hiking stick can provide greater stability on challenging terrain. Trekking poles and hiking sticks are not only helpful for stability on an ascent, they also help take some of the strain off of your knees on the way down. It takes a while to learn to use a stick properly, but you will find them handy to have with you if you find yourself hiking a lot. Besides, they look cool.

The height of your stick is actually a matter of personal preference, though one consideration, especially for children is that you do not want to fall on a stick that is short and have it be the cause of an injury, especially on a wilderness trail, therefore you will fins that most fixed-length sticks are shoulder height or higher.

When you walk with a hiking stick, let it hit the ground a little in front of you instead of beside or behind you. The idea in doing this is so that if you were to startle a snake or another animal, they'll go for the stick instead of your foot!

In bear country, people put bells on their hiking sticks to warn the bears that someone is coming this is because animals would rather get out of the way than get in a fight. They usually only bite or strike when they are startled or feel threatened because they have no place to get away from the danger they suddenly perceive, which in this case would be YOU. The pounding of the stick, the ringing of the bell, will help them know something big is coming their way and they will most likely leave you alone.


Use your walking stick...
...to give you more pushing power when going uphill
...to help you balance as you cross streams and creeks
...for added stability when crossing a downed tree
...to reduce the shock of downhill gravity (be kind to your knees)
...to clear away a gross, sticky spider web if you need to
...to lean on when your leg needs a rest
...to avoid a snake bite,
...to prop up under a tarp and stay dry if you get stuck in a downpour of rain
...to prop up your day pack so it's not on the ground while you are at rest
...to go fishing if you get hungry- all you need is a hook and a line, and maybe a worm
...to make a flag for a signal- just add a bandanna
...as a pointer, to point out cool things, points of interest on the horizon to your buddies
...or to beat off a wild animal, or human attacker (This is called "Cane Fu !")

Or you may simply use it to look like a cool hiker.


Here are some websites with information and ideas on making your own Hiking Staff or Walking Stick

http://boyslife.org/hobbies-projects/projects/1108/take-a-hike/

http://www.backpacking.net/makegear/hiking-staff/

http://stealthsurvival.blogspot.com/2009/05/riverwalkers-gear-diy-hiking-staff.html

http://www.woodcarvers.org/canes&walkingsticks.htm