Should I use one or two trekking poles?
I am preparing for a Himalayan Expedition which requires trekking pole.Trekking altitude 16000 ft and melting snow. I haven't used any aluminium/carbon fiber poles yet.
I usually find a wooden hiking stick in the woods and only use them when fording streams and hiking up and down steep slopes. I toss em back into the woods when I am done with them.
I am about to buy a Trekking pole but this question is bothering me weather to buy a pair or single pole? Obviously it seems pair would provide more stability but it will also doubles the weight(avg 230g per pole).
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If you get a pair, you can choose whether to actually use one or both for a particular day. I recommend that you buy a pair well before your expedition, and use them enough to you learn your preference. If you never want to use both, you still have one you can retain as a spare.
Personally, I found that when I started using poles, I got very frustrated with a pair, because I no longer had a free hand to hold map and compass, or camera. After a few months of weekend trips with the poles, I developed techniques for managing with both hands occupied.
Do be aware that it's easy to have too much faith in poles when you really require an ice-axe. Don't get overconfident on snowy slopes where the poles help you maintain your footing, but don't give you the ability to arrest a fall.
You'll also have to learn to hold onto your poles when they are not required - remember to strap them onto your back and not throw them "back" into the woods!
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They weight of the extra pole is counteracted by the energy saved using it. Poles do more than offer stability, they also save you legs precious energy on the climb, and on the descent. At 16,000ft you'll sing praises to your hiking poles, and I guarantee you'll find yourself resting on them a lot more than you would have expected. Get two poles, you won't regret it.
This post was sourced from https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/a/15246. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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