Birding with hiking poles
Hitting the beach with hiking poles! Photo courtesy of Marjorie Turner Hollman.
I used feel frustrated that my hands were full with my hiking poles, just when I wanted to pull out my camera and snap a photo of a gorgeous stream or some visiting Ring-necked Ducks. I have learned to stop, make sure I am standing in a stable place, then tuck my poles under one arm, freeing my hands to grab the camera. Once the photo is snapped, the camera goes back in its case, I grab both poles, and we’re on our way. We are bird enjoyers, not experts. We are also photography enjoyers, not experts. Using heavy camera lenses is not an option. Keeping me upright is the goal, getting some fun photos is a huge plus, and recognizing familiar birds as old friends is a great joy.
On uneven surfaces, hiking poles provide great stability, since you have not just two but four points of contact with the trail. While using hiking poles is pretty straightforward, (right foot forward with left hiking pole reaching ahead, then left foot forward with right hiking pole planted ahead of you), it may take some practice to learn how to best use them when navigating slopes. (Up is easier than down.)
“Keeping me upright is the goal, getting some fun photos is a huge plus, and recognizing familiar birds as old friends is a great joy.”
On a steep down slope, turn your feet sideways as you descend. Use your poles as brakes, placing both in front of you to slow your downward momentum. This can help you stay in control as you go down a trail. On an upward slope with steps or water bars (and no railings), hiking poles can provide extra balance when climbing. Reach forward up the next step with both poles, and put one foot on that next step. Push up with your leg while pulling with your arms to bring your other foot to that step, then repeat.
I regained some mobility after being totally paralyzed on my right side by brain surgery to save my life. When first learning to use a cane, I was instructed to put my cane on the opposite side of my weakened leg. This feels counter intuitive, but, in fact, functionally it works best this way. Since I have regained enough mobility to navigate trails with support, because of my weaker right side, I lean on my left pole more, and my left hand may start to feel numb.
Ring-necked Ducks. Photo: Marjorie Turner Hollman.
Those straps you see on any ski or hiking pole? They are not simply to keep you from losing your poles. They have a purpose. Using the straps properly helps your hands better maintain circulation. By sliding your hand up from underneath the strap, then grasping the pole with the strap wrapped around the back of your wrist, the strap bears some of your weight. Here’s a short two minute video that demonstrates how to do this.
Normally, hiking poles have pointy metal tips that are great on icy trails, soft dirt tracks, and paths lightly covered with snow. But for smooth rock surfaces and hard dirt paths, or when walking on paved rail trails, the metal tips on your poles will skitter around. Hiking poles work better in these cases with rubber tips attached. These rubber tips do have a down side—they tend to fall off! (I’ve lost more than a few that disappeared in the mud on mucky tracks.) We glue the rubber tips to my poles, and I use a different pair with metal tips for icy conditions.
Uneven steps are much easier with hiking poles. Photo courtesy of Marjorie Turner Hollman.
People ask what poles I recommend, and I suggest you visit your local outdoor store to test the feel of different handles—you will be spending a lot of time grasping them, so comfortable handles can make a big difference. Prices vary considerably. Poles are adjustable, and can come apart to fit into luggage for ease of transport. Purchasing poles that adjust with solid clasps, rather than twisting to tighten, is preferable for ease of use.
Hiking poles are not for everyone, but they have made the difference to me being able to say “yes!” to visiting many trails that otherwise felt off limits. Gaining experience visiting varied trails has allowed me to develop the clear concept of Easy Walks, that is, “not too many roots or rocks, relatively level, with something of interest along the way.” I’m now working on my fifth book on this topic.
Hiking poles provide me with a freedom to enjoy a wide variety of outdoor locations. I am grateful that something as simple as a pair of hiking poles has made the difference in transforming me from a spectator to an active participant. Perhaps they will make a difference for you as well.
Happy trails!
