12/01/08 -Pick Up Sticks

Years ago at a Bill Koch Ski Sale I bought an old pair of downhill ski poles for $5. They happened to fit me OK, without any skis on, and the price was right. These poles had serious type molded plastic hand grips that gave great purpose when striding out. I removed the baskets and use them occasionally for pre ski season hiking or "dry land training". Maybe they'll help out someday if I ever run in to an old bear with a bad temper. They work great to help propel my fat butt forward! My arms really "feel the burn" after a few miles of hiking in the woods. They help give a tempo to hiking as they prepare your arms for the nordic ski season ahead. I think I read somewhere that you can burn almost 20% more calories per mile using hiking poles! At the time, Ed Hamel had both of our daughters under his cross country ski coaching wing. He was teaching them how pre ski season workouts with poles gives a cross country skier a great upper body work out. So here we are in early December with no measurable snow on the ground. The start of most Berkshire winters always seem to keep us cross country skiers guessing! I see that ski shops are selling adjustable poles for hiking. They are telescopic in design which makes them handy to travel with or even strap on to your backpack. Berkshire Outfitters in Adams is one of several specialty shops in Western Massachusetts that sells them. Steve says that a pair of adjustable lightweight hiking poles can run from $50 to $100 and that they are becoming very popular for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. He told me that the adjustment feature on these hiking poles can even make them relatively shorter for going uphill and a little longer from coming down. What a salesman! They come with rubber ends on each pole that can be removed to reveal a carbide tip for walking over rocky or uneven terrain. Some have a tiny compass built in to the top end of the grips. So, if you are preparing for another great cross country ski season ahead at Notchview Reservation, and there is still no snow on the ground by the time you read this, think about picking up a pair of these adjustable hiking poles and get out on the trails in Windsor. And they make a terrific holiday gift! Jim Dodge, Worthington

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