Walking – Straight Walking – Live Better Coaching

Fan Llia, Bannau Brycheiniog

This trip was to Bannau Brycheiniog.

Specifically Fan Llia in the central part of the park was the destination for this particular trip, one which had a mixed bag of a start, but ended up being a very splendid hike and camp indeed.

It started as most of my hikes do, on the Friday when I usually travel to my destination, and although my trip went as well as could be expected, my buddy’s trip started well but ended up being something of a headache. As he got close to the park up, his Sat-Nav didn’t take him to the exact location we were supposed to meet, and in this remote location with poor signal he found himself flying around all over the place. However, after a little bit of exploring he finally found the spot, parked up, used a little bit of colourful language, and we both got ready for the hike up the hill.

Neither of us had been to this particular location before and we were both exited to see what we could see. As usual we had planned a route we thought would give us the best experience, but I don’t really think either of us expected to follow it precisely, we never do. But onwards and upwards we went following what we thought was the path, and in true hillwalking fashion it became a little bit sketchy from time to time, but nevertheless we made good time navigating back to the path whenever we found it, panting like a couple of old pit ponies.

Soon enough though we had made it to the first crest, and in the distance we saw the peak of the hill that was our destination. About another half an hour and we were there, and having already made the decision to spend the night there we started the usual hunt for the best spot to pitch. It had been raining quite a bit in the previous 24hrs and a lot of the area was still fairly soggy. But a bit of toing and froing later we had found what we considered to be the best spot. It was slightly down the ridge from the peak, well drained, and had great views. Besides it was getting dark and we were both pretty knackered from the long drive and starting to get hungry.

It didn’t take long to get pitched, it never does, we’re both pretty experienced and apart from a little bit of senior reconsideration regarding the exact position of the tent we both got the stoves lit, water boiled, and food eaten. Now, it’s usually at this point, after setting up, feeding, and starting to feel a bit more like social animals that we crack open the bar. Tonight was no exception. We both had our favourites with us, him with his 0% beer, and me with a fully leaded Rioja. It was either that or the Malbec because I brought two with me this time. Choices choices.

Being one of the quieter spots in the park, and nowhere near any of the honeypot locations that appeal to the Instagram generation, we knew that there would be no rush to get up and packed away in the morning, so we took full advantage and stayed up late chatting away about all the stuff you do on these occasions. After so many years of heading out on my own solo trips I now find having company a very pleasant change, and staying up late chatting outside somewhere remote in good company with a nice wine is one of the more pleasant parts of any trip these days.

But, at some point two tired old men went to bed and slipped into their respective pits for a well deserved and much needed sleep.

In true Brecon fashion, as anyone who has ever been there will tell you, the weather must have taken a bit of a turn in the night, because early in the morning there was almost zero visibility because of low cloud, and the rain had started to fall. Steadily at first, but then much heavier. Having been out for the usual morning relief and crawled back into my bag before the heavy rain started, I lay there listening to the tapping of the drops as they hit the fly, thinking that this was going to be a pretty miserable weekend getting soaked in the cold with no real means of drying off.

You see, I had made the unforgivable schoolboy error of not taking my waterproofs with me. Having diligently checked the mountain weather forecast for days beforehand, I felt confident that the rain had passed earlier and was going to be clear for the weekend. But this is Brecon, and no such assumptions should ever be made. Lady Wales is not generally known for going easy on folks like us, especially when we should know better.

Lying in my pit and listening to what was now hard rain, I felt my spirits drop and my mood changed to one of building up for the endurance challenge that lay ahead.

But as I said this is Brecon, and things change, usually quite quickly. For about 15 mins the rain came down hard, and then as quickly as the downpour started, it stopped. Thinking I needed to take advantage of the pause I got myself up and started to make a brew while I got properly dressed, but as I did this the most amazing thing happened. The cloud we were in cleared away leaving some spectacular views to the lake below and across to the other side of the valley. Not only that, but the cloud at altitude started to part and diminish as well, bringing with it the hopeful rays of early morning sunlight. The Skylarks wasted no time whatsoever in lifting themselves into the air and singing for all they were worth.

For me, the song of the Skylark is synonymous with hiking, summer, and all that’s good with the world. For most of the year they can be heard singing their hearts out wherever you go, and I have had the pleasure of their company during some of the best and worst moments in my life. So whenever I can hear their song, I know I’m in the right place at the right time. And on this morning they heralded what was to become a stunningly beautiful morning.

With my brew in hand I stood there and just took it all in, the views, the peace, and the warmth of the sun as the breeze began to drop. I was in my church.

Not long after that my buddy woke and started to make moves. A bit of a chat about the rain etc. and before we knew it breakfast was on the go.

Now, this is something I really do have to talk about. Breakfast. For many years breakfast was porridge, basic simple, filling. Then came the all day breakfast MRE, a good another reasonable choice if you like that sort of thing, and I’ve been having these for a while now, and I’ve been happy with them.

The last time I went out with my buddy he gave me one of his pocket eggs to include into the MRE, and I have to say that it gave the experience a whole new dimension. It added more texture and taste, and made it even more filling, and so this weekend the egg was added again. Only this time another addition was made. Along with the pocket eggs my buddy had brought some of those fancy meat crisps made from real pancetta, or chorizo, with the intention of adding those to the MRE along with the egg.

What was created can only be described as the very best breakfast meal I have ever had on any hill anywhere, ever. This is no exaggeration, I can honestly say that what I ate that morning was nothing short of spectacular. A basic mylar bag of baked beans with skull scraping sausage, fatty bacon bits, and reconstituted egg is normally a good start to any hikers day. But with the addition of a pocket egg and a bag of dried meaty crisps, elevated this breakfast bag into something truly incredible. I heartily recommend it to anyone willing to give it go, you will not be disappointed.

So, after the hearty repast above we steadily packed up our kit (we were in no rush) and made our way back to the top of the ridge and headed out for the day. Our planned route was a simple figure of eight, along the ridge, around the head of the valley to the other side then across it going down then back up, to a point where we would cross our initial path on the ridge, then back to the vehicles after spending another night somewhere.

But like most of our walks this was only guidance, and not a detailed route to be precisely followed.

The first part of the walk that morning took us along the main ridge which was fairly easy going to be fair, and we made good progress as we chatted away.

By the time we had made it to the head of the valley we were feeling ready for a break and something to eat. So we took our packs off, settled down, and I got a brew on the go. Along the way we were keeping an eye out for likely spots to pitch for the night and decided that we would continue on for a while given that there was still plenty of daylight left, and make our way back to somewhere near to where we were and pitch for the night. A sound plan indeed.

The weather had only improved during the day. The temperature had risen and the wind dropped even further, making the walk incredibly pleasant. With barely a cloud in the sky the April sun shone down on us, beating off the usual chill that would normally accompany this time of year. Cool enough not to sweat profusely, warm enough to not need many layers, and the bright sun just lit up the landscape before us, affording some incredible views of Fan Brycheiniog to the west, and Corn Ddu and Pen Y Fan to the east.

So after a bit of food and a brew, we hitched up and set off to roughly where we were supposed to be going around the head of the valley. Once on the other side, and having had a closer look at the next stage of the walk the decision was made to alter the route so that we would end up where we wanted to be and at the time we wanted to be there. So instead of climbing the hill facing us we set off down into the valley with the intention of crossing at the bottom and making our way back up towards the head.

As I said before, this was not one of the more popular areas and as such from this point on the paths, which were not always clear anyway, became impossible to follow, and ultimately ran out. We were in CRoW designated land, and as such we were permitted to walk where we liked (but always with due care and consideration), and wandered our way down the valley side to where a number of water features made navigation a tad more interesting than we bargained for, but undeterred we carried on winding our way through the long grass and over the odd water feature heading back uphill towards our pitch for that night.

After about four false crests we finally found a suitable spot and busied ourselves getting set up, pitching tents, laying out sleep kit and readying the stoves. We’d actually made pretty good time and had set up well before dark which gave us an opportunity for a well deserved nap.

One of the very best things (amongst many others) about being in one of the more remote and less visited areas is the ability to pitch early and really enjoy the area without the scornful looks of passing hikers heaping judgement upon you. I know it’s not really the done thing, but pitching early means you can really relax, unwind, and appreciate the views in peace with a good feed and a mug of something nice.

The sun as it fell behind the hills to the west was nothing short of magical, providing a show of yellows and oranges that left us watching until there was nothing left to see but the stars and the satellites. After a lot more chatting and a bit more wine it was time for bed again thinking I was in for another great night’s sleep. I could not have been more wrong.

I spent the entire night waking every few minutes (at least that what it felt like) feeling incredibly cold on my legs. Normally I get changed into my thermal long johns and a matching top, crawl into my bag and sleep like a baby. Wearing the thermals inside my bag that has a comfort rating of –3c keeps me warm and toasty even on very cold nights, especially as my sleeping pad is rated at 7.5r. Unfortunately, I broke with tradition and left my base layer, mid layer, and fleece on, probably because I was very sleepy and didn’t think about it. My schoolboy error meant that my top half (my core) heated up incredibly, while my legs had to deal with a huge temperature difference leaving them feeling as though they were incredibly cold, which of course they were not.

A lesson re-learned for sure; a layer against the skin, a good bag, and a good pad is more than enough to keep you warm even in low temperatures. Not only that, but you should also keep your layers even, so you don’t overheat one area of the body.

What that all meant, was that in the morning I felt really tired and basically crashed for about an hour after eating breakfast.

I felt a lot better once I awoke and made my apologies for delaying our morning. Embarrassing as it was, it was a lesson learned (again), and I vowed never to make it again. Trust your kit and keep your wits about you.

Anyway, we finally got packed up and worked out the best direction to head off that would take us back to the ridge we started on, and started walking. Getting back to the main path was no real issue, a bit uphill, a bit of long grass, and a couple of hundred metres and we there. And so it was for a while at least. But as I mentioned before, this was an area that was less travelled and it wasn’t too long before the path kind of disappeared. Not in an abrupt way, more like it just fizzled out. But we knew which direction to go so there was no issue, it’s just that a track or path can make the going so much easier than walking through long grass on uneven terrain, and is therefore always desirable if possible.

However, for the life of us we couldn’t quite make out where the path was and so we headed out thinking we would pick it up later, which of course we did, but not after realising it was there all the time, we just didn’t see it for what it was and spent time on a harder path than was necessary. All part of the fun I guess.

The rest of the walk back was uneventful in terms of any mistakes or lost paths etc. But was glorious due to the sun pouring down on us and the spectacular views of the area. In usual fashion we made good progress and decided to take a breather at the cairn at the peak of Fan Llia. Packs off, sat down on a rock seat, the views down to the lake and across the valley were well worth the effort to get there, and we spend a few relaxing minutes refuelling and resting our weary bodies.

The area at the top has a plethora of small rain pools that must be quite persistent, because a few of them had spawn and tadpoles in them, and we saw a lizard/newt type of creature scitter away in front of us before we had a chance to get a good look. All of which meant that there is a thriving ecosystem based on clean replenished water, untainted by any kind of pollution. A heartwarming thought for sure.

It’s moments like these that make it all worthwhile, being there in a spectacular location, present in the moment, with no other considerations to distract from the effect it has on the soul. Life affirming stuff for sure.

But as with all trips, it had to come to an end, and so we lifted our packs onto our tired old bodies and began the journey downhill, back to where we had parked, and after another few minutes of losing the path and then finding it again towards the bottom of the hill, we finally made it back to the vehicles.

This moment always carries with it mixed emotions. A touch of sadness that another great hike and camp has come to an end, relief that I can take off the pack and not have to lift it again and change my boots for some softer footwear. But happiness at having completed a good workout, seen some great things, and now get to travel home, back to our loved ones.

This was another great example of how your mood can change in a short period of time depending on conditions and circumstances, and of how lessons can be learned and relearned. Of how being in the present moment brings peace and calm, and reminds me of how important the simple thing in life are.

I hope I never take it for granted, or forget just how important these environments are, and I hope above all else that I continue to enjoy them for as many years to come as I can mange.

Until next time.

A note on the kit I took.

This time I took my 3FUL Taiji 2 tent with the replacement poles. It’s supplied with reasonable 8mm Ali poles, but with it being a decent size dome tent, 8mm poles can have a tendency to flex a bit too much in wind. So some a while ago I purchased some replacement 10mm poles that fit perfectly, and double guyed the lines. This simple modification has made this tent incredibly stable in wind, not Hilleberg Black stable, but not a million miles off.

My pad was the Lightour 7.5r pad which is great in the cold, and my trusty Snugpak Softie Elite Hawk 9 sleeping bag which has a comfort rating of -3C (snigger), the snigger is because this rating, as with all bag manufacturers, is a subjective thing.

I had my Soto Windmaster gas stove with me as I always do. This stove is simply the best I have ever used and can see no reason to use anything else now. This stove coupled with my small pots that have a heat ring on the base means that I can boil enough water for a brew in less time than it takes me to sort the tea bag and sugar.

The pack I’ve been using for a while now, and has become a firm favourite is one from a German manufacturer. It’s called the Phoenix 65 from Portal and comes in with a hefty cost of £65. You get what you pay for, usually, but this pack has been used and abused for the last two and a half years carrying an average of 18-19kg when setting out. It’s comfortable, pretty hard wearing and not heavy, despite the low cost. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

A Local Stroll and a Little Reminder

Bank holiday weekends are always a bonus, an extra day added to the weekend is a thing of joy, especially if the weather is good.

And last bank holiday weekend the weather was good. So Boudica decided that as a little treat we would go for a walk in a local spot that (much to my shame) I had never been to before. It’s a wooded area on the side of a hill and is part of a reserve where a certain amount of re-wilding has been taking place over the last few years. A few species of fauna have been reintroduced in a fenced off area and left to make their own way in life, much like the rest of us. But this time they are being protected from hunting and abuse from we humans. A good thing in my book.

Anyway, the area that Boudica was taking me to is adjacent to the reserve and is laced with paths, both official and ad hoc. She and her other warrior queens have visited this place several times before, usually accompanied by a dog or two, and I was now being inducted into the club but with me as the dog this time.

We parked up and headed out, complete with coffee in hand ready for the bench at the top of the hill where we were planning to sit and enjoy the view through the trees and across the marshes to the sea. And we did. We sat on the bench, we drank our coffees, we viewed the sea through the trees. We even took a few selfies. But the thing that really struck us was the noise, the sound of all the birds in the trees was louder than I expected, much louder. But what a great noise to be surrounded by.

I think my surprise came from the fact that usually when I get out and about it’s into the hills, and while there are any number of birds around to listen to, it’s definitely not in the same order of magnitude. We also live in a very rural environment, but even here it’s not the same as it is in the woods.

Well, after taking in the surroundings, listening to the birds, and finishing our coffees, we set off deeper into the heart of the woods following one of the more established paths. All the usual suspects were present, Ash, Beech, Oak, and quite a few others as well. All in all a very well established patch of old woodland that has clearly been around for a very long time.It was a lovely walk through the dappled sunlight that was breaking through the canopy as we headed off to the far end of the woods. The idea was to go pretty much as far as we could and then take one of the other paths back in a round robin fashion.

However, Boudica noticed that she had dropped something somewhere earlier, so we headed back the way we had come to search for the missing thing. We had a fairly good idea where it was and to be honest it didn’t take too long to find it. Once it was successfully retrieved we decided to take one of the many paths that spider web their way across the area with a view to getting back to where we had parked the car. And this is where we went a little off piste as it were.

Now, I’m a silver award navigator (according to the NNAS), actually I’m a mountain leader which means having to hold a gold award, but I qualified a very long long time ago in the dim and distant past, so about two years ago I did a refresher at silver level. Great!What this really means is that I can usually tell when I’m going off course, so when Boudica suggested that we head off in a certain direction I agreed thinking that it was the right way. After all the OS Maps app was telling me all was fine (I generally use it as a quick and easy way to keep an eye on things), and I believed it, why not?

However, it didn’t take long for me to realise that we seemed to be going in the wrong direction, in fact 180 degrees wrong. Despite pushing on in the direction of choice, the further we went the more I became convinced that things were not all that they seemed and that the app was lying to me.

And that’s the thing isn’t it? We all rely on technology in our daily lives to an ever increasing level, and the apps we use to tell us where we are and we’re going are especially important. I myself use the OS Maps app whenever I’m out and about because it’s convenient and easy, and it’s usually very good. But I never rely on it as my only method of navigation, I always take a map and compass on any walk that takes me more than a couple of miles away from civilisation.

But as I was starkly reminded during this walk, the techy options are not as reliable as we would like them to be. Batteries can drain, it gets dropped, it gets wet, or it can just simply fail in any number of ways.So back to our walk.After a little bit of discussion and rationalisation with regards to our current location and the dubious nature of the app, we decided to make our way back the way we had come, but via a slightly different path.

Not too discouraged by the diversion we were still able to enjoy the rest of the walk back to the car, even though Boudica was now very ready to get back to the comfort of the upholstered seats.Despite both of the unintended diversions it was a lovely walk through the trees in lovely company, and I enjoyed it immensely. I now plan to go on further walks with the Iceni one, it was nice to reconnect in such a wonderful spot and as a couple in a long, long term relationship it’s nice to do things together.

However, the real moral of the story is this; always check your bearings as you go, and never, ever, rely on on tech as your only form of navigation.

Until next time.

Back to Derbyshire

Last weekend was one of my planned walks that I open up to all members of the coaching group that I belong to, in the hopes that some of them might find the benefits of getting out into the fresh air in good company useful.

Well, on this occasion I had only one taker, and that was my old stalwart walking buddy Mark. And I think he would wholeheartedly agree that they all missed a cracker of a weekend. In fact it was one of the best camping trips I’ve had in a long time, and that’s saying quite a lot considering some of the walks we’ve been on this, and last year.

So which mountain did we climb up I hear you ask? None is the answer.
Well then, was it a long walk, covering a lot of interesting and varied terrain? No.
But you must have got plenty of exercise carrying those heavy packs over distance? Not unless you call a twenty minute walk to the camp site a lot of exercise (but the packs were quite heavy though).

In fact it was quite literally one of the laziest and relaxing camps ever, but still one of the best, and here’s why.

The plan was always to have a fairly chilled weekend, giving the kit a bit of a shakedown before the seasons proper hard work begins, and to just unwind, relax, and have a bit of a reset. And why not?
So Friday evening comes and we meet up at the agreed spot in a car park (sounds dodgy, but perfectly normal for campers) where we sorted our kit and then headed out for the first of two nights wild camping.

It was a grinding and arduous trek full of effort striding up the lane carrying our heavy loads for about ten minutes before turning right and heading into the moor for another difficult ten minutes of hard effort traversing the wild moorland of Derbyshire.
After such a long hike we were both ready for a well earned rest, but no rest came, we had to set up camp first!!
Ten minutes later we had the tents up, bedding all laid out, and packs emptied, the wine was poured and we stood there looking at the magnificent location that was our campsite for the night, and feeling a little smug if I’m honest.

Derbyshire was the location of choice for this weekend, easy to get to for both of us, not too far, and right next to the car park, you simply couldn’t ask for easier.
The chosen campsite was a little spot within an area of ancient quarrying that has now re-wilded. It’s a labyrinth of old works with passages and open excavations on different levels making it the perfect spot to setup, knowing that you couldn’t be seen or heard unless someone was very close by.
Which is why it was the perfect opportunity to christen a little folding fire pit/stove thingy that I’ve had for some time and never used. I don’t normally condone an open fire while wild camping for obvious reasons, but as there was already an existing firepit complete with stone surround, and I had this fire thingy that kept everything contained I thought why not?

We had the dramatic architecture of the old quarrying, trees all around us, a fire, and a nearly full moon with a completely clear sky. You simply couldn’t have got better if you had ordered and paid for it.
This weekend there was no agenda, no timescale, so no need to go to bed early, which probably explains why we sat on our camping seats next to the fire chatting away, me with my red wine and Mark with his 0% beers, until about 1am. Given that we were so tucked away there was no need to get up early to get under way, so it was decided to have a steady start to the day….no rush.

And no rush it was.
A very easy and relaxed start the next morning meant that we didn’t get packed up until about….I’m not sure really, but we made it back to the cars to drop off our kit at about 11 – 11.30 ish I think.
It was that kind of weekend, and we maintained that red hot, full tilt, maximum pace for the rest of the day.
With our kit safely stored away in the cars we headed off downhill on a path through a wooded area that took us past a pub (more on that later) and the start of a pleasant walk to Robin Hoods Stride and Hermits Cave. It’s an interesting rock formation that stands proud of the surrounding landscape and is a magnet for those that like to do something called ‘bouldering’.
Personally I think it’s just an excuse to carry a mattress around on your back, but each to their own I guess.

Anyway, after the thirty or so minute slog it took to get to our destination we intrepid explorers climbed the summit of Robin Hoods Stride and took our rightful places overseeing the hoi palloy below us.
After a few minutes of admiring the views and taking the requisite number of selfies we decided almost as one mind to make our way down and head towards what was a most inviting area of shade underneath the boughs of some very lovely trees.
The sun was shining, it was warm, and the grass was oh so comfortable. There was only one thing to do….nap. Yes, I said it, nap.
I stayed awake only just long enough to take a picture of the branches above from my now horizontal position and a selfie of me lying down, and that was all she wrote. Out like a light!

After what was a glorious hour napping in warm sunshine beneath the boughs of several trees, I awoke to the sounds of a jeolous Mark berrating me for the fact the he wasn’t able to sleep as well as I was. Not rancourous in any way whatsoever.
A Cheery Mark and myself then made our way back along the gruelling route to our destination, the aforementioned pub that we had passed earlier.

It was here that we decided to stop for a much needed rest, a pint or two, and a hot meal to stave off dehydration and what had become a close call with starvation. Beef shin pie with mash, and a fish and chips with mushy peas saved us from a close call with nutritional disaster, so we decided to rest up for a while to regather our energy before the long ten minute haul uphill back to where the vehicles were parked to collect our gear for the second of our two night trial of endurance.

Once again, with our heavy packs lifted we started out on our trecherous journey of twenty minutes hard marching across tough ground to reach the same spot we had camped in the previous night. The arduous task of setting up camp then began, and after what seemed like an eternity of ten minutes we were set up and unpacking the wine and beer, and not befor time either, I’m not entirely sure that either of us coukd have taken any more punishment. The effects of such a hard day were beggining to make themselves known, so we decided to make things a litle easier for ourselves (because we obviously desrved a break) and make the camp fire and pour the wine.

We didn’t have the same moon or clear sky that we had the previous night, but it was still nice to sit around the fire with a drink and just chat away with biscuits and Jaffa cakes until late in the evening, reviewing all of the hard effort that had gone into the day just gone. All in all not a bad effort.

Those of you who know, understand that I love getting out into the hills and fells etc to experience not only the the views and fresh air, but also the peace and soothing effect on the mind that being out in the hills can bring. The ability to leave behind all that plays on the mind, all the obligations we have, all of the baggage we carry; to leave behind everything we don’t need or want can be a rewarding and cathartic experience, just allowing yourself to be in that moment and in that place.

For me it’s my pace of zen, whether it’s cold wet and windy, or warm and sunny with the slightests of breezes, I love it all.
But it turns out that you can achieve the same results by simply taking it easy on yourself. The greatest of stoics amongst us can achieve this same state of peace wherever they are because they understand that true peace and balance comes from understanding the difference between internal and external influences, and how to manage them.

However, for the rest of us that haven’t yet reached this particular state of nirvana, removing ourselves from the day to day can help us make the mindset shift required to accept the mental reset that we seek from time to time. Does it have to be while pushing yourself physically, ascending some hill somewhere with a heavy pack on your back, and being miles and miles away from the nearest evidence of civilisation? No it doesn’t.

You can do the same almost anywhere, the key is taking the time to move yourself to a different location (helping with the mindset shift) and then allowing yourself to be in the moment and just take it easy.

We all get so caught up in our obligations, lists of things to do, and everything else we set for ourselves that we can easily forget how to let go of them, even for just a short amount of time, and give ourselves permission to take it easy and have a break from the daily pressures of life.
Is life for living? Or is life for doing? Or perhaps a little of both?

The answer to that question is a personal one, and will depend upon your own beliefs and circumstances. One thing is for sure though, we all need a break from time to time, and going for a bit of a camp somewhere and not worrying about things too much, or putting yourself under too much pressure to perform is a very good way of doing that.

So even though my place of zen will always be up in the hills, not everybody has to do the same to get the same benefits. Having a bit of a camp somewhere out of the way, going for a bit of a stroll in the open countryside, getting some fresh air, and spending time in the company of good people is a good thing to do.

It’s a very good thing indeed.

Stay tuned folks!!! Next time I’ll be reporting about a walk along the Nantlle Ridge in Snowdonia, it’s going to be a very different walk indeed.

Walking/Trekking Poles

Trekking poles, a silly affectation for the purpose of looking the part, or incredibly useful tools that can help save our knees from the hard abuse of covering a lot of ground while carrying weight?

In truth they are both. But it depends on how and why you use them.If used correctly with the right grip, adjusted to the correct height for the individual using them, and used with the correct gait while walking, then they are indispensable for providing extra stability on rough terrain, and for reducing the stress experienced on the knees and hips. They will also help reduce the amount of energy used walking, because if you get the rhythm right you’ll feel like you’re gliding across the ground.

Trekking poles are an adaptation of the poles used in cross country skiing, where they are used to great effect to help cover huge distances with relative ease. Modified for walking these poles can give the same benefits with a little practice.

However, all to often a lack of understanding on how to use them properly leaves the user with no real appreciable benefit. I’ve seen a lot of people with poles either set far too high or too short, a hard grip on the handle instead of using the loop for hand support, no rhythm in use, or simply with just one pole used like a walking stick and held like a shepherds crook.Look….I’m not trying to be all preachy and holier than thou, if you want to spend your hard earned on a single pole, or a pair of trekking poles, and use them any way you want, then fair play. It’s entirely your choice and it’s not for me tell you that your wrong, or that you shouldn’t.

However, if you do want to get the best from them, then here’s the skinny.First off you either need to get a pair that are the correct length for your height, or adjustable ones that can be set to it. To do this hang your arms by your side then raise your lower arm so that it is 90 degrees to your upper arm. The correct length will be from your hand to the ground. Hold the pole by the handle and loosen the adjustments allowing the pole to extend all the way to the ground, then re-tighten, easy. If your poles have length markers make a note of them for easy setting next time.

Next, your poles will come with handle straps that are integral to stopping fatigue from developing in your hands and wrists. You should put your hand through the strap loop from underneath, then hold the handle with the strap between your thumb and forefinger. The padded section of the strap should be running across the back of your hand. Adjust the strap length so that there is no slack while gripping the handle, but not so tight it’s uncomfortable. It should be a relaxed easy fit so that your hand hangs on the strap at just the right point of the handle for you to hold it comfortably on the contour grip.OK, so that’s the fitting and the setting sorted, now it’s on to how to get the best from them while out on a walk.

As mentioned above, hiking poles are an adaptation from cross country skiing and in fact are used in very much the same way. With your left foot forward and your right hand forward, the pole should be trailing behind slightly so it gives you a very slight push and adds a bit of stability as you step. Once you’ve completed the first step you should then put your right foot forward along with your left hand, again with the pole trailing slightly, and then step forward a second time.Now obviously you have to repeat this process several times, alternating between your left and your right sides for as many times as required in order to complete your walk. Which if truth be told could end up being quite a few times.

Anyway, all joking aside, if you really do want to save your knees for later years and also make your current walks that little bit easier, then getting yourself a pair of hiking poles and figuring out how use them properly will definitely pay dividends in both the short and the long term.

Look after your knees, and look after your hips, because you’ll miss them when they’re gone!!