Northwest Hiking

When most people think about hiking, they think about a hiker standing in front of a serene view, on top of a majestic mountain.  In his hand, a trusty walking stick offers a kind of guidance and balance that can only come from such a piece of wood.  This item, the walking stick, is fairly important when hiking.  Some prefer to use synthetic ones, while others go all natural.  The latter of the two is the topic of today’s article.  Here are some things to remember when getting a natural walking stick:

•  A walking stick provides balance.  Remember to get one that is strong and durable.  Hardwoods, such as Oak, work well.  Softer woods, like fir, can give you a more flexible and more resilient stick, however.
• Keep it splinter free!  Whether that entails removing them with a knife, or finding a new stick, make sure you aren’t going to injure yourself trying to do something that can potentially help you.
• Get the right length.  As a rule, a foot shorter than you works well, so try to follow that.  If needed, go another extra foot shorter, but not much.

A walking stick is a good aide in hiking, one of immeasurable value in some cases.  Picking a good one out can be a huge benefit to you while hiking.  Have fun out there, and happy hiking!

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