Surprisingly, I Love My Poles

If you had told me a year ago that I would even consider using trekking poles, I wouldn’t have believed you. I might even have laughed out loud. Not that there is anything wrong with someone else using them, mind you, but they just weren’t for me. However, on the advice from friends who backpack, I began investigating the benefits and drawbacks of using poles and the results of my research lead me to at least try them out.

My friend Steph was happy to let me borrow her hiking poles to experiment with. Although I didn’t love them, they didn’t hinder me in any way, so upon arriving in St. Jean Pied de Port, I went directly to the outdoors equipment store, Boutique du Pelerin, and purchased two poles at 40 Euros each. The woman who worked there gave me a fantastic lesson on using them properly, which I would never have figured out how to do on my own (see REI’s “Using Pole Straps Effectively” video below) and I left St. Jean poles in hand.

“There’s nothing more dangerous on the Camino than Elissa with her trekking poles,” laughed Yeni.

Leaving Astorga before sunrise happy to have been reunited with my poles!

I used the poles every day of my trip, with the exception of the two days between León and Astorga, when I inadvertently left them at a café in León. I loved them so much that when that happened, I tracked down the cell number of Suc, a pilgrim I had met the night before, because I knew he planned to leave León later in the day. I was overjoyed when he answered and after hearing my tale of woe, told me he was willing to return to the café, find the poles, then carry them with him to Hospital de Orbigo where he would then hand them off to another Camino friend, Ana, who would in turn carry them to Astorga where we would meet up two days later. (Thanks Suc and Ana!)

I went through pole tip protectors every 2 to 3 days. Today, August 12, 2014, I spoke with someone at REI about it. He said that the carbide tips of the poles are made to walk on any surface and that these tip protectors are for people using the poles on surfaces that can be damaged. Here’s what the REI web page, “Trekking Poles and Hiking Staffs: How to Choose”. “Carbide or steel tips are commonly used to provide traction, even on ice. Rubber tip protectors extend the life of the tips and protect your gear when poles are stowed in your pack. They are also good for use in sensitive areas to reduce impact to the ground. Angled rubber walking tips (usually sold separately) are for use on asphalt or other hard surfaces.” I’m considering purchasing the angled rubber walking tips to use on asphalt; the only problem is that they are very heavy.

Between Villamayor de Monjardín & Los Arcos, Navarra, Spain, on the Camino de Santiago

On my way in to Logroño, I took a picture of my poles and posted it to Facebook with the caption, “I LOVE my poles!!!!”

With my poles next to beautiful window/wall garden in Lorca, Navarre

With my friend Ana in one of the many darling villages we passed through on the Camino.

Between Villamayor de Monjardín & Los Arcos, Navarra, Spain, on the Camino de Santiago

Finisterre (although I took the bus from Santiago to Finisterre, something I don’t recommend if you only have a day as it’s a long ride, I walked up the road to the lighthouse.)

With my friends from Andalucia, having recently arrived at the Cathedral of Santiago after walking 775 kilometers