This is more if a personal post, as I am going to send this post to my family members. As someone who is a minimalist and never wants anything, I want a pair of trekking poles for Christmas and I want someone in my family to give me a pair.
What spurred this? I did several hikes in Hawaii up a steep and muddy paths and needed support and balance. I didn’t want to go off the path (bad environmentally), wanted to leave only a footprint (meaning not take a fallen stick) and didn’t want to fall. The whole time, I was wanting sticks and was clutching trees and branches for support (bad environmentally)
This is not the first time, I have wished for sticks. I walk a lot and need to get back to my hiking. But for a minimalist like me, almost everything I own has to have a dual purpose and I have to justify any purchases.
Ergo my list of reasons to a pair of Sticks for Christmas:
- Trekking Stick can be used anytime when walking or running as addition arm and core exercises. They are not just for hiking. Better physical health is better for the environment.
- They can be used to pick up soft litter out of bushes and hedges. Just poke the plastic bag or trash. Since I pick up beach trash, this are perfect.
- They can be used for balance around the house. Help to keep pressure off the knees.
- They can be a protective device When I was assaulted on the beach several years ago, I wish I had trekking poles. That sucker would have been dead!
- They can be used as a clothesline. (I only line dry my clothes and have an area in which I can put the poles up to hang clothing.
- They can be used to get things that have fallen behind and under heavy objects.
- They can be used in the garden to help move rocks and other things that might hide spiders and creepy-crawler things.
- Use to clean-dust ceilings. Hate those cobwebs in the ceiling.
- When hiking, carrying trekking poles can help to protect the environment by preserving the path and the soil.
- You can have forever. Almost everyone needs a long pole at one time. Sticks can fulfill that need
So are Trekking Poles eco-friendly? If they help save the paths and erosion and help keep us fit and safe, I say yes!