I called bull on trekking poles for 8 years, then a rocky descent in the Adirondacks made me eat my words

Ryan Rodriguez · 2026-09-23T07:45:04.708404+00:00

I always figured trekking poles were for people with bad knees or too much money, so I hiked every trip with my hands free and my pride intact. Last weekend I did the Great Range traverse out of Keene Valley, about 20 miles with 9,000 feet of up and down, and my buddy handed me his spare pair at the start. I rolled my eyes but took them since my knee had been bugging me all week from a pickup basketball game. By the descent off Basin Mountain my legs were toast and the poles were the only thing keeping me upright on those wet slab rocks. I could actually step down without bracing for that little jolt in my quads, and I finished the last 4 miles way faster than I would have without them. I'm not saying they're magic, but I went home and ordered a pair for $70 that night. Anyone else hold out on gear for years and then feel like a idiot once you finally tried it?

🐿️Pinecone Attack

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I called bull on trekking poles for 8 years, then a rocky descent in the Adirondacks made me eat my words | Backpacking Routes - Pinecone Attack