How to Choose a Walking Stick
Have you seen a hiker along a trail, stop and pick up a stick? There is something about a stick that attracts people hiking in the forest. Hikers want something in their hands to steady their gait and to support their knees going down a slope or an incline.
Why not select a stick before you take a hike and make it something personnal to hike with in the forest or mountains. How do you pick out a stick?
I am a retired principal and carve walking sticks from dead Aspen as I live in the foothills of Colorado. This hobby became a business for me when I retired. It began when I started carving sticks to give to my teachers.
My sticks are carved from dead Aspen. You may use hardwood for your stick or a softer wood such as Aspen depending on where you live. Look for a stick that is about 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Cut the stick about 52 to 54 inches long.Stand on level ground and measure to the crease in your elbow and add 6 inches. This may or may not be 54 inches,but this is the proper height for a stick.
The stick should be relatively free of deep cracks. If you cut something that is not dead, you will have to let it dry or age.The stick should be comfortable for you to use.A grip in the stick is a must. Hold the stick as you would a ski pole to properly place the grip.
The grip can be added using your creativeness or using the method that I use. Leather can be used for the grip or anything that might adhere to the stick using epoxy or super glue. My method is to use a Dremel power tool with a sanding disc and put circular grooves around the stick for the grip. Put as many of these as needed to get a good firm hold with your hand.
The stick should have a hole drilled above the grip for a piece of leather strap. Put your hand through this to prevent losing the stick, should you stumble while hiking.
The stick should have the bark removed and it should be sanded and sealed with two coats of polyurethane applied. Purchase a rubber tip at the hardware store that will fit over the bottom of the stick.
I use a burning pen to inscribe the mountains I have climbed and put names and dates on my stick.
Why not select a stick before you take a hike and make it something personnal to hike with in the forest or mountains. How do you pick out a stick?
I am a retired principal and carve walking sticks from dead Aspen as I live in the foothills of Colorado. This hobby became a business for me when I retired. It began when I started carving sticks to give to my teachers.
My sticks are carved from dead Aspen. You may use hardwood for your stick or a softer wood such as Aspen depending on where you live. Look for a stick that is about 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Cut the stick about 52 to 54 inches long.Stand on level ground and measure to the crease in your elbow and add 6 inches. This may or may not be 54 inches,but this is the proper height for a stick.
The stick should be relatively free of deep cracks. If you cut something that is not dead, you will have to let it dry or age.The stick should be comfortable for you to use.A grip in the stick is a must. Hold the stick as you would a ski pole to properly place the grip.
The grip can be added using your creativeness or using the method that I use. Leather can be used for the grip or anything that might adhere to the stick using epoxy or super glue. My method is to use a Dremel power tool with a sanding disc and put circular grooves around the stick for the grip. Put as many of these as needed to get a good firm hold with your hand.
The stick should have a hole drilled above the grip for a piece of leather strap. Put your hand through this to prevent losing the stick, should you stumble while hiking.
The stick should have the bark removed and it should be sanded and sealed with two coats of polyurethane applied. Purchase a rubber tip at the hardware store that will fit over the bottom of the stick.
I use a burning pen to inscribe the mountains I have climbed and put names and dates on my stick.
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