How far are the ledges on the Highline (HockeyRef) trail?

[llholmes1948]

I just picked up some trekking poles this summer as well seeing as at the ripe old age of 28 my knees are already trashed. They've been wonderful for downhills. I honestly think the carbide tip grips tremendously on even smooth wet rock, I was amazed at how stable/grippy they are.

I quite agree. I never felt a need for poles years ago or even on our first family trip to Glacier in 2001. However by our next trip in 2005 I felt poles would have been very helpful esp. coming down the switchbacks from Ptarmigan Tunnel to Ptarmigan Lake and from Siyeh Pass to Preston Park. So I bit the bullet and bought some Leki poles before our 2008 trip and they were very helpful on downhill sections. I won't leave for the mountains without them.

I am pleasantly surprised at how well good quality poles hold up. I let my daughter borrow my poles in 2011 when she hiked the Appalachian Trail and I fully expected that these poles would wear out en route and I would not see them again. There was a broken tip which was expertly repaired by a dealer in Gorham, New Hampshire, but they came back just fine and made another trip to Glacier this year.

If people want to try poles for a day or so before deciding whether to buy them, Glacier Raft Co. in West Glacier rents( and sells) poles and in our experience can give you good advice.

Lyman

[Nodust]

I just picked up some trekking poles this summer as well seeing as at the ripe old age of 28 my knees are already trashed. They've been wonderful for downhills. I honestly think the carbide tip grips tremendously on even smooth wet rock, I was amazed at how stable/grippy they are.

I quite agree. I never felt a need for poles years ago or even on our first family trip to Glacier in 2001. However by our next trip in 2005 I felt poles would have been very helpful esp. coming down the switchbacks from Ptarmigan Tunnel to Ptarmigan Lake and from Siyeh Pass to Preston Park. So I bit the bullet and bought some Leki poles before our 2008 trip and they were very helpful on downhill sections. I won't leave for the mountains without them.

I am pleasantly surprised at how well good quality poles hold up. I let my daughter borrow my poles in 2011 when she hiked the Appalachian Trail and I fully expected that these poles would wear out en route and I would not see them again. There was a broken tip which was expertly repaired by a dealer in Gorham, New Hampshire, but they came back just fine and made another trip to Glacier this year.

If people want to try poles for a day or so before deciding whether to buy them, Glacier Raft Co. in West Glacier rents( and sells) poles and in our experience can give you good advice.

Lyman

I bought cheap walmart poles to see how I liked using them. $24 for the pair and iced used them for two years. If they ever break I may just get another set like them.

[BCD]

Im 270lb, 5'11". Quit a stout porker. I used a single carbide tip pole, 1st time this yr. Saved my bacon on the steep descent from Grinell overlook. I also found it supporting a fair amount of wt when my gas tank emptied. Ill use it again for sure!

[joybird]

In addition to adding some power to my uphills and some cushioning to my downhills, I find that poles are absolutely invaluable to me when my acrophobia/vertigo kicks in because they give me a much greater feeling of stability on narrow, exposed trails (like the cliffy section of the Swiftcurrent Pass trail, for example). Especially when the wind kicks up.

I love my poles.