Walking With Sticks

[jomifl]

We live on El Camino (the French bit) and the pilgrim/hiking season is well under way. I am puzzled by the apparent indispensiblity of sticks. Almost all hikers carry them but almost none use them. When I used to go hill walking in the UK nobody used them or carried them. Are they a 'must have' that walking magazines recommend at the behest of advertisers or are they actually useful. Nobody uses them to go shopping or on the beach ...yet. Why walk all the way to Santiago de Compostella if you can't do it without sticks?

[sandyRoe]

One stick is very useful on the steep downhill sections.
Are there many Peregrino on the road to see The Apostle this year?

[jomifl]

There are dozens, if not hundreds, on the bits of the camino leading into our village I say that there is a pilgrim every 500 metres on average, mostly German. I think they will be disappointed when they get to Santiago de Compostella 'cos when went there a few years ago he seemed to be dead.

[sandyRoe]

It's the journey is the thing more the destination.
But he does have a beautiful silver casket.

[sandyRoe]

I should have said: For many it's the journey...

[jomifl]

A Canadian friend of ours who did the bit from St. Jean pied de Port as quickly as possible didn't enjoy it much. He found that most of the people didn't speak English, walked too slowly to be travelling companions and that there were better walks in Canada. Even I, an atheist get the travelling rather than the destination thing and the history has some significance.

[Hopkirk]

I supect they don't use them most of the time, but have the reassurance they can stop themselves falling if they stumble.

[Old_Geezer]

Probably used for beating off the wolves ;-)

[gness]

I have two, Jom.....but only take one unless I know I'm going to be in very steep territory....

I don't use mine on the flat but find it great for very uneven ground.... especially as I like to walk quickly.......x

[ImLostAgain]

Exactly the same as gness.

[stuey]

I carry my stick slung over my shoulder with a knotted hankie at the end containing a pea-nut butter sandwich, and some honey with lots of money wrapped up in a five pound note.

[anneasquith]

Is that you Dick ? Balance and reassurance.

[jomifl]

Stuey, you are getting confused if you need walking sticks at sea.

[Buenchico]

Nordic walking is very popular around this part of Suffolk. Noticeboards are plastered with information about 'introductory courses' and lots of people can be seen walking in the countryside, or alongside main roads between villages, using walking poles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_walking

[stuey]

You're quite correct, jomifl; especially in a pea-green boat:)

[jomifl]

Nordic walking may well be popular as an aerobic excercise. A back of envelope calculation give an extra energy requirement of between 5% and 10% for walking using 2 sticks weighing a total of 500. gm. I guess some people like punishing themselves, my friend who walked to Santiago de Compostela wouldn't even carry a Spanish dictionary because it was too heavy.

[sandyRoe]

The guide books tell of a pigrim who carried a 28lb rock. Must have been a self imposed penance.