SAFETY & TRAINING NEWS
Trekking Poles: Problems this winter?
By Bob Sharp
Early last year I was involved in a rescue of a lost walker. Tragically, this was a fatal incident and like two others last year, it seemed to be connected with the use of trekking poles. It bought to mind a number of questions. How do people cope with poles when they take a tumble? Is it possible to use a pole for arresting a fall? How quickly can poles be discarded? Is it useful to carry a pole and an axe at the same time? Are poles simply a fashion accessory? Do they have a role in Scottish winter conditions? And why are they so popular? To address these questions, I carried out an initial survey. Here are some findings.
The Advantages
Research suggests there are two distinct advantages; one is connected with weight transfer and injury reduction and the other is concerned with co-ordination and balance. Let's take weight transfer first. A good description is provided by Sally Wilkes (TGO, June, 2000). She draws attention to weight transfer from the lower to the upper body which takes place when poles are used to descend steep ground. Her study suggests that up to 14% of a walker's body weight can be transferred if a 'double pole' action is used with poles around three quarters of the walker's height. The benefit is that it reduces impact forces within the knee which increases comfort, energy conservation and prevents long term injury. It is also likely that because poles promote better posture, breathing is made easier which facilitates stamina. The second advantage - aid to balance - seems quite obvious; four points of contact should make for significant improvements over two especially on broken/steep ground when there is an increased risk of a slip or stumble.
Some Concerns
There have been a number of incidents in Scotland which appear to be connected with the inappropriate use of walking poles. In one, a walker, who fell over 1000 ft. was using a single pole and no ice axe. In another fatal fall, the person was using a short axe in one hand and a trekking pole in the other. Whilst it is difficult to attribute cause and effect in some cases like this, there is certainly a question about how or whether poles should be used in certain winter conditions. The mountain rescue fraternity in Scotland has some clear views on the matter. There is a strong feeling that 'fashion' has something to do with the current explosion of interest in poles. Personally, I find it quite remarkable that in just few years, so many hillgoers have cast aside good old fashioned hands-free walking and hooked on to poles as if they were the panacea for everything. There is a question about whether poles are any value to casual walkers; Ken Ledward (KLETS) advises that poles should be used only by those who are involved in regular outdoor activities. Sally Wilkes suggests that proper training is important if full benefits are to be realised and Heather Rhodes (TGO, July, 2002) also points to the importance of proper education. Others suggest that poles can give a false sense of security on steep ground because they generate levels of confidence not always matched by skill.
Poles in Winter
Much information is available about pole design, materials and techniques for use, but there is little/none about use on steep snow/ice covered ground. It may be that because poles are labelled as 'walking' or 'trekking' poles, manufacturers expect poles not to be used in winter conditions. In fact, a couple of manufacturers responded to my survey by saying they do not have a policy about use in winter and many raised concern about the appropriateness of such use, especially when used in conjunction with an ice axe. There is a general feeling that because poles are not really designed as a tool for winter travel they have limited use. Basically, poles fail to provide an effective aid to self arrest. This is especially the case if the user carries two poles, both strapped to the wrist. Some people suggest there may be a case for carrying both a pole and an axe but, in the event of a fall, the user must have the speed of reaction to jettison the pole and move the axe into an arrest position in good time - extremely difficult. There is a strong feeling that poles should not be used when descending - especially hard snow/neve. Not only are they useless for self arrest, but their inclination to the slope means that adequate penetration of the tip is almost impossible; often, the basket makes contact and immediately slides away. So when weight is committed to the pole, it slips, unbalancing the user. There is a feeling that poles should never be used if there is any chance a slip or stumble will result in a fall which can only be arrested using an ice axe.
It appears that incidents have arisen because of poor decisions about when to replace poles with an axe. Some walkers make the decision too late and others simply fail to make the switch. There is a strong view that walkers tend to use their poles well beyond the point when crampons and an ice axe should be used. It is not clear why people do this but it may arise because poles provide an inflated sense of security or it may just reflect laziness or poor anticipation.
Conclusions
There is a clear and perhaps urgent need for all hillgoers who use poles in winter conditions to think critically about their use as they venture onto increasingly steep ground. Furthermore, there is an issue about using poles and an ice axe together and finally there is an issue about pole and ice axe length. Perhaps the use of shorter axes has prompted walkers ascending steepening ground to continue with a pole for much longer than they would otherwise do. Where previously they would have used a longer walking axe, which gave balance security as well as self arrest capability they now find themselves on steep ground with a compromise which makes satisfactory self arrest difficult. Food for thought!
Advice
I would offer the following suggestions about the use of trekking poles in winter.
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- When moving across flat or easy-angled snow covered terrain, poles offer all the recognised advantages, as long as they are USED CORRECTLY in regard to length, basket size, use of wrist loops, etc.
- A pole should NEVER be used as a substitute for an ice axe. Both may serve to aid balance, but poles cannot be used for self arrest. Axes are purpose designed to fulfil this objective and NO other tool can do the job.
- When approaching steepening ground in winter, poles should be consigned to the sac and replaced by an axe (with or without a pole) BEFORE there is the chance of a slip which would result in a damaging fall. It is vital to make the DECISION when it is easy to stop and change prior to the risk of a fall. Always ANTICIPATE and be mindful of the consequences of a slip/stumble.
- If a single pole is used in conjunction with an axe when ascending steep ground, then the pole's wrist loop should be LEFT FREE and the axe always kept in the uphill hand. It is vital to practice ditching the pole and using the axe for self arrest early each winter in safe conditions to ensure that it can be done effectively.
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Acknowledgements
A variety of people were instrumental in helping to prepare this article. Thanks to Fran Pothecary, Chris Townsend, Ken Ledward, leaders of 15 Scottish Mountain Rescue Teams and the equipment suppliers/manufacturers who made a contribution.
Quotations
“.. the ice axe is a tool perfectly suited to allow the user to operate in a winter environment. The walking pole however is used mainly to relieve pressure felt on the lower limbs and is wholly unsuitable for self arrest purposes.”
“We need to make people more conscious of what they have got in their hands and how it is going to help them.”
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