Bring Trekking Poles? Archery Dall in NWT

[GPATTI]

Posting another question for the experience mountain hunters. Going on an archery dall with Lancaster in NWT next year. Do I bring trekking poles? I bought some lightweight Leki carbon's. Now I'm not sure if I should save the weight. Do you all recommend using them for the walking/climbing?

Thanks in advance.

 

[adventure907]

YES!!!! At least one trekking pole.

I personally use a long ice axe, but a trekking pole is just fine.

Get one with the snap locks, the twist locks suck in my humble opinion.

 

[Bearlodge10]

I hunted Dall sheep in Alaska (Wrangells) and would highly suggest that you take trekking poles. I found them to be critical with heavy loads and on the steep climbs and descents. I also used them for airing out clothing when the weather was good. I would never go back without them!

 

[Maverick940]

I'm with Alaska Adventure on this one. I also use a mountain axe (115 cm) and I provide 95 cm or 100 cm mountain axes for my clients. The axes are more versatile and more practical than trekking poles.

 

[adventure907]

One note about ice axe's and walking axe's, and possibly trekking poles. Some of them can be loud when banged on the rocks. I once borrowed a Black Diamond aluminum ice axe for a sheep hunt, and the damn thing sounded like a gong being hit every time I accidentally banged it on the rocks.

There are walking axe's made by Stubai and Peltz, that have an extendable trekking pole out of the bottom of the ice axe. They are much quieter, but I question their durability. I used the Stubai version for a few years, and it was good up until the day it broke.

I have also used a Black Diamond Whippet, which is kind of a hybrid trekking pole/ice axe. I still have it, and it has served me well for many hunts and many years.

With that said, these days I use an old school wooden ice axe. Much quieter, and much more durable. They are pretty hard to find, but deals can usually be found on eBay.

One other thing I like to do with my axes/trekking poles, is make sure the metal tip is covered with some kind of rubber. When bouldering across the rocks in sheep mountains, the click and clack of the metal tip hitting the rocks is an unwanted noise, so before every hunt, I make sure to outfit my axe/pole with some time of rubber tip. I have found extra small hose clamps to be useful in keeping the rubber tips in place.

 

[duchntr]

Yup bring trekking poles

 

[Maverick940]

For those who are using aluminum/titanium/magnesium mountain axes, a rubber shrink-sleeve along the shaft (from handle to tip) will eliminate noise.

 

[Rackmastr]

I'm a huge trekking pole fan, after being a guy who used to hate them before trying them a few times.

I've used a hiking axe in a late November hunt, but do prefer my trekking poles unless I'm in really nasty conditions.

Black diamonds have been amazing for me personally.

 

[mtnclimber]

Yes, 10000% bring them. I use a petzl telescopic ice axe for about 15 hunts now and have been blown away at the durability of it.

 

[PA 5-0]

Don't leave home without them. Carbon poles are super light. I prefer poles over the ice axe. As a flatlander with f"d up knees, the poles are an awesome aid when climbing steep stuff. You can plant poles above you and use your upper body to pull up. Takes a lot of stress off a bad wheel. I believe in my heart that poles saved my life several times by preventing falls in fatal places. They do make clanking noises in the rocks so if we were anywhere near sheep, I just carried them. Best of luck on your hunt, Dan

 

[adventure907]

Yes, 10000% bring them. I use a petzl telescopic ice axe for about 15 hunts now and have been blown away at the durability of it.

Mr. B. Who mounted your sheep for ya? Any chance we can see a full size picture of the mount? I am in awe every time I see the pics, what a ram!!!!

 

[mtnclimber]

Mr. B. Who mounted your sheep for ya? Any chance we can see a full size picture of the mount? I am in awe every time I see the pics, what a ram!!!!

Thank ya sir. Dave whinney out of Valdez. I don't think I would let anyone else touch my sheep. I haven't even picked it up yet, when I do I'll throw a pic up.

 

[adventure907]

Thank ya sir. Dave whinney out of Valdez. I don't think I would let anyone else touch my sheep. I haven't even picked it up yet, when I do I'll throw a pic up.

Cool cool, I look forward to seeing it!!

 

[luke moffat]

Agree with everyone above...trekking poles all the way.

Also agree with adventure907 and I look forward to seeing the mount of mntclimber's ram!

 

[mtnwrunner]

I would consider trekking poles one of the "ten" essentials.
Would not leave home without them.

Randy

 

[AK Troutbum]

I'll go ahead and cast my "trekking poles all the way" vote as well. When I was younger I never even considered using trekking poles and I don't know what the hell I was thinking (actually I was a little more of an idiot than I am now). I use them for all my hikes and wouldn't be caught dead without them on my hunts. The wear and tear you save on your knees and, to a lesser degree, ankles, is worth every bit what they weigh.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[snowcamoman]

Definitely take the trekking poles. As stated above, they'll help you balance safely with loads on hills and they will make you a more efficient hiker in the flat stuff. Start using them right away though and make your arms get used to pushing uphill with them. If you don't, you'll find that your triceps and upper arms might be aching badly out on a hunt. You're probably in good shape from archery shooting, but it never hurts to test and use the trekking poles like you'd use them in the field hunting.

 

[GPATTI]

Well........that answer's that!! Thanks, all. They go WITH me!

 

[Fishn4eyes]

Not only yes, but HELL YES!