Re: [Paddlewise] First Time In a While

On 4/30/07, Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca> wrote:
>
>
> I wonder if folks take trekking poles kayaking. They might make good fly
> poles and may assist hikes on uneven beach terrain. Anyone out there use
> them in this capacity for kayaking-related trips?
>
> I have a difficult time walking due to a knee injury and its effects on my
hips and feet so I generally walk with a cane or forearm crutches (if I
expect to be doing a lot). I have not actually hiked in a long time but I
have done cross-country skiing and even (gasp!) roller blading.
Cross-country skiing is generally done with poles (plus you only have to
shuffle your feet - a big plus) but I also use poles when I roller blade for
balance and to make it more like cross-country skiing.

My almost-20 years of experience walking with aids has given me some
insights into what works best (at least for me):

1. I find that any walking aid needs to be lightweight and sturdy because I
actually do put my weight on it. It's especially important to have a light
swing-weight which means that the tips need to be light. I've found that I
develop tennis elbow if I use a cane or other aid that does not have a light
swing-weight. For this reason I avoid wooden canes and walking sticks no
matter how classy they are.

2. When I use crutches I use the forearm or "Canadian" style as these reduce
the effects of chafing under my arms, tend to be lighter in weight (and in
swing-weight) and allow me to conveniently lean on them with my hands
clasped together. They are also much much easier to use on stairs and uneven
ground. They have the advantage of being shorter and often can be reduced in
length still further making them easy to stow.

3. Canes are remarkably handy for opening doors; especially for those
garbage can swing doors that are invariably too nasty to touch. They also
make convenient weapons for whacking unruly children. <grin> I have one cane
I use kayaking that folds in sections making it a snap to keep behind my
seat in the cockpit. It's aluminum but I'm careful to wash it after every
trip to keep corrosion down.

It's interesting that sometimes I see someone running on TV or in a movie
and wonder for a split-second, "how in the world do they do that without a
cane?". Weird I guess. LOL.

Kayaking is a real blessing for anyone who has any difficulty walking as
long as their weight is not too far out of control.

Craig Jungers
Royal City, WA
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