New Valley Hills

After a year I’m now converted to using walking poles. As well as being my tent poles they also stabilise me on muddy, sloping terrain,are useful pokey things to prod water or mud depth, power me uphill and save my knees and hips downhill.

Sometimes they aren’t needed when slogging along a pavement or road stretch. At which time having somewhere to store them away from your hands is a blessing.

My Osprey Stratos 36 backpack has these nifty loops you pop the poles through for hands-free walking.

My bigger Durston Kakwa 55 backpack is free of these. I miss them!

I looked at aftermarket solution https://spudsadventuregear.com/product/stick-stashers/ but at $30 it seemed pricey.

Having a spare hour, some cord and a book of knots I fashioned these.

Pretty pleased with my MYOG effort. Added a couple of knots to my repertoire – Fisherman’s Knot and Ashley Stopper Knot.