I used to do a lot of backpacking....now I live near the AT and often see hikers walking through town on their way north or south. Many of these guys and gals carry one or two "walking sticks" usually the ones you buy in the fancy stores. The ones that look like ski poles and collapse. I don't think I have ever seen anyone with a staff. The staff ( about 6 feet long) has several advantages over the shorter poles. 1. It can reach down to the ground on slopes, downhills, rocks, streams etc. for better balance or slowing your descent, down four or more feet sometimes. 2. If sturdy enough can be used for short vaults over things. 3. Can be used to extend your reach to another person to help pull them up or over. 4. Great for helping you hop off rocks, fallen trees, etc. 5. Can hold your enemies (snakes, skunks, rabid chipmunks, etc.) at bay, about four feet away. 6. Unscrew it at the middle and find a camera mount, now you have a mono-pod. 7. Unscrew it at the middle, replace the top cap and you have a short walking stick, stow the top on your pack. 8. Use it to prop up a tarp, or whatever. 9. There must be more but I can't think of them right now. I made mine out of an old aluminum ski pole and a tent pole. Cut off the grip, leave the cage to stop it from sinking in the mud, insert a dowel rod, or something in the top of the pole, run a rivet through, screw in bolt for camera mount, do the same to the top pole but use a nut. You get the idea. I've had mine for years and covered many miles with it. The only problem I've ever had was getting aluminum dust on my hands. Currently it's wrapped with bicycle handlebar tape, but you could use leather. Some day I'm going to get a big piece of electrical shrink wrap and cover it with that.
