Sticks n Stones

[Gary May]

Advance warning - bit of a weird post

As I'm travelling light with just a small 25 ltr rucksack - I will be taking as hand luggage (have used this bag many times and it fits within the bag checkers and overhead lockers fine) this however means I cant take my telescopic walking poles.....as airlines still think us hikers are a deranged bunch who will go crazy mid flight and beat a stewardess with the pole!

So I'm aiming to find myself a "natural" pole to accompany me on my journey. Ideally I would find something in JPDP and before tackling the Pyrennees! Are there any areas where one might find a tree has shed itself some branches to aid weary travellers? I've seen some of the souvenir poles to purchase.....but would rather save the money as I'm a tight git. Plus I like to find a natural support when I walk.

 

[Deleted member 29041]

You may want to look into mailing your walking poles, as well as any pointy things, to yourself "Poste Restante"/"Lista de Correros" at your starting point. If you mail the pack in good time, it can be an advantage to list your expected date of arrival on the pack.

 

[Maple Leaf Walker]

That's exactly what I'm doing: mailing my walking pole to the place I'm staying at on the first night before I start my Camino. All I had to do was email them my arrival date and contact info and it will be waiting for me when I arrive. Better than having to deal with airport security.

 

[notion900]

I've seen a lot of wooden poles abandoned in albergues. You could just ask around in SJPP.

 

[t2andreo]

But for the fact that you state you are a "tight git" I would recommend a pair of Black Diamond FLZ hiking poles. They collapse to 16" long, and will fit IN your itty bitty daypack.

If you remove the tungsten bits and replace them with rubber tips, your "walking assistive devices" should pass security. It is my understanding that it is the hard pointy tips on most hiking poles that render them a "weapon."

Note, you can carry the pointy hard points in a pocket like loose change, and reinstall them on arrival.

Hence it follows logically that if you "neuter" the poles before being packed, they are walking sticks, not pointy edged hiking poles...that can be used for stabbing someone.

But, alas, they are very expensive as they are carbon fiber, not aluminum.

Life is like that...

I hope this helps.

 

[hecate105]

Or find some hazel bushes on the way - I'm sure you will buy a good opinel knife when you get there - as you can't take them on the plane either...!