Thread: Trekking Poles/Walking Sticks

Originally Posted by janleroux

Mostly in the Tararua’s. Sidehilling, stream/river crossings, steep up and downhills.

What is a mustering stick? Do you possibly have some photos you can share?


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A proper mustering stick is a light manuka or Kanuka pole cut to a length so that the thumb knuckle of you grip hand is at the same height as your nipple when gripping the stick and standing up straight with stick in front. It is used in a way that it is a brace sidehilling and a shock absorber and brace going downhill. It needs to be strong and light but have a bit of spring.
The basic grip is with the hand that is nearest the ground (hill) when sidehilling or descending faced palm down on the stick and the grip hand palm up, hands are placed about chest width and a bit apart. So for sidehilling a hill face on your left the grip is left hand palm down right hand palm faced up. Stick is poked into the hill ahead and you walk onto it. Down hill - same grip but stick to rear, lean back onto stick knees kept bent and run down the hill. For a river crossing the stick must always be faced upstream, that way the force of the water holds it on the bottom. Faced downstream and the water will kick it out.
Place the stick a step or two ahead and walk until you can stop with a good footing and place the stick again.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

A proper mustering stick is a light manuka or Kanuka pole cut to a length so that the thumb knuckle of you grip hand is at the same height as your nipple when gripping the stick and standing up straight with stick in front. It is used in a way that it is a brace sidehilling and a shock absorber and brace going downhill. It needs to be strong and light but have a bit of spring.
The basic grip is with the hand that is nearest the ground (hill) when sidehilling or descending faced palm down on the stick and the grip hand palm up, hands are placed about chest width and a bit apart. So for sidehilling a hill face on your left the grip is left hand palm down right hand palm faced up. Stick is poked into the hill ahead and you walk onto it. Down hill - same grip but stick to rear, lean back onto stick knees kept bent and run down the hill. For a river crossing the stick must always be faced upstream, that way the force of the water holds it on the bottom. Faced downstream and the water will kick it out.
Place the stick a step or two ahead and walk until you can stop with a good footing and place the stick again.

Thanks - lots of good sense. Appreciate the explanation.


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