What would a good hike be without a good hiking staff? Somehow it just feels more natural to have a stick in your hand as you enjoy a trek through the wonders of creation. At your local sporting goods store, there is no doubt a selection of metal walking sticks. While they might be lighter and possibly sturdier, they just don’t match, for many, what hiking is supposed to be about. A wooden stick is what most people think of when thinking of spending time in the great outdoors. At craft fairs and online specialty retailers, many fine wooden hiking sticks can be found, but often at prices ranging between twenty and fifty dollars. It is not necessary to spend this amount of money when a fine walking stick can be made for a relatively small expense. All that is required is a little time and the right resources.
Before starting, you should consider some of the features you want your walking stick to have. Most people like their walking sticks to be about the same height as they are, more or less depending on tastes. Also, it is important to know what is a comfortable circumference for you to hold in your hand. A stick that is too large in circumference can prove to be a burden on long hikes and is harder to hold. Most people are comfortable with about the circumference of a large broom handle – which, coincidentally, makes a great hiking stick for those that want instant satisfaction at hardware store prices.
Next, you have to consider in what sort of terrain you will be using your stick. If you are an avid climber, you will probably be using your stick to steady you as you go up steep trails, or possibly even to boost you up over a large rock. In this case you might consider a slightly thicker, straighter stick. The extra girth will make the stick sturdier, as it will have to support more of your weight. It is important, also, that the stick be relatively straight so that it can be used to boost yourself a bit without breaking. A stick used in lowland or relatively flat trails can be thinner, and for some a more gnarled twisted stick adds to the romance of the woods. In this setting, hiking sticks are used more for steadying the hiker, as a means to protect oneself from snakes, and for parting heavy vegetation. You might want to consider a longer stick for this type of hiking.
With all these considerations, select the piece of wood you will be using for your stick. Hand cutting is the best, but be warned: most state and national parks do not allow the cutting of saplings. It is best to search for your perfect stick on private property. Different woods have different qualities. Hickory is prized for its hardness and the straightness of its saplings. Maple is softer than hickory, with more flexibility. Sassafras is highly praised for its twists and gnarls and springiness. Other woods have similar qualities, but these are some of the most sought after for making hiking staffs. When you have selected a sapling that you want to use as your stick, cut it down at the base. Use a saw to strip it of its limbs. Be sure not to cut into the main trunk of the sapling, as this will weaken your walking stick’s integrity. Some people like to leave one or two thicker branches at the top of the stick to use as hooks for hanging or grabbing things. Instead of trimming these branches off flush with the main trunk, allow a couple inches to remain. Next, it is best to remove all the bark from the tree. The bark of a green sapling should readily come off in strips. When you have removed all the bark, use sandpaper to smooth the length of your stick. Pay special attention to the spots where limbs once were.
Now that your stick has been stripped and sanded, it is time to put it aside for drying.
A garage or attic will do just fine. Some allow their sticks to dry for a year or more, which increases the hardness of your stick. When your stick is dry to your taste, give it another sanding. Then hold it the way that is most comfortable to your arm and perhaps walk with it a little. When you find the spot on the trunk that is the most comfortable for you, you might want to drill a hole through the stick and loop a leather lanyard through it as a way of attaching it to your wrist. Or you might consider wrapping that spot on the stick with thin strips of soaked leather. As the leather dries it will shrink and tighten around the shaft, making a fine handle.
Many people stain and seal their sticks to give them a longer life. Others go natural and enjoy watching their stick weather with them as they spend many long hours on the trail.
Some people even like to carve things on the top of their sticks; pine cones, old men and mushrooms are popular themes. This is all personal preference. A natural hiking stick is a thing of beauty and function that can enhance your wilderness experience – especially if you made it yourself.
