Participation in hiking has boomed since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic as a way to get outside and experience nature, fresh air, and exercise. One of the big appeals of hiking is its simplicity and budget ease in gear compared to other outdoor sports - all you really need is a good pair of boots or hiking shoes. But what about hiking poles?

Hiking poles are an excellent way to increase your stability and comfort during your hikes. When traversing the expansive wetlands of the Yukon flats and ascending up Caribou Mountain, you will greatly benefit from having this gear.

Offering stability, balance, comfort, and a reduced reliance on body energy, hiking poles will help you be present for the experience and not be so hyper-focused on the trail. Having this time to appreciate the scenery will allow you to reflect on why you came to the Yukon in the first place - to challenge yourself to new heights and explore unknown terrain.

Read on to discover five reasons you’ll benefit from using hiking poles when visiting the Yukon.

1. They reduce the impact on your body

Have you ever felt pain in your knees while hiking a steep downhill trail? The Yukon offers excellent hiking and sightseeing opportunities, so you won't want your legs hurting the first day you arrive. Hiking poles reduce the impact on your joints, knees, ankles, and feet, especially when traversing downhill terrain. As you walk downhill, this will enable the muscles of your upper body to “take over” some of the cushioning work usually done by your quadriceps and other smaller muscles in your knees. Hikers using two poles experience less knee pain, particularly during descents, but also on flat terrain. While walking on level ground, poles reduce the body weight carried by the legs by approximately 5 kg every step.

What about storing your hiking poles, though? Luckily, trip providers like Overland Yukon offer vehicle rentals designed to help you fit all the hiking gear you’ll need for your adventure. With a great selection ranging from vans to jeeps fitted with tents and all-inclusive camping gear, your Overland Yukon vehicle(s) are your keys to discovering the Yukon. They also serve as a handy space to store your gear while engaging in other activities, such as visiting the Da Ku Cultural Centre in Haines Junction or enjoying Whitehorse's downtown restaurant scene.

2. They aid in breathing

Even some of the most seasoned hikers neglect the value of keeping an upright posture during their hikes. Slouching prevents your diaphragm from working efficiently to expand your chest cavity and lungs. Similarly, maintaining a posture where your shoulders are rounded and your head is forward causes the muscles around your chest to tighten. When you move upright, you breathe more easily - which is especially important when hiking up steep hills and tiring your body, as you don’t want to be gasping for air. You will benefit from hiking poles as you traverse the rugged Angelcomb Peak in the Tombstone Mountains - and your lungs will thank you for it.

Don't forget to take care of yourself so you can make the most out of tomorrow's adventure. After completing your hike, return to your Overland Yukon vehicle and enjoy a post-hike meal to celebrate the success of the day. You can ice your legs with frozen items from your electric cooler while you rest.

3. They keep you sturdy

Hiking poles serve as an additional ligament to provide you with more balance when navigating difficult terrain. They also keep you sturdy when walking over moving water, narrow ridge lines, or slippery ground. Poles make hiking over uneven terrain much safer, and if you trip over something, they often allow you to catch yourself before you fall. You don’t need to be hiking on rugged ground to benefit, as any walk in the woods is a potential stumble, and poles prevent that. The Yukon is a wild place where you could encounter all of these circumstances - but this shouldn’t alarm you. With the use of hiking poles, even beginners will reach the summits of these magnificent mountain peaks.

4. They increase hiking speed and rhythm

At Overland Yukon, we’ve noticed that using poles helps to maintain a good hiking pace for longer periods of time. This in turn, helps to establish a rhythm and increases hiking speed. Unlike the typical arm swing motion, poles engage the upper body in a way that is more natural. Take some of the work off your legs and use hiking poles while exploring the St. Elias mountain range in Kluane National Park.

Enjoy picturesque scenes of Canada’s tallest mountain, Mount Logan, visible from the peaks you climb. You will want to get the top as fast as you can so you have as much time as possible to appreciate the views. Logan is believed to have the largest base circumference of any non-volcanic mountain on Earth, including a massif with eleven peaks over 5,000 metres (16,400 ft). A mountain so large, you would still find it difficult to comprehend after seeing it in person.

5. They reduce fatigue

There’s nothing worse than when the steep incline of a trail already has you exhausted within the first hours of a hike. We’ve all been there. With hiking poles, you can maximize your energy so that you don’t tire yourself out too early. The act of using them can cause you to burn more calories, but they reduce the impact on certain parts of the body. This is crucial when hiking longer routes and multi-day trails.

Choosing Hiking Poles

In choosing your hiking poles, it is important to look for ones that extend out and can be collapsed into different lengths. This makes them customizable in length and much easier to pack and travel with, and to carry on your backpack. You can also shorten the poles for long climbs, since the terrain is closer when it is above you. Since you’ll be hiking from your Overland Yukon vehicle, a one-piece model would also be ideal. These models tend to be less expensive and are arguably more durable.

Weight is also a key factor in choosing your hiking poles. When you're lifting your arms thousands of times a day on backpacking trips, you need as much energy as you can save. However, if you’re planning on conquering shorter hiking routes with difficult terrain during your visit, consider a durable pair of aluminum hiking poles. For longer routes and multi-day trips, poles of lighter material would be more suitable.

You should also consider grip of the poles. It's probably the single most important factor to consider, yet most hikers don't think about this enough. It would seem that grips are all the same, but they vary quite a bit. Grips come in many shapes, sizes, and materials. There are also gender specific poles, with "women's" poles having smaller grip. Regardless of the type, choose the pole that suits your hand the most comfortably.

Benefits of Using Hiking Poles in the Yukon