How to Use Trekking Poles for Uphill Hiking

Tackling a steep incline is one of the most demanding parts of any hike. While your legs bear the brunt of the work, your trekking poles are a secret weapon waiting to be fully utilized. Proper technique transforms them from simple stabilizers into powerful tools for propulsion, dramatically improving your efficiency and conserving energy on the long climb up.

The Benefits: Why Use Poles on the Ascent?

The advantages extend far beyond just balance. On uphill sections, trekking poles:

• Engage Your Upper Body: They allow your arms, shoulders, and back to share the workload, reducing fatigue in your legs and glutes by up to 25%.
• Create Propulsion: With each plant and push, you literally pull yourself forward and upward, making each step more powerful.
• Improve Rhythm and Pace: They establish a steady, metronomic rhythm that helps you maintain a consistent pace and breathing pattern.
• Enhance Stability: On loose scree, muddy paths, or uneven terrain, four points of contact are far more secure than two, preventing slips and falls.

The Technique: Mastering the Uphill Climb

1. Adjust for the Slope: The golden rule for uphill hiking is to shorten your poles. On a gentle incline, you might only need a small adjustment. For a steep climb, shorten them significantly. Your elbow should form a 90-degree angle or even a tighter bend when the tip is planted on the ground at your feet. This allows for optimal pushing power.
2. The Planting Rhythm: Adopt the classic opposite arm/leg technique. As you step forward with your right foot, plant the pole in your left hand slightly ahead and to the side of your body. As you transfer your weight onto your right foot, push down and back on the left pole. This push propels you forward, aiding your ascent.
3. Focus on the Push: The power comes from the drive through your palm strap. Slide your hand up through the strap, grip the handle, and then drive down through your palm, not just your grip. This engages your larger arm muscles effectively. A strong, deliberate push is more beneficial than a weak, quick tap.
4. Plant the Tip Behind You: For the most effective propulsion, avoid planting the pole too far ahead. Instead, plant it level with or just behind your trailing foot. Pushing off from this position maximizes forward momentum.
5. Short, Powerful Strokes: Steep ascents often require a more aggressive, powerful technique. Use shorter, quicker plants and pushes, sometimes even planting both poles simultaneously for a powerful "double poling" motion to overcome a particularly tough section.

Advanced Tip: The "Double Plant"
For very short, extremely steep sections, you can use a "double plant" for a burst of power. Plant both poles together in front of you, lean forward, and use your upper body to pull yourself up as you take one or two steps. This is highly effective but energy-intensive, so use it sparingly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Poles Too Long: This forces your arms overhead, disrupting your posture and eliminating pushing power.
• Dragging the Poles: Merely placing the tips on the ground without applying purposeful pressure offers no benefit.
• Poor Strap Use: Not using the straps correctly results in inefficient energy transfer and can cause blisters.

By mastering these techniques, you turn your trekking poles into a powerful engine. You'll conquer hills with greater ease, save your legs for the descent, and discover a more balanced, powerful, and enjoyable way to hike.