If you love to hike then you probably already have or at least have considered getting a hiking staff. They can make your trek up and down the mountain so much more enjoyable and can serve you in many ways. Some people just find a stick on their way up the mountain and that works fine for them. If you want something that is truly nice, you might consider making your own staff. It is sure to have lots of meaning for you.
The first thing that you will want to do is to find a good piece of wood or a stick. Choose something that is durable but not too heavy. You want something that you can really put your weight into. Some people swear by diamond willow, but it may be hard to find. The easiest thing to do is to find a few suitable sticks on a trail that you normally frequent. Make sure that it is long enough as well. Remember that you can always cut off excess length, but you can’t put it back on, so choose carefully.
The next step is to remove the bark from the stick. Some of this you can do with your bare hands but you will probably need a knife to finish the job. A pocketknife or jackknife with a short, sharp blade should do the trick; just make sure to wear gloves. Leather gloves are best because they are harder to penetrate. Don’t overlook the gloves because they will help to protect you from nasty cuts which are easy to come by when you are carving wood. In fact, you may want to take even further precautions to protect your arms, eyes and other vital body parts. Once you have removed all the bark, you will want to sand the stick. You can use a simple piece of sand paper or a drum sander. This is especially helpful if you plan to make more than just a couple of staffs. Follow the sanding by cutting the staff to size. Most people recommend that the staff be 6 inches longer than where your elbow rests, but that is purely a personal decision. You should choose a length that is comfortable for you and still provides the necessary support.
When you have finished removing the bark, sanding and cutting to size, you are ready for the fun part of making a hiking staff … personalizing it. You can carve whatever you wish to in your staff. Some people like intricate designs, pictures or patterns. Some people prefer to simply put their initials in the stick. You can even get a wood burning kit form your local craft store and burn a design into the staff. Whatever your choice, it will surely help your staff to stand out from the rest and make it easy to identify as your own.
To find out more information about walking canes and sticks please visit our website. http://walking-canes.net | 
