Care of trekking poles

Many of use trekking poles for hiking and climbing.  Most of us probably also toss them in the corner after a trip, assuming they’ll be ready to go next time.  Well, bad idea.  Almost all poles are made of some form of anodized or painted aluminum alloy and this alloy can and will corrode. The good news is, that with proper care and a little regular maintenance, these poles can last a lifetime. Here’s some tips on how to make your investment last.

· After a trip, totally disassemble the poles. The only exception to this is the expander at the top of each section. You can remove this as well but it adds to the re-assembly time
· Rinse off the mud and debris and clean the telescoping tubes with a damp sponge.
· Dry everything with an old towel.
· Let the units sit for a day or two to dry thoroughly.
· Corrosion can and will build up over time on the inside of the barrels reducing the ability of the expander to grip the barrel. An appropriate wire brush used for cleaning the bore on a shotgun work well to clean these. This unit is composed of a wire brush mounted on a smaller threaded shaft. Cost is around $3. They are available at sporting goods stores that handle guns, like GI Joes. Get a size that looks like it will match up to the bore of your poles. To remove corrosion, you will need to mount it on something that can be inserted into the tube. If you happen to have a shotgun cleaning kit, you can use the rod that is specifically designed for these. Or you can buy a kit. If you are like me and money matters, you can make your own. I used a ¼” hardwood dowel and drilled a hole in the end of it slightly smaller than the threads on the shotgun wire brush mounting. The brush easily threads into it. Once you have this unit in hand, insert it into the tube and pull it back and forth as you rotate it. Blowing out the dust or making up a soft felt or cotton swab would complete the job.
· On a long climbing trip or trek, carry extra expanders and possibly tips to fit your poles. If it’s a snow trip, extra bales can come in handy.
· On avalanche probe poles, if your poles have removable handles, remove them and dry them inside. I did not. Mine corroded and I thought I would never get the handle off the pole . . . which is really a necessity if you are trying to use them in a real situation.

Leki Poles 800-255-9982. 
Life-link Poles

Thanks to Mazama Jon Putnam for sending in this Tip