Descents

BASIC DESCENTS

Take smaller steps; keep knees slightly bent. Your whole body leans very slightly forward (rather than leaning back - where your heels may skid from under you). Lengthen the shafts perhaps 5cm to 20+cms (on gentle slopes, shaft length need not be increased). The steeper the slope the longer the shaft needed, to avoid stretching forward with the arm away from the trunk and tipping forward onto the pole (adding momentum - making the descent even harder work to control, especially if carrying a pack). Try to keep your elbows back by your side, briskly flexing each forearm to free the shaft tip; immediately cock-back your wrist to angle/flick the shaft tip forward so it arcs and drops down to the side of the toes and just ahead of them. Brake with the heel of your hand, keeping fingers relaxed – bending at the elbow to allow your hand to pivot over the shaft tip until the shaft is vertical. Flex your elbow again briskly and quickly flick shaft tip forward so it arcs and drops for the next step. Consider Side-Stepping down steep rock or steep rough sections: lower the outer pole first then the downslope leg before transferring weight across.

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Always aim to keep the span between shoulder tip to shoulder tip as wide as possible i.e. not rounded forward or arched back.

The habit of over-reaching the whole arm away from the body, with the shaft acting as a prop often stems from using conventional poles. Alternative actions better suited to using the whole of the body more effectively, can be controlled using Pacerpoles. As a general picture, the trunk is lowered on a descent like an upended box. Aim to keep this box aligned over your feet and not lean back too far or arch too far forward. When the right shaft and left leg move down-slope, the left elbow and right knee bend to lower and off-load the trunk onto this new support base in front. These points in ground contact are alternating beneath your ‘upended box’ for each step of descent; your general stride length will affect how efficiently (and safely) this happens.

Decents/Stride Length:

Taking longer strides on a descent increases the extent that the trailing knee/elbow has to bend in order to lower the trunk onto the advancing front supports. This increased range of movement at the joints, controlled by using ‘eccentric’ muscle work is tiring to sustain (safety factor) and potentially painful for a loaded knee joint having to transfer weight over a greater range of joint action.
Instead, taking smaller strides makes it easier for the body to keep a better alignment, with less stress. It can also mean a shorter phase for the foot/shaft to be off the ground (safety factor) as the swing through can be completed quicker before touching the ground (plus only needing a smaller range of joint movement is an additional benefit).
Keep the knees slightly bent. This shortens the stride, and the foot is placed a little flatter so there’s a bigger surface area in ground contact, which can help to avoid a heel skid.

Descents/Shaft length:

on lesser slopes the shaft length need not be altered. Your elbows remain at your side, not in front; the shaft tip is flicked forward to drop down next to your toes first by quickly flexing your forearm and cocking-back your wrist. As the shaft tip touches-down the arm/hand starts to roll over (and pushes against) the length of the handle before you flex your elbow again to repeat the action in an easy circular rhythm. This means the shaft is angled in front initially and then becomes vertical as you move downslope, so it needs lifting off the ground quickly to be angled in front again and not get left behind! All this time the upper arm has hardly moved at your side, the action concentrates on the forearm and shaft controlling each stride, whilst establishing an easy rhythm.

Note: Usually on a descent the focus is on the heel of the hand within the handle but sometimes to instantly increase the pole length, such as for a vertical step-down – your thumb/index finger press together at each side of the handle top, to touch down first, and then the rest of the hand sinks into the handle. This is similar to your toes reaching down a steep, vertical step before the rest of the foot is lowered.

On steeper descents lengthen the shaft so that your upper arm/elbow can avoid having to over reach away from the body. With the upper arm and bent elbow remaining close to the chest wall, the shoulder muscles action can act as a brace, stabilising the arm and trunk more efficiently. Bend your elbow to free the shaft tip and cock-back your wrist which angles the tip forward to hit a specific spot not far ahead (avoid over-reaching as this will affect your balance and your efficiency). Generally aim to descend steeper slopes in a “zigzag”, even a short length of a few strides will do. Try to keep your weight/trunk aligned over your feet and not lean back too far or arch too far forward. By taking shorter strides the height differential at each step down will mean an easier limb action to lower your trunk down-slope, with less stress on your joints. If the steep terrain is such that shorter strides are impossible for that section, then consider side stepping down. Lower the outer pole first, then the down-slope leg – before transferring your weight across from the up-slope leg. Often combining this action, interspersed with a few short strides along a diagonal (reading the ground ahead so you may be able to reach an easier incline section) is worth considering.

Descents/Stride rate:

Taking a shorter stride length with a faster rate could be a satisfactory compromise between speed and safety on a descent, where terrain permits. Increasing speed downhill can be achieved by minimising the braking action of the leading foot and shaft, so that the tip just 'touches' the ground a little in front of the feet (for stability/control) rather than pressing hard on them, which would make them dig-in to brake.... and stop you in your tracks! The elbow has to flex very quickly though, to lift the shaft just as the wrist cocks back to flick the shaft forward in order to match the legs quicker stride rate. This is a very quick flick action with the whole arm this time, angled in front of the body (remember - the tip just drops down, touching the ground ahead without pressing-in to brake) it may feel strange at first but a rhythm can soon be established.

News + Reviews

Steve Perry, TGO 2006
I often wondered on the winter challenge how on earth I managed the Summer Munro round without Pacerpoles.... It's the speed you can move and the distance you can cover with them... (Read more)

TGO Magazine, March 2009
Pacerpoles have been my favourite trekking poles for several years now due to the angled handles which are shaped for the left and right hands. (Read more)

Trail Magazine February 2007
Compare this to any other pole and it is noticeable how much more energy-efficient the Pacerpole design is. (Read more)

TGO Magazine, April 2006
I've used Pacerpoles more than any other in recent years. They're the most effective, they increase efficiency by enabling your arms to help propel you along... (Read more)

Remembering Steve Perry 1971-2019

As a tribute to Steve Perry, who died in the snow on Ben Hope a year ago, 5th February 2019, with his good friend Andy Nisbet, we’ve reproduced the start of the interview about his Winter Munros journey he did with Dan Bailey for UKHillwalking.com…..... For the full article click here

Steve's 121-day Winter284 challenge covered around 1500 miles and 450,000 feet of ascent over all 284 Munros (there are now officially 283). This was undertaken a few years after another epic journey, a 7.5-month walk from Lands End to John o' Groats (LEJOG) via every 3000-footer in England, Wales and Scotland. He's clearly a glutton for punishment.
Over the 2005-2006 season Yorkshireman Steve Perry completed the first, and to date the only, continuous winter Munro round on foot - one of the hardest mountain journeys ever undertaken in Britain. We asked him to relive the experience.

Was LEJOG too easy or something – what made you think to do Winter284 in the first place?
Looking back at both challenges now, I feel the Winter284 round topped the LEJOG in difficulty and hardship but I suppose that was the aim.
I didn't invent the idea of a continuous winter round; Martin Moran had already completed a very fast vehicle-supported winter round in the 80's and Mike Cawthorne had hiked a continuous winter round of all 135 thousand metre peaks in the 90's. In the end a continuous walking round of the whole lot was just hanging there waiting to be picked and after my LEJOG hike it felt like the right thing to do, a natural progression perhaps.

How did you train and generally prepare for it?
Physically I did nothing extra outside my normal routine of weekends spent out in the hills. I did however prepare myself mentally by regularly running the route through my mind to envisage how different and more diffcult it would be opposed to my LEJOG round. On top of that I basically spent a lot of time convincing myself I could and would do it, and by no means ever give in.

How did you plan the route in advance, and did the plan change at all as you went along?
This was simple and took no time at all, I just altered the starting point used on the LEJOG round from Ben Lomond to Ben More on Mull. This meant a slightly different route through the early southern Munros and was cetainly more efficient. Once underway I changed my route twice; one was only slight yet enabled me to quickly climb 5 Munros around Glen Dochart without a pack, and then spend a night at Crianlarich SYHA in bad weather. A second more sizable alteration swapped the order I passed through Glen Etive, Glen Coe and Ballachullish. Both changes were on the advice of Lorraine McCall who had just completed a continuous summer round herself (see this UKH article), and both worked perfectly.

What influenced your choice of gear?
Basically I needed gear that kept me warm and dry. I searched for a layering system that covered a range of temperatures so there wouldn't be a constant stop/start of stripping off and putting on layers. The system also had to be simple; I didn't want lots of different layers and styles, less is more and all that. I also decided that being comfortable at night, and trusting the tent would guarantee sleep and essential rest. For all this I was prepared to carry extra weight. I've never been an ultra light guru thats feels a sleeping bag is too heavy if they're not shivering in it - I'd prefer a few extra pounds and comfort, any day.

My main influences were people I knew to be very active in the outdoors and actually use the gear they recommended; Lorraine McCall, Chris Townsend and Neil Mcadie to name but a few. Their advice mixed with my own experiences suggested the kit list.

Kit list

Smartwool mid weight long sleeved top x2
Rab Vapour-rise jacket
Rab Latok jacket
Rab Neutrino down jacket
Rab Vapour-rise pants
Rab Latok pants
Smartwool socks x 2 pairs
Smartwool long johns (for sleeping in)
Berghaus Yeti Gaiters
Berghaus Kibo GTX boots
Grivel Air Tech crampons
Mountain Technology ice axe
Pacerpoles with snow baskets
Extremeties Ice Gauntlet gloves
Extremeties Tuff Bag mitts
Extremeties Hot Took hat
Extremeties Thinny gloves
Berghaus C70 Pro Bio-Flex Rucksack and pack liner
Therm-a-Rest Pro Lite 3 (Full Length)

Terra Nova Discovery bivi bag
Terra Nova Laserlight tent
Rab Quantum 800 Neutrino sleeping bag
Primus Gravity stove
MSR Titanium Cook Pot with handle
Titanium fork
Swiss Army knife
Compass (glow in the dark)
Ortleib map case
GPS
Disposable lighter x2
Silva L1 Head Torch
Snow goggles
Sun glasses
Suunto Vector watch
Camera
Runner's bum bag
Titanium cup
Toilet roll
High tech river crossing kit (bin liners + elastic bands)

What about logistics?
I spent a day at home making up parcels for each section of the route. Myself and Lorraine McCall then drove hundreds of miles around the Highlands leaving them at SYHAs, pubs, hotels and with friends. A typical box would contain Wayfayrer Meals, pasta, dried milk, sugar, cereal, chocolate (lots), Nutri-grain bars, biscuits, batteries and maps.

You didn't carry a full pack over every hill: how far did you factor this ability to go lightweight into your route planning?
There are lots of mountain groups where it was possible to store my gear then pick off the surrounding Munros fast without the pack. The base could be a bothy, a hostel, my tent or basically my pack just left at some point central to the group. It was crucial never to lose the pack so I always took a GPS reading of its position before leaving. My lightweight approach comprised a bum-bag with crampons and ice axe tied on to it, a map and compass, headtorch, snacks for the hill and a cup to drink from. I never once carried water, only a cup, and I never struggled to source it.

How often did you camp versus staying in hostels?
In total there were; 28 nights in my tent (4 of which were above 3000 ft), 25 nights in bothies and the rest a mixture of SYHAs, bunkhouses, pubs and friends' houses.

Did your schedule ever feel tight? What about unplanned delays?
For the challenge to be a success I had to complete it inside the winter season, between December 1st and March 31st. Towards the end it became very close indeed with me reaching the summit of Ben Hope around dinnertime on March 31st. There were also plenty of unplanned delays in which I lost valuable time. In total I spent seven frustrating days off the summits due to bad weather and three days of scheduled rest.

Until Glen Shiel I was always just ahead of schedule but after losing two consecutive days there I was chasing my tail all the way to Ben Hope. But I never seriously doubted I'd do it.

What were ground conditions like that season? Ever wish you'd brought skis or snowshoes?
The first few weeks until Christmas were almost totally dry and frozen conditons, with temperatures dropping below -10C regularly yet no heavy snow worth mentioning. Underfoot the ice was treacherous and I had the bruises to prove it. The first real snow came between Christmas and New Year along with very high winds that kept me off the hill in Glen Coe.

January was a mixed bag; snow flurries, high winds, whiteouts, sleet and then fantastic high pressure through the Cairngorms bringing sub -15C temperatures with magnificent inversions.

For the full article click here...

Nigel Wragg; UK
We’ve now done a couple more walks including some good up and down sections. Uphill we definitely have more power and the action is easy to maintain.(Read more)

Stuart Skinner; UK
I have just returned from the US having successfully hiked the Appalachian Trail. I have nothing but great things to say about my pacerpoles....(Read more)

Mark Inglis; NZ, Everest 2006
I could get significantly more power out of them ... (and on) very tough days, they certainly meant that even when very tired and fatigued you could use them with accuracy and confidence. (Read more)