Hiking sticks are not only used to support a little of your weight to pull you up that mountain.  They come in handy for all kinds of things.

1.  fishing.....if you don't have a fishing pole add some string, a safety pin and grasshopper or worm for bait.

2.  spear.....when really necessary in a extreme situation, you can sharpen the end after removing the rubber tip and sharpen it like a spear.  Makes a great weapon if caught in the wilderness and you have nothing else.

3.  quick sand.....of yes...you can use a hiking stick to pull yourself out of quick sand or better yet to measure the mud before you sink into it.  If you didn't do that and land in quick sand hold the pole perpendicular to yourself and lay backwards while you wiggle ever so slowly your feet upwards till you are in the same horizontal position as your pole.    The stick can be used for your support for climbing out in a horizontal fashion till your legs are up further and you can crawl out.  Quick sand is tricky and it is important to relax and never panic.  The pole supports you in the sand similar to a floating log in water.

4.  meditating....sometimes while hiking it is useful to play with the handle like a smooth stone to focus the mind or to get it off of other things.  This is useful to ease the mind and let the spirit soar.

5.  knapsack.....remember the hobos in the olden days with their stick and on them they tied a lunch or a few belongings.  If something happens to your knapsack a cloth and hiking stick will work.

  Thanks for stopping by to see my walking sticks.  Please come back in late 2008 for new ideas and a larger variety of designs.