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My name is Jack Althoff. I was asked to be a guest blogger for Brazos this summer due to my love of the outdoors. I grew up in the city of Chicago, but spent most of my life looking for the best fishing spots outside the city, primarily on the many lakes of Wisconsin. I’m naturally inclined towards building and fixing things and have a great respect for Mother Nature. I was in the Marines when I was younger and take great pride in our country. I love fly fishing new streams with my clumsy waders, three boxes of flies...

Here's the original article by Dan Crane   Everyone needs something or someone to lean on for support once in a while. Backcountry explorers are no different, whether it is a pair of telescoping hiking poles or simply a thick stick picked up along the trail. A pole or stick can assist with a wide range of backcountry situations from crossing a beaver dam to descending a mountain. This extra support becomes even more important as one gets older when the knee and hip joints need relief from the stress caused from hours of hiking over arduous terrain.   Although most hikers use the typical high-tech...

  Why the Free Form Hickory Is Our Best-Selling Walking Stick We make walking sticks from more than a dozen different wood species, in dozens of handle styles and lengths. So it says something that one stick has consistently outsold everything else in our lineup for years: the Free Form Hickory Walking Stick. Here's what customers actually say about it — and why it might be the right stick for you, too. 1. Hickory Is the Ideal Trail Wood Hickory is what American craftsmen have historically used for ax handles, hammer handles, and other tools that need to absorb repeated...

  How a Walking Stick Can Improve Your Workout Most people think of walking sticks as tools for balance or trail support. And they are — but they're also surprisingly effective fitness equipment. Whether you walk your neighborhood, hike forest preserve trails, or stroll along the beach, adding a walking stick (or two) to your routine genuinely changes the workout. Here's the science behind why — and how to get the most out of it. What Happens to Your Body When You Use a Walking Stick When you carry and plant a walking stick with each stride, your upper body...