Make a Walking Stick

The next time you go hiking, why not take along a walking stick! It make it easier to balance on tougher trails and push away roots and branches. Also, they're fun to make and can be personalized just for you. Here are some basic steps to fashion your own stick.

Steps

 * 1)  Find  a suitable stick. Ideally, the perfect stick should have measurements about as long as the distance between your feet and your shoulders, and 1-2 inches (2.5cm - 5cm) thick. Always source your stick from fallen tree stock, not directly from a living tree, in part because damaging the trees hurts the environment you and others hike through, and because walking sticks need to be stiff, dried out and firm.
 * 2)  Push a fingernail into the stick and see if it makes an indentation. If it does, select a new stick, because the indentation signifies that you have chosen is too fresh to be useful.
 * 3)  Strip off all of the bark.  Use a pocketknife to do this. Take short, sharp strokes. Let the stick sit somewhere to dry after this procedure for about a week.
 * 4)  Sandpaper the dried stick until the surface becomes smooth. Start with fine sandpaper (marked 100 or 120). Once the surface is relatively smooth, finish with very fine sandpaper (marked 150-220). This step removes any splinters from the surface.
 * 5)  Craft a grip.  It is possible to purchase pre-made grips - for instance, you can buy one made out of leather or rubber. Alternately, use a round-lashing using rope, leather braid, or some other similar suitable materials. Attach firmly either using tacks, suitable glue and/or a knot tie.
 * 6) Finish the point of the stick. For mud and snow hiking, you should get a point that can bite into the surface. For sand or desert walking, a broader tip is better.

Tips

 * You can use a wood burning tool to burn personalized designs into your hiking stick.

Warnings

 * Never kill a tree just to make a walking stick from one of its branches. Always use a stick found on the ground.
 * If you are a child, an adult should always be present when you're working on your hiking stick.
 * When you are whittling your walking stick with your sharp pocket knife, always whittle away from your body and never inwards. Otherwise you may slip and badly wound yourself, and when you are hiking in a forest, you are a long way from medical attention.

Things You'll Need

 * A sturdy stick
 * A pocketknife or carving knife
 * Some fine and very fine sandpaper
 * A suitable hand grip

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Care for Hiking Boots
 * How to Keep a Trail Log While Hiking
 * How to Start Walking for Exercise