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How to Make a Hiking Stick. Nothing makes trekking through the wilderness easier than
a good, sturdy hiking stick. Make yours personal by constructing it yourself. You will need
Stick Pocketknife Saw Sandpaper Drill Leather cord Stain or varnish Polyurethane Steel wool
and paint. Step 1. Find a straight, strong stick or branch. Long roots and saplings with
a diameter of 5-to-7 inches at the wide end work well. Look for sticks with a slight taper,
and long enough to trim to about 5 feet 6 inches in length. Step 2. Strip your stick
down to the bare wood, peeling away the bark and trimming off all of the bark, branches,
and knots. Use a saw to remove anything that you can't scrape away with your pocketknife.
Step 3. Allow your stick to dry out for four to six weeks. A warm, sunny location is best,
but the most important thing is to keep it dry. Check it periodically for insects and
rot. Step 4. Sand your stick after it's cured. Start with a coarse-grit sandpaper, such as
120 grit, and work your way up to a fine grit, such as 600 to 800 grit. Sand your stick until
it's smooth and poses no splinter threat. Step 5. Drill a hole through your stick, near
the handle, and thread the leather cord through the hole. Then tie a knot in the cord so that
you have a wrist strap. Some people find a wrist strap uncomfortable, but using one guards
against dropping and losing your stick. Step 6. Apply a coat of oil stain or varnish, and
then a coat of polyurethane to protect your stick. When the polyurethane dries, rub it
with fine steel wool, and then apply another coat. You can use colored or clear finishes
-- whichever best suits you. Step 7. Paint your stick in any style you like, or else
keep it natural looking. Go for a hike and use your stick for support as you traverse
rough terrain. Did you know When hiking the Grand Canyon from rim to river to rim, hikers
have to deal with an elevation differential of more than 10,000 feet.