The trekking poles I bought prior to leaving for the trip proved to be much more than a source of amusement (see both photos above) but they may have saved my life (or my ankle from being twisted). After we scrambled up a particularly steep mountain pass that left me breathless and close to miserable, we naturally had to descend on the opposite and equally steep side. Small rocks a steady foothold do not make - halfway down I began to slide out of control and nearly pitched forward until I jammed both my poles into the ground and caught myself just in time. My triceps and obliques felt strained for the next half hour but I'll take that over a twisted ankle (or death) anyday.