THE BASICS FOR DESCENTS (shafts angled in front)

Take smaller steps; keep knees slightly bent. Your whole body leans very slightly forward (rather than leaning back - where your heels may skid from under you). Lengthen the shafts perhaps 5cm to 20+cms (on gentle slopes, shaft length need not be increased). The steeper the slope the longer the shaft needed to avoid stretching forward with the arm away from the trunk and tipping forward onto the pole (adding momentum - especially if carrying a pack - making the descent even harder work to control). Try to keep your elbows back by your side, briskly flexing each forearm to free the shaft tip; immediately cock-back your wrist to angle/flick the shaft tip forward so it arcs and drops down parallel with the toes and just ahead of them. Brake with the heel of your hand, keeping fingers relaxed – bending at the elbow to allow your hand to pivot over the shaft tip until the shaft is vertical. Flex your elbow again briskly and quickly flick shaft tip forward so it arcs and drops for the next step.
Consider Side-Stepping down steep rock or steep rough sections: lower the outer pole first then the downslope leg before transferring weight across.
For more details see: Background / Descents page.

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User Guide pages:
SHAFT HEIGHT - PERSONALISING SHAFT HEIGHT - BASIC GUIDE - ASCENTS - DESCENTS - FOR FITNESS WALKING - TRAVERSING - BOULDER HOPPING - SCRAMBLING TERRAIN - CARE AND MAINTENANCE - STOWING / STORAGE