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Keep On Trekking
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| First step in tying a basket back on or (this example) making a basket: Attach the cord to thepole tip at its CENTER |
Baskets on the latest poles stay put better than those on the earlier models used to, but when they come off it is surprising how useless the pole becomes. Worse still, if you use a pole without its basket, the threads on the plastic tip soon get damaged and your replacement basket will come off even more easily.
If the Basket is Found
Look for the basket if you can, since it's far easier to rig it back in place than it is to improvise a replacement basket. Chances are the basket flew off during a nasty bushwhack or while crossing a boulder field, so there isn't much hope of recovery. On the chance that you do find it ...
Tie the basket back on with cord (about 24 inches will do the trick). If the basket came off once, you can count on it coming off again, since the threads are probably stripped. Put the basket back in place, then tie the center of the cord length just beneath the basket with a Clove Hitch.
Pass the ends of the cord through or around the basket, wind the cord in opposite directions around the shaft above the ferrule, and tie off with a Reef Knot. Small, solid hiking baskets often have an indentation (to allow poles to lie closer together for transport) that you can pass the cord through to reduce chafing.
If the Basket is Lost
This replacement technique works for ski poles, too. All you need is a yard or so of spare bootlace or other strong cord, and three twigs about 3 inches (8 cm) in length for hiking poles, or 5-6 inches, (13-15 cm) for ski poles.
Cut the twigs to length using the saw attachment on your knife.
Tie the center of the cord round the pole tip so as to cover "threads" to protect them from wear. Ideally tie with a Clove Hitch.
Lash the first twig into position by passing the two ends of the cord around the tip and the twig in opposite directions. See photo for the "Square Lashing" pattern that will give you the strongest attachment.
Lash each of the other two twigs in place as in the photo. Neatness helps but isn't essential. You'll probably succeed as long as the cords always go around in opposite directions.
Finish the repair by passing the ends of the cord in opposite directions several times around the shaft, above the ferrule. Finish with a Reef Knot with several extra ties.
Details mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication
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