tucson: My husband is going on a very long hike and is wanting to find a walking stick. I have no idea where to get one. I called Academy and they do not carry them. We are new to the area and don't really know where to look.|||I personally am not too fond of commercial "walking sticks". Usually, they are too flimsy for extended use. Your best bet is the local lumberyard or a hardware store that carries "dowels", or "doweling". You'll want something along the line of one-inch doweling, about five feet in length. You'll also need some medium-grit and fine-grit sandpaper, in order to finish the dowel properly. Simply sand down any rough spots until it is smooth. (Do try and pick one that has minimal rough spots.) <g> Then, apply some preservative -- Tung Oil or Boiled linseed oil is best. (I lean towards "Formby's" brand Tung Oil, but that's me.) Apply the oil liberally, and let it soak in for about a day. Re-sand any areas which swelled out. Apply another coat, wait a day, and sand again. Apply some more -- you want the oil to soak deep into the wood. My stick has seen about two year's of usage, with hardly any damage. Regards, Gaucho|||I order stuff from these people for everything, they also offer walking sticks/shafts. www.sportsmansguide.com