Skip to main content

Discover PCF

In this episode - A Controlled Fall . . .

Summer is here; as you hit the hiking trails, let me suggest a technique you might find helpful or at least a challenge to try. I call it the PCF technique "Patrick's Controlled Fall."

If you live near any large hills, I challenge you to at least try this technique. I stumbled upon this during my adventures wilderness backpacking in the Sierras a few years ago. Of course, this is not for everyone; falling gracefully takes coordination and skill. Me, I'm able to practice the technique when hiking Daley Ranch in Escondido, CA. 

During a recent Saturday morning hike, my conversation with Lori went something like this, "This may sound crazy to you, but training for this year's High Sierra trip, I'm going to practice my controlled fall technique to improve my decent pace; on the mountain trails."

Her response was, "I'll see you back at the truck."

"I'll wait for you at the bottom of the hill; we're not in a hurry."

Here's the procedure.

First, you will need a pair of easily adjustable; I prefer aluminum (or fiberglass) quality Trekking poles. A superb set of poles will have Quick Locks vs. Twist Locks and ruled markings, usually in centimeters (cm).

With a pole in each hand, hold them about shoulder-width apart to determine your correct length before descending, be sure to have the wrist straps attached. Adjust the height, so your arms are parallel to the ground, wrists straight, at about waist level. This is the recommended height for hiking flat terrain. For my height (about 5 ft. 7 inches), my preferred shaft length is about 130 cm. Now extend each rod another 20 cm. from that position.

As you begin your descent, lengthen your stride; (you will feel like you're falling at first). As each foot comes forward, pump your arms; the hand with the corresponding pole has extended in front of you at a 45-degree angle. You will develop a rhythm. It's essential to keep your feet straight and avoid pronation. This allows you to take full advantage of the non-slip tread design of your hiking boots. Using the wrist strap as your support, hold the poles loosely as you jab them directly to the ground. Keep your wrists straight and pivot the opposite pole into position as you stride.

There will be times that you will slip, don't panic; your hiking poles will prevent you from falling. This cadence allows you to descend rather steep trails at a fantastic pace. With practice, you will get into the "flow" of the exercise and make great time.

Now, I know what you're thinking; WHAT? This sounds crazy! Hah ha, Yes, Lori's sentiment exactly. If you are brave and just a bit crazy, give Patrick's Controlled Fall a try!

Disclaimer: The participant hereby warrants that they are physically fit and able to participate in (Patrick's Controlled Fall) without any undue risk. We are not responsible for accidents.

On second thought, maybe it's best not to try this ridiculous maneuver.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Comments

Most Popular of All Time

Mom Was Right

In this episode: Mom Was Right (Again!) . . . Remember that old saying, "Mom knows best?" Well, this week, it resonated profoundly. I vividly recall my mother's steadfast remedy for the common cold, which was ingrained in my 1960s childhood: "Rest in bed, drink plenty of fluids, and take aspirin to reduce pain and fever." . . . Or now that I think about it, this may have been a Bayer aspirin commercial–Simple . . . Fast-forward to the age of AI and endless medical information at our fingertips, and guess what? Not much has changed. Yet, somehow, this week, Lori and I were blindsided by a cold—the first in over five years. My incredulous "How could this be?" quickly morphed into a dawning realization. Our company's annual meeting, a melting pot of colleagues from Illinois, Texas, Vietnam, Colorado, Northern California, and the Central Valley, was a veritable petri dish of germs. And, oh, the germs found me! Getting sick, especially after a long str...

Whispers of Spring

In this episode, Whispers of Spring . . . Spring has a way of sneaking in when you’re not looking. One day, you’re shaking off the last chill of winter, and the next, you realize the light has shifted, stretching shadows just a little longer. It didn’t make a big fuss about it—no dramatic entrance, no trumpets—just a quiet unfolding, like an old dog settling into a sunny spot on the porch. Last week, Daylight Saving Time kicked in, which meant we all fumbled with our clocks, grumbled a bit, and then, like frogs taken aback by a warm rain, leapt forward into longer evenings. The sun now lingers, in no rush to set, hanging in the sky like a tossed coin that refuses to fall. With the extra daylight, we find ourselves drawn outside once again, migrating to the back patio like folks are drawn to a warm campfire. The lawn chairs are right where we left them, waiting like old friends. The air hums with wind chimes, their tuned cylinders catching the breeze and weaving together something that...

Special April Fools' Edition: Did You Fall For It?

In this episode: Special April Fools' Edition: Did You Fall For It? (And a Little Baseball Nonsense) Welcome, fellow baseball aficionados and purveyors of the peculiar, to a very special, dare we say unpredictable, issue of On the Fly! Today, the air is thick with . . . well, probably just regular air, but a specific mischievous something is buzzing around. Can you feel it? Does that tingling sensation make you double-check your shoelaces and suspiciously eye any unusual packages? Yes, dear readers, it’s April 1st! A day steeped in mystery, shrouded in playful deception, and frankly, a day where you shouldn't believe anything you read (except maybe this . . .maybe). But before we descend into a whirlwind of whimsical falsehoods (don’t worry, we’ll mostly keep it light!), let’s take a quick, slightly wobbly, historical flight through the origins of this most unreliable of holidays. Whispers from the annals suggest a few intriguing possibilities for why we dedicate this particula...

At 92–Don's Digital Daydream

Listen to the audio here. In a world of his own–lives, ole' Doctor Don, Not one world, but three, 'til the setting of the sun! There’s his Blog-World , so bright, with words all a-whirl, And Book-World , with stories of boy and girl! Then, Day-World , where legs didn't leap, didn't run, Just shuffled and creaked 'til each day is done. But his brain, oh, his mind, it’s zippy and keen, A most curious fellow that ever was seen! At ninety and two, with a twinkle so bright, He met Chatty and said, "What a strange delight!" This box with the answers, so quick and so bold, Of theology and stories, new truths to unfold!" "Integrity, relationships, where do they fit? This thing makes me wonder, bit by bit!" He ponders and pokes with laughter and a grin, "Til POOF! he has gone to a world from within! A world made of words, a fantastical place, Where limits of the body, left not a trace! He Soares, and he zooms, with a thought and a rhyme, Trans...