I slipped and fell hiking in a large creek a couple of years back. The only way through the 2-3 mile stretch is though the creek. I caught myself with my left arm and fractured my bone. I would not have slipped if I would have had the poles to help me find the bottom of the creek. I hiked the rest of the day with a makeshift stick that I found by the creek. I had so much fun hiking that day that my arm didn't really hurt until we got to the truck - but then again I'm tough like that