Why Sticks?

Hiking sticks not only help you get around but are also great decorator items that are fun to collect. My sticks serve both purposes — they're functional and artistic.

I specialize in "Twisty Sticks" -- hiking sticks made out of "traumatized" wood formed by the strong twisting, winding and pulling actions of vines. My best specimens come from forests that are healing from injuries inflicted by tornadoes and forest fires.

FINDING THE BEST WOOD

I usually find the best wood for hiking sticks in thickets and forests that are making a comeback from a fire or storm. Left to her own devices, Mother Nature regrows forests in a process that (with a small stretch of the imagination) can be called "plant warfare." Trees go to extremes to win the war. When this happens, the wood takes on unusual shapes and features.

The plants' battlefield is a snarly place. A years- or decades-long tug-of-war can ensue between upward-struggling saplings and downward-pulling vines. This "conflict" is so slow that it's waged right under our noses without notice by the human eye. The battle is very real as plants compete for sunlight. The plants grow however they can to get to the direct rays of light. I typically find many good sticks among such wild tangles of growth.

Trees usually win the competition with vines and other plants, but not unscathed. As a forest restores itself, vines bite deep into tree trunks and limbs. Vines creep and slither upward while trying to establish supremacy through a series of choke holds that will enable them to kill or cover anything that blocks the sun. Birds and insects also affect the shape of wood. Evidence of wood-eating insects and even the birds' "pecking holes" add character to wood.

The stongest vines leave ligature marks. As a tree's circumference expands, its wood can overlap or completely encompass the vine, which then appears to grow through or even "bore through" the wood. This permanent envelopment creates fascinating hiking sticks and other artistic wood products.

BEAUTIFUL WOOD, FEW EMBELLISHMENTS

Sticks that feature carvings of Indian faces, animals and so on are in vogue, but I have purposely resist the temptation to add these embellishments. The wood I collect is interesting in itself. My hiking sticks and other wood products are beautifully crooked and naturally decorated by the forces of Mother Nature -- with twists, crooks and spirals.

TREE IDENTIFICATION

My wife Patt and I use the National Audubon Society Field Guide to Trees (Eastern Region) to identify the hardwood trees we use in stick-making. By comparing leaves and bark with the book's photos, we're usually right on target. But making an absolutely correct identification is difficult. I never guarantee that a particular stick is anything but "pretty." If pressed for an ID, I will share my layman's best guess.

I believe anyone who likes wood will appreciate the unique features of the pieces I select for their striking appearance, strength and suitability.

PLEASE INQUIRE

Whether you collect hiking sticks, put them to practical use, decorate with them (some decorators even use them for curtain rods), or all of the above, I believe you will appreciate my work. See what others have said about my sticks.

Because I'm disabled, with numerous health "issues," stick-making is a slow process for me. Working in many short sessions, I can complete about one hiking stick per week. If you're interested in owning one of my sticks, please inquire about my current availability of dry stock, which I've seasoned until it's strong and dry before beginning the stick-making process. The dry weight is significantly lighter than the wood's original "green weight."

If you're a woodworker or enjoy making sticks, join my Yahoo! discussion group, which is a great place to share ideas and tips.

PRICE INFORMATION

Prices generally range from $35 to $150 and depend on how much time and material I've invested in a particular stick. I try to keep a few ahead and can e-mail photos of what I've got on hand -- just send me a request. Shipping and handling for one stick is around $50 within the continental U.S. Ask about shipping costs. Drop me a line at algerharris@gmail.com and I'll be happy to answer questions or supply further information.