Walking sticks have been around since the year of the flood. In ancient Egypt, a stick or staff was seen as a prized possession, buried alongside its owner to protect their travels in the afterlife. Often used as weapons, they also symbolized wealth and status for powerful men, carved with elaborate patterns and adorned with jewels and gems. Genealogy sticks told stories about families, passed down from generation to generation with burnt markings, colored oils and intricate carvings. Hiking sticks, comparably simple in form, have played a role in the ascent and descent of primitive hikers since the beginning of time.
Our friends at Blue Bear Outside, a SLC-based outdoor lifestyle brand, have created a customized walking stick for RANGE Magazine, handcrafted by founder Thomas Bender. Originally used on a backpacking trip in Yosemite, the stick was sanded down, primed, painted with bold “BBO” blue, and then glossed to highlight its natural wormholes and organic lines. Complete with a jazzy hand-screened bandana, this BBO x RANGE walking stick is guaranteed to make a statement on and off the trail.
This article was originally published in RANGE Magazine Issue Three.
XX JEANINE