I used to run around in the woods all the time when I was younger but we didn't call it hiking. Followed all the game trails and never got lost. Seems like I could always tell which way was home.
But before I went on my first real hike in the Sipsey Wilderness you can bet I bought a good map and compass, plus took a class on how to use a compass. With age comes some wisdom I guess.
Really enjoyed my first hike in Sipsey Wilderness. Went to see the "tree". It's a 150 ft tall yellow popular that's a couple hundred yrs old. 4 miles in and 4 out. Not a bad hike but my knees sure told on me that evening.
Went back a couple of weeks later to view Kinlock falls and a huge limestone overhang. Man was it pretty.
Now work, bad weather and moving are getting in the way of my hiking! Oh well, I'll get back to it soon.

Re the knees--try trekking poles! Also consider reducing your pack weight. This site has lots of articles on doing this (listed in left column of home page).

Yeah I know my pack weight was way to much. Made that common mistake thinking it's better to have to much than to little. Ha!
I've always walked in the woods and carried a staff. Carried a slim hickory staff on this trip too. How would trekking poles be different?

Well, for one, there are two of them. And it's difficult to describe how to use them - but if you check out Youtube and look for videos on nordic walking and trekking poles, you can see them in action.

I eliminated a transient knee pain that happened around 8-10 miles into a hike with poles, and also they have saved my life while crossing streams on several occasions. If used properly they take roughly 8 lbs of the load from your legs/joints as you hike.

I went from a single staff (to support my bum knee) to trekking poles 5 years ago, and the difference was amazing! Even the bum knee was better, probably because of a more even gait. The poles have greatly improved my balance and have saved me from some potentially nasty falls.

I also found that using trekking poles (with a rubber cap over the points) for daily exercise walking turns walking into a whole-body exercise that exercises my core muscles (abs, back, shoulders) as well as arms and legs. I also found this daily "Nordic Walking" very helpful to learn to handle my dog's leash while using the poles without stabbing the dog!

Excellent site on how to use trekking poles: Pete's Poles Page

Maybe its just me but I find that I carry the poles until the terrain becomes fairly steep and until then they're just extra weight. They help off load your knees a bit by putting some of the load into your shoulders but I find them a waste in level hiking, perhaps if I hurt more or hiked slower I would feel differently.

I think if your daypack weighs over ten pounds you should seriously consider making it lighter.
Jim

Never threw my pack on a scale, cause I'd probably be embarassed about it's weight!
Never thought trekking poles would make much different. Been one of them folks that figured it was more of a fashion thing, like folks didn't want to carry some ol' stick. But sounds like I should look into trying them out.
Knew if I just listen sum I'll learn something new every day. Thanks

I gave up on sticks when I hiked where there weren't many to pick up, and having a stick I could stow was an important safety item. However, like Jim, I don't have the physical issues mentioned earlier.

OregonMouse. How do you use two trekking poles when hiking with a dog? I haven't figured that out yet. Unless of course the dog is off leash.

Howie

Learned over the weekend my knee problem wasn't just from the hiking. Had the same pains while moving this weekend. Just like after the hike it gets better with rest but I'm gonna have to hunt me up a doc pretty soon. Extra weight is not good on it so I'll be lookin into lighten up my pack for sure. LOL!

Practice using dog + leash + trekking poles while exercise walking around town with rubber tips on your trekking poles, to avoid possibly stabbing the dog. This also preserves your pole points from being dulled and the neighborhood sidewalk from being gouged (to which your neighbors may object). Using trekking poles for exercise walking turns walking into a whole-body exercise, which is a good thing.

Your dog will quickly learn to "heel" a little farther away from you than the normal position to avoid the poles. Hopefully you are not showing your dog in obedience competitions in which this would be considered a fault.

Teach your dog to walk ahead of you without pulling on the leash, except when the leash is fastened to his pack harness and you command him to pull. Even more important, teach him to walk directly behind you. I've found that this last position works best on the trail so I don't fall over the dog when he suddenly stops dead right in front of me to check out an entrancing smell. It's also a safer method to use when the dog is off-leash--you can grab him easily when other hikers, horses, bears or whatever appear on the trail in front of you. I make my dog walk "behind" whenever we come to a fence or a hedge right next to the sidewalk. I walk right next to the fence so he can't pass me. Hysson got the idea very quickly. I used the verbal command "behind," but any unique command will do as long as it doesn't sound like another obedience command. I didn't even have to use treats; a lavish "good dog" was enough.

I hold the leash in my left hand, between my palm and the pole grip. The leash is usually wadded up a bit so the dog won't put a foot over it. It took a bit of practice to get the hang of this--again, best learned close to home rather than on the trail with packs.

Another good command to teach the dog is the "flip finish" in which the dog starts sitting facing you, then makes a loop to your left and ends up sitting beside you in the "heel" position. Here's how to teach it. However, you certainly don't need an electric collar and I definitely don't recommend it for 90% of dogs. The type of finish usually taught first in obedience classes has the dog make a circle going to your right side, circling all the way around you and ending up sitting at your left in the "heel" position. This method is fine in obedience classes (unless the dog gets distracted when behind your back!), but when hiking with trekking poles (where you can't change the leash from one hand to another) ends up with you having to turn around with the dog to avoid being wound up in the leash! I haven't used this method since I started using trekking poles 5 years ago. The "flip finish" is usually taught in advanced obedience classes. It's best to use a different command for the "flip" finish if your dog has already been taught the circling type finish. I was taught to use "around" for the circling finish and "finish" for the flip finish. Some trainers just use "heel" and teach only one type finish, or use "finish" for the circling type. If your dog associates "heel" or "finish" with the circling type finish, find another command for the flip finish that doesn't sound like one already used. ("Flip" is not a good command because it sounds too much like "sit.")

EDIT: After all the above verbosity, I finally found a decent video on UTube about teaching the flip finish. The sound is disabled but the video is just fine. Teaching the flip finish

These maneuvers are best practiced around home before going out on the trail. To get a good tight "finish," I found treats a big help. I practice this one with Hysson when practicing the "come" command which ends with him sitting in front of me facing me. Be sure to reward him for the "come" before ordering him to "finish" (or whatever you use), since you don't want him to confuse the two commands.

With the constant elevation changes in the Sierras, my wife and I use our poles
for every trip. She used to wear knee braces and gave them up after using
the poles. I like to use backpacking as a way to keep in shape and I think
using the poles gives my arms a way to participate in the workout.

We also use a Tarp Tent Squall 2 and the poles have a second use
for holding the tent up.