The Great Wall of China – Jinshanling to Simatai hike (Beijing)

When I went to China, I had planned on doing a Great Wall hike. At least until I found out that the hike I planned to do from Jinshanling to Simatai is a 600-foot climb with some steep sections (I read some people say 49% grade, and others talk of scrabbling up slopes). This is supposedly the part of the wall with the best views/pictures that’s easily reachable in the day from Beijing 

Pro-tip: If you want to do this trip, it is limited and the easiest way to get to it is through the hostel I stayed at – Beijing Downtown Travelotel***  You can book them through many sites including www.booking.com (this link may get you 10% off your first booking).

So I considered that I’m a 40-something desk-job woman, and read a few more reviews from similar-ish people, and considered how much I walk (a lot, albeit in flat Chicago). If I go, if worse comes to worst, I go back down off the wall at one of the many access points and find some other way back to the city. You can always see for a ways ahead what the trail will be like. I’ve also read that there may be ways around some of the sections if you get tired and want to go down and just walk to the end at the bottom of the wall. So it seems there are a couple of options if it’s just too much for me. [Note added after the trip: Based on what I found out about the timing and weather while I was there, I did opt not to do this trip].

However, it does seem like having a set of hiking poles would be a good idea – given that there is no railing and the wall is falling apart in some areas in this section as it’s mostly not restored (other than safety concerns).
So, today I’m ordering this combo of cheap, highly rated, most useful trekking poles I could find on Amazon. I’ve been in other situations where trekking poles (or pole) could have been helpful so I figured about $40 wasn’t bad for something I and my friends/family can use too. These are super light, and the reviews are great.

In about a month, we’ll find out how I fared, and what the hike is really like.
Later…

Well, I got the trekking poles I’d ordered earlier for hiking on the Great Wall of China. [Note: as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases]

(Click the ad above if you want to see them.)

They are really quite nice. Very very light which is wonderful with all the weight restrictions the airlines are enacting. They come apart into 3 pieces so you can fit them in a carry-on size bag, although you can’t take them in a carry-on onto the plane according to TSA rules. They have several different tips (like for snow or smooth hard surfaces) and come in a nice carry bag. Overall I’m quite happy and will likely be able to use these many times when I’m in various national parks and on other trips.

If you are getting trekking poles for a trip, do make sure to look up how to hold them, as many people don’t use the straps for their full use, which puts more strain on your hands than necessary.