That’s funny, I’ve seen a person here and assumed they used them to pick up trash along the way! I think the pole idea is brilliant. We just sold our condo and moved into an apartment temporarily until we find our next home. There is a short, wide step at the edge of our patio that doesn’t have a rail I can hold onto. It’s a pain having to have my walker around just to navigate the step when I’d like to get out and about that way. Since it’s an apartment, we can’t attach a rail to the step or cement a pole in the ground beside it, but these ski poles would work wonderfully! I can keep them on the patio so I can easily grab them to stick in the ground and safely make the little side step down. Thanks to whoever started this ski pole discussion!