Well I gave the old hiking pole a try last night and unfortunately it collapsed on me. Even though I tightened as best I could, it slipped from about 31" to about 27" which wasn't a real big deal but it allowed my UQ to loosen up and created a slight air gap. I think the safest bet is to purchase a set of JRB poles for the BMBH as suggested by my good friend fullcount. This will also ensure that my poles are always available for use in setting up my tarp if needed. I'll let you know how that turns out...