UKC

I’m a reasonably fit sixty year old about to do the man vs mountain Snowden 22miles.  Should I use trekking poles? 

I guess only you can decide....

Personally, seen the conditions of my left knee I use poles for most of my long walks, especially on the way down but If I could at all avoid it I will do without as I much prefer it that way.

I'm 68. I have been using 1 pole whilst struggling a bit with thigh pain from my hip replacement, definitely an advantage when going downhill, more so with scree and boulders (like around Tryfan). Having said that, I did not take a pole on my recent crossing of the Welsh 3000s (33 miles) or around Edale skyline (20 miles) because the leg is now behaving itself. I did not miss the pole and hope not to need it again, although it reminds me how much I enjoyed skiing...

Good luck on your challenge, which seems unnecessarily arduous but the going looks easy enough underfoot...

Only if I was using skis on snow.