I have a camera tripod[0] with detachable legs, allowing you to use it as a monopod. The thing's incredibly sturdy, and the monopod could easily be used as a hiking pole. Similarly, maybe there's a way to DIY a tripod out of hiking poles?

The rules really are ridiculous. You aren't allowed to bring a clear bottle of water, but you are allowed to bring fish in your carry on. Freeze that water, or put a fish in that bottle of water, and it is allowed, because you're transporting live fish! I was going through a checkpoint a few weeks ago and forgot a filled, reusable water bottle in my backpack. Instead of just letting me dump the bottle out and proceed, the TSA handler made me go to the back of the line and go through the entire checkpoint, body scanner etc again. If I had just brought a fish with me, I could have avoided the whole thing.

[0] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VN5LRYQ No longer for sale, but there are similar ones