Alternative to Hiking Sandals?

Vabram Five Finger Classic

At first glance, I was convinced that this strange footwear had to be a joke!!!
But now...I've seen them on actual hiking feet!
If I could bring myself to put up my Keens...maybe I should try them on our trails?
How could I gather coral dust between my toes with these strange boys??!!
Could these be better than hiking sandals?
Leave a comment if you've ever worn them, or have an opinion.

Hiking, Walking, Moving

Want to lose weight for free? No supplements needed, no drugs required, take a walk or a hike. With the economy deteriorating fast we are all looking for things to do that are free. Unemployment is up, prices are up, about the only thing going down are our home values and retirement funds.

The weather is perfect for walking. Start the walking regime that works for you. If you are in reasonably good shape, just open your door step outside and start walking. If you have any health problems at all, check with your doctor before you start any exercise program. You should walk fast enough to get your heart rate up but not so fast that you cannot speak comfortably. Try to increase your intensity or distance every few days. To increase your weight loss and conditioning try to jog for short spurts.

Grab the dog, call a friend, bribe a child, do whatever it takes to get moving. You will feel better after taking your walk or tackling a trail, and you may just lose weight in the process.

I got to strap on my beloved Keens a week ago and hike the beaches of San Diego!! They were glorious!! The hiking shoes and the beach!! I gathered real 'coral' dust between my toes!!
ahhh!!!
I broke down and bought myself a pair of hiking shoes from Keen this month as well. They are marvelous!!! They're light and airy and come with plenty of traction and style!!
LOVE, LOVE, Love my Keens!!!

Day Hike Anyone?

Billed as a backpack that is stocked and packed and ready to go for your pleasure on a day hike...they would be happy to take your $500 for the chance.
There's lots of good stuff in there though, including a first aid kit, poop trowel, space blanket, multi-tool, headlamp -- but alas, no duct tape. Alas, every well equipped backpack MUST come with duct tape!!
Doesnt it kind of make you wonder who would spend this much for a day pack...sure its a nice idea, but dont you envision the person purchasing such a thing as this, as being the one who would immediately get lost on a trail and need rescuing and find themselves on the news?
God bless the good intentioned hikers and God bless capitalism!!!
If you'd like- go HERE to find out more.

10 Most Dangerous Hikes in America

(I know, I know...this isnt America...but still....)

From a slippery Sierra catwalk to a treacherous Hawaiian paradise, Kelly Bastone in Backpacker posted this list in 2008, naming the country’s 10 most hazardous hikes.

The Maze, UT

Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon, AZ

Barr Trail, Pikes Peak, CO

Mt. Washington, NH

Muir Snowfield, Mt. Rainier, WA

Huckleberry Mtn., Apgar Range, MT

Kalalau Trail, Kauai, HI

Buckskin Gulch, UT

Abrams Falls, Great Smoky Mtns., TN

Mist Trail, Half Dome, CA
( I wonder where Angels Land ranks on the list?)

Click here for details on each.

One of Ten Top Adventures

Im re-visiting a book that may be one of my all time favorite books I've ever read. At least as far as being inspire and motivated by a true and unique story.
You may be wondering what it has to do with hiking?

First, learn a bit about Greg Mortinson.

"A dazed climber descending from a failed attempt on K2, got lost, stumbling into a remote village."


Greg Mortenson is the co-founder of nonprofit Central Asia Institute www.ikat.org , founder of Pennies For Peace www.penniesforpeace.org , and co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Three Cups of Tea www.threecupsoftea.com , and author of the bestsellerStones into Schools www.stonesintoschools.com.

In 2009, Mortenson received Pakistan’s
highest civil award, Sitara-e-Pakistan
(“Star of Pakistan”) for his dedicated
and humanitarian effort to promote
education and literacy in rural
areas for fifteen years.

This guy has done more by himself to help Pakistan than all the hundreds of millions spent by the U.S. government. I love the title of this article: He Fights Terror With Books I highly recommend his first book.

"Never has the failure to climb a mountain
led to such success. After Greg Mortenson
failed to climb K2 in 1993 to honor his
dead sister, he picked a new mountain. He
raised enough money so a small village in
Pakistan could build their own school.

In 2006 he published Three Cups of Tea, a
book chronicling his journey. By 2009 he
had supported more than 131 schools in
Pakistan and Afghanistan. At a time when
U.S. foreign policy is governed by military
might that includes Shock and Awe and a
flock of high-altitude drones, Greg Mortenson
took a simpler, gentler approach. He traveled
on rugged roads to small villages—in the same
remote regions where the United States
dropped bombs from unseen and unheard planes
high in the sky—to deliver cash so locals could
build schools from stones and have basic
supplies for their children. He took the war
against violence out of the sky and put it in
the hands of young girls on the ground. "




Outside – The Top 10 Adventure Stories of the Decade

Can I Have That....Please!!!!????

are you tempted to purchase one for you and every member of your hiking family!!??

Hoverwhat?? Hoverflies!!!

(image from wikimedia)

They like landing on sweaty skin, sampling the salt.

"Flies in the Diptera family Syrphidae are commonly known as hoverflies, flower flies, or Syrphid flies. …

Many Syrphids mimic bees or wasps in appearance. It is thought that this mimicry protects hover flies from falling prey to birds and other insectivores which avoid eating true wasps because of their sting. …

Hover flies get their name from their characteristic flight pattern of hovering nearly still, then darting a short distance very rapidly only to start hovering again, a pattern not seen in the wasps and bees they mimic."

Wikipedia

They can be found at altitude on trails most everywhere around the world.


"About 6,000 species in 200 genera have been described.
Hoverflies are common throughout the world and can be
found on every continent except Antarctica. Hoverflies
are harmless to most other animals despite their mimicry
of the black and yellow stripes of wasps, which serves
to ward off predators. …"

wikipedia

How about that!!??

All sorrows are less with bread.
from: Don Quixote
by: Cervantes 1602

I was fortunate enough to spot a pair of foxes out and about on the Paradise Rim hike, early one morning. Every once in a while I am treated to such a rare event. I am always grateful!!!
Enjoy!!!

Principles of Leave No Trace

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors


Plan Ahead and Prepare

1. Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
2. Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
3. Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
4. Visit in small groups. Split larger parties into groups of 4-6.
5. Repackage food to minimize waste.
6. Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.


Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

1. Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
2. Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
3. Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.
4. In popular areas:


1. Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.

2. Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.

3. Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.

5. In pristine areas:

1. Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.

2. Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.


Dispose of Waste Properly

1. Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
2. Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
3. Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
4. To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.


Leave What You Find

1. Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
2. Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
3. Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
4. Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.


Minimize Campfire Impacts

1. Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
2. Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
3. Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
4. Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.


Respect Wildlife

1. Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
2. Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
3. Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
4. Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
5. Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.


Be Considerate of Other Visitors
1. Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
2. Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
3. Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
4. Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
5. Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises

link here

Merril Mens Hiking Sandal

Built with open-air breathability of a sandal, but the comfort of a shoe, this sandal features a waterproof leather upper for support, and Aegis® treatment in the spandex neoprene lining and EVA footbed adds the best in antimicrobial protection. The nylon-injected arch shank provides excellent arch support and stability. Protect your foot with each step you take with the help of a rubber toe bumper, Vibram® siped outsole and stretchable mesh tongue.

Features & Benefits of Merrell Men’s Saugatuck Multi-Sport Fisherman Sandals:
Waterproof leather upper with an elastic lace and lock system provides a customized fit.
Aegis antimicrobial treatment in the neoprene lining and footbed fights odor and bacteria.
Nylon injection molded arch shank supports the arch for added comfort and stability.
Rubber toe bumper protects the forefoot from bumps and scrapes on rocky terrain.
Vibram siped rubber outsole provides excellent grip on wet surfaces, keeping you steady.
Compression molded EVA foot frame enhances walking comfort and stability.
Other Important Information About Merrell Men’s Saugatuck Multi-Sport Fisherman Sandals:
Material Content: waterproof leather upper, spandex neoprene upper lining treated with Aegis, compression molded EVA insole, Vibram rubber outsole.
Care: Buff with a leather cleaner. Wipe off with a dry cloth.
Imported.

Mens Teva Hiking Sandal

Coupling the freedom of a flip-flop with the security of an ankle strap, the "Original" Teva was an instant hit and quickly became the shoe of choice within the Grand Canyon River Guide community. As a commitment to our heritage on the Grand Canyon, you can still find styles like the Original, the Ultimate Thong and the Universal Buckle within the Teva® collection today.
From this beginning a culture of passion for the outdoors has defined the Teva® lifestyle. The name Teva®, pronounced "teh'-vah", comes from a Hebrew word meaning nature. The hand in our logo is derived from the symbolic language of the Hopi people. When translated, the hand is a symbol for friendship and the spiral a symbol for water giving us our creed: "friendship with water".
Moving into the next 25 years, Teva® remains committed to both the innovation in footwear suited for the outdoor lifestyle and the protection of the earth's waterways.
(description from Teva official site)