tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32975325974543719672024-03-05T10:55:20.854-08:00ExpeditionDanA blog about the Outdoors, trip reports, gear reviews, photography and other outdoor related miscellany. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-16907519189887995912015-02-11T13:51:00.002-08:002015-02-11T13:51:16.024-08:00Back Country Camping 101: 8 Essential Tips for your first trip<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
So you have finally decided to take the plunge and go on your first back country camping trip. However, as a backpacking newbie there are many pitfalls to avoid. These mistakes range from minor inconveniences to death march inducing calamities. Since it seems like making lists for success is all the rage these days I decided to make my own 8 step to get you pointed in the right direction.<br />
<br />
<b>Pick a suitable beginner trip</b><br />
While hiking the entire 2,663 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail may seem like a great first trip to some, you should focus on a shorter trip your first time out. Ideally, pick a trip lasting no more than 2 nights and covering no more than 10 miles total in case something goes wrong and you need to bail early. This will give you a good first exposure without the risk of being 40 miles from help when you accidentally feed a bear all of your food. I highly recommend laying your hands on a guidebook to help you know which trails will be good for beginners.</div>
</div>
<br />
A great option for a two night trip is what’s called a basecamp trip. The first day you hike into your destination and set up camp. Day two is then spent relaxing, eating all your food or hiking around and exploring the area before returning to camp. Then you pack up and hike out to your car the next day.<br />
<br />
<b>Trip planning</b><br />
How do you plan for a trip like this? Take a page from NASA and make yourself a handy checklist. Do you actually know where you are going to camp? Do you have all the appropriate permits for the area you are visiting? These are the type of things you need to make sure you have figured out in advance. Your pre-trip checklist should include all the food and gear you plan to take, any documentation you need as well as campsite locations and trail information. Also, be sure to actually take the necessary maps and trail guides with you; there is no sense in hiking way out into the wilderness only to realize you have no idea where the campsite is. Check the weather! You don’t want to lug around rain gear for no reason or leave the rainfly at home in monsoon conditions. Lastly, ALWAYS leave an itinerary with someone at home along with the phone numbers for the local ranger station. If you have a problem that prevents you from walking back to your car, it is much easier to find you if the search and rescue teams have an idea where you will be.<br />
<br />
<b>Get in shape!</b><br />
Being out of shape is probably the leading cause I see that keeps newbies from having fun when backpacking. Let’s be honest; even at the best of times hauling a huge pack full of junk up a mountain pass is an arduous task. Do yourself a favor and hit the gym or your local trails beforehand. Not only will this reduce your suffering but will allow you to make better time on the trail, leaving more time for relaxing or exploring when you reach your campsite.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack just the right amount of gear</b><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cgK4VCFp3JM/U-mSANmlSSI/AAAAAAAACCk/yngULlRSZbk/s1600/DSCN1372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cgK4VCFp3JM/U-mSANmlSSI/AAAAAAAACCk/yngULlRSZbk/s1600/DSCN1372.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a>One of the most difficult things when transitioning from car camping to backpacking is deciding how much gear you need to take. Do you really need that Dutch oven or an entire chocolate cake for 1 night in the wilderness? (Full disclosure, I have been on trips with people who have brought both of these items). Reducing weight is one of the biggest favors you can do yourself. While you can of course go out and spend hundreds or thousands of dollars buying the lightest gear available, it isn’t always the best thing for a beginner to do as you simply don’t know what you need or prefer. I find the best way to reduce weight without taking out a bank loan is to share as much gear with your hiking partners as you can. Besides your clothing, sleeping bag and toiletries you can pretty much share all the other gear you will need. This will let you split everything between multiple people and reduce your individual load. Also, don’t bring a guitar; just don’t do it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoUn5-mn_lH9_OHmWiBHLjFhTBszXAzpxW8E-cQRypl5rP3coheLzQ2owZJj-RX34gRfyFvtIQvc78r_o_g6Q3PVYx9ZmI5f4OAyJLCCMbnvj_n9yiLXLRJqowc2gfMEW-5WQqo_4ks4/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoUn5-mn_lH9_OHmWiBHLjFhTBszXAzpxW8E-cQRypl5rP3coheLzQ2owZJj-RX34gRfyFvtIQvc78r_o_g6Q3PVYx9ZmI5f4OAyJLCCMbnvj_n9yiLXLRJqowc2gfMEW-5WQqo_4ks4/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG" height="332" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>The Pack</b><br />
Choosing a pack is probably the most daunting gear choice for someone new to backpacking. It is pretty easy to tell when someone is buying their first pack. They tend to walk into their local gear store with a “deer in the headlights” look when they see the endless wall of packs to choose from. Save yourself an ulcer and do your research beforehand and try to narrow down your choice to at the very least a couple of brands to try out. There are really only 2 factors that are really important when choosing a pack: Fit and capacity. You want a pack that fits you well or you could get a visit from the dreaded hip blisters or have sore shoulders the entire time. The best way is to have a store clerk help you adjust everything correctly and then walk around the store with some weight to see how everything fits. You want the pack to feel like it is a part of your back as opposed to something on your back. Capacity is also really important as it determines how much or how little you can take. A good rule of thumb is that for 1-2 nights you want a 45-60 liter pack. Any more than that and you will be tempted to cram it full of extra stuff. Any less and you will probably be leaving a lot of gear at home or strapping tons of things to the outside of the pack.<br />
<br />
Beyond these two factors, most major brand packs are very similar in price and bells and whistles and I caution most new hikers to avoid choosing based on anything but the two major factors I mentioned above.<br />
<br />
<b>You are what you eat</b><br />
Meal planning and preparation is a huge part of a successful backpacking trip; and yet it also one of the areas where there is a huge range of opinions on what method is the ‘best’. The options available range from beef jerky and trail mix to dehydrated commercial backpacking meals on to more elaborate gourmet home designed meals. There certainly is a time and place for each type of meal and I have done trips where I have eaten beef jerky for 3 days and others where I ate pretty well. However, for your first trip you will want to focus most on ease of preparation and taste. A good rule of thumb I tend to use is, “If I would eat it at home, I will eat it on the trail.” I generally like to test out my food before I go as there is really nothing worse than getting to camp after a long day only to find out you brought a terrible dinner with you. For this reason I tend do make up my own meals and tailor them to my specific trip. Several good resources to use for some beginner meal ideas of your own are the Sierra Social Hub or Backpacking chef.<br />
<br />
<b>Cooking</b><br />
Step one for backpacking cooking; ditch the heavy camp stove. You really don’t need to lug a huge stove and fuel bottle around to cook with. There are several cost effective and very easy to use options on the market today that will save you a ton of weight. For a beginner, I usually recommend going with a canister stove over a white gas set up because it is a lot simpler and lighter, not to mention the stoves themselves are less expensive. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8925wAIctnxVQ-bjWuO7m_Ix8qRfb_fP_CE8qLMg9-_4lfrwU_eE-QRC9Yp9w1Y1CKjKcU5Dja2WjMtWoZdmi2c471UooD4MALvMJRmVPAE4NxIzU59xV_9Z62zOdTQ_3EfzeTCE8hOA/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8925wAIctnxVQ-bjWuO7m_Ix8qRfb_fP_CE8qLMg9-_4lfrwU_eE-QRC9Yp9w1Y1CKjKcU5Dja2WjMtWoZdmi2c471UooD4MALvMJRmVPAE4NxIzU59xV_9Z62zOdTQ_3EfzeTCE8hOA/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Dress for success</b><br />
So since you will be outdoors getting dirty you should throw on an old pair of jeans and a ratty T-shirt and head out into the wilderness, right? Wrong again! You want to stay away from cotton fabrics as they do not breathe well and dry slowly when wet. Once wet, cotton also offers minimal insulation and so you can get very cold even in warm weather. A much better option is one of the multitudes of polyester or wool “tech” fabrics available. In warm weather a single layer works great and on cooler weather a base layer and outer layer will keep you warmer. Zip off pants are a popular option, despite being kind of (ok, REALLY) dorky looking when worn around town. Fortunately, you won’t be attending any red carpet premiers in the wilderness so go with what you prefer. I generally use a single lighter weight pair of pants unless it’s really hot.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxwcCRmpd9HUlmGVMA2dnkzEMbAo4N01yJCRpP2-NqDXWm_42oiXqOxpiLd2fuxAcM74cX1fRvZKA00B4xL7rY9w1MeImrgywMWZHp-m_21U4-jTThbA07BFBfVBtpQXXB90G6rTroWw/s1600/DSCN1404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxwcCRmpd9HUlmGVMA2dnkzEMbAo4N01yJCRpP2-NqDXWm_42oiXqOxpiLd2fuxAcM74cX1fRvZKA00B4xL7rY9w1MeImrgywMWZHp-m_21U4-jTThbA07BFBfVBtpQXXB90G6rTroWw/s1600/DSCN1404.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And that's it! Really beyond that the best way to learn how to backpack is to do it!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-38067826049196844162014-07-18T15:59:00.002-07:002015-05-17T13:43:19.036-07:00The Road to Whitney 5 Trip Report: Did I mention it would be steep?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<i>"Writing about climbing is boring. I would rather go climbing!" </i>-Chuck Pratt<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPobtntGeMbbAdPJOiUe94xMW852CPAACkklfIFOy_tfP8mw9RMBEHxLdz7KetsWsrKk8DJaZBqhCdzZ-0ube22ER-FAStvssELPiktM9OoLl52X4n65m8LGuotKy67EwJNpOqhabUgE/s1600/DSC_0183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPobtntGeMbbAdPJOiUe94xMW852CPAACkklfIFOy_tfP8mw9RMBEHxLdz7KetsWsrKk8DJaZBqhCdzZ-0ube22ER-FAStvssELPiktM9OoLl52X4n65m8LGuotKy67EwJNpOqhabUgE/s1600/DSC_0183.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Whitney summit from the middle of the Portal Road. Setting up a shot and dodging cars is fun!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
With the overnight trip complete and my legs recovered, I have finally had time to put together something of a trip report. Overall, the trip was harder in many places than I expected and easier in others but still an absolute blast.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>Mountaineer's Route: Shorter does not mean easier</b></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
We hit the trail at 8am sharp the first day; it was forecast to be almost 90F on trail near the Whitney portal trailhead so we figured getting an early start would allow us to avoid baking on the trail. After around 20 minutes we reached the turn off from the main trail and headed off into the blissful unknown. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ftRkrH7Dog/U7oqOC-NtPI/AAAAAAAABj8/77HCTQz6ZGA/s1600/DSC_0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ftRkrH7Dog/U7oqOC-NtPI/AAAAAAAABj8/77HCTQz6ZGA/s1600/DSC_0187.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mt. Whitney Main Trail, at least the short part we used.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Since the Mountaineer's Route is only around 3.5 miles from the turn off to the summit it might seem like the easier choice; however it climbs at nearly 2,000 feet per mile the entire way. Almost as soon as we left the well manicured main trail, the upward slog hit us like a Mack truck. The first half mile winds sharply up through a maze of willow trees, pine trees and rocks while crossing back and forth across Lone Pine Creek. It was in this section that we met our first group of descending climbers; a grumpy group of 4 who seemed pretty dazed and in quite a hurry to get off the mountain. They proceeded to tell us how hot and terrible it had been at Iceberg Lake the day before and then headed off. My dad and I just sort of looked at each other and shrugged at them as they hobbled down the trail in a haze of grumpy pain.<br />
<br />
After another few minutes we finally emerged from the trees and got our first glimpse of the ledges; a sheer granite wall running along the right side of the canyon. We crossed the creek once again and made our way further up the canyon.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrgvXJ0Dqzs/U7oqQ24T8kI/AAAAAAAABkM/-D_GV06k5kw/s1600/DSC_0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrgvXJ0Dqzs/U7oqQ24T8kI/AAAAAAAABkM/-D_GV06k5kw/s1600/DSC_0189.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ledges. An imposing hunk of rock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Now the guides I had read all said along this section that the trail would be in the river. I had assumed that this meant "river bed" and that you would have to pick your way along the creek. Nope. It is a good thing we had waterproof boots because we were quite literally walking in the creek. However, the wet is not without its rewards; there are several great waterfalls that you hike more through than past.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WroN7MWkUDw/U7oqYhDI37I/AAAAAAAAB8A/tbZcw_ck-nw/s1600/DSC_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WroN7MWkUDw/U7oqYhDI37I/AAAAAAAAB8A/tbZcw_ck-nw/s1600/DSC_0194.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey! A waterfall for a trail.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We eventually made it through dense foliage and pointy rocks to the access point at the base of the ledges. This is where the fun really starts to pick up; and by fun I mean scrambling and exposure. We climbed up along a narrow fissure in the wall up to a lone tree that marks the route. Now my dad is no fan of heights but he made it just the same; though not without some nervous sounding comments along the way.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBACKylM70urtC08SA-50gldxhVfmQ1CgXVarlhIcthXAitxcbXKgBhg9EMD0IYpUX3DaSXo6xUfjtPMUTi9kjV73AlR1qqctb3OvV84tJFvFACJcoA-vi5_Qcgl38aOyrbgUnbQJ56UE/s1600/DSC_0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBACKylM70urtC08SA-50gldxhVfmQ1CgXVarlhIcthXAitxcbXKgBhg9EMD0IYpUX3DaSXo6xUfjtPMUTi9kjV73AlR1qqctb3OvV84tJFvFACJcoA-vi5_Qcgl38aOyrbgUnbQJ56UE/s1600/DSC_0204.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cresting the first ledge. You gain height really quickly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We spent the next 30 minutes or so traversing back and forth along the ledges to make our way to the top. Along the way, we somewhat successfully followed the rock cairns that mark the route. I often ended up looking back down at the way I had come and noticing I had gone the wrong way. Despite many horribly glaring yet slight navigational errors we made it to the top in two pieces.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ImGdgfqGO4E/U7oqhWZbEgI/AAAAAAAABlk/uc53V6SCR7w/s1600/DSC_0200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ImGdgfqGO4E/U7oqhWZbEgI/AAAAAAAABlk/uc53V6SCR7w/s1600/DSC_0200.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lone Pine way down in the distance. Not for climbers with a fear of heights.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpXXwlCMKmA/U7oqf0jlosI/AAAAAAAABlc/pf3RtnahGLQ/s1600/DSC_0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpXXwlCMKmA/U7oqf0jlosI/AAAAAAAABlc/pf3RtnahGLQ/s1600/DSC_0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpXXwlCMKmA/U7oqf0jlosI/AAAAAAAABlc/pf3RtnahGLQ/s1600/DSC_0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpXXwlCMKmA/U7oqf0jlosI/AAAAAAAABlc/pf3RtnahGLQ/s1600/DSC_0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpXXwlCMKmA/U7oqf0jlosI/AAAAAAAABlc/pf3RtnahGLQ/s1600/DSC_0199.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary on one of the more exposed ledges.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Once we made the top of the ledges and continued on our way, we met the second group of descending climbers. They had spent the previous 3 days climbing Mt. Whitney, Mt. Muir and Mt. Russel and were pretty beat. To top that off, they had brought only cold pizza for the entire trip and were in a big hurry to get down to eat something else. With the ledges done, you are immediately confronted with yet more steep, steep trail to climb.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZIaHo1dRBCkTYltA2ii3GLAPHBHCG1CujfOqhc2BZOTVnD-M2mt2JJ1f9BWaW1YiHo43nuPQ7g9OyGTePWGWDIZhryHHJ9KVzjNTDwNHBpwSfuTV-5zlayPWD8Z5anEMAz7JcnXmoYs/s1600/DSC_0208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZIaHo1dRBCkTYltA2ii3GLAPHBHCG1CujfOqhc2BZOTVnD-M2mt2JJ1f9BWaW1YiHo43nuPQ7g9OyGTePWGWDIZhryHHJ9KVzjNTDwNHBpwSfuTV-5zlayPWD8Z5anEMAz7JcnXmoYs/s1600/DSC_0208.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the ledges done, you still have to climb a steep valley...and then a mountain of course.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We made it to Lower Boyscout Lake around 10am and stopped for a quick bite to eat. The previous 2 hours of climbing had kicked our butts but we were still in good spirits and feeling pretty good considering. We met the trail ranger here and chatted for a few minutes. He was up for several days cleaning campsites and packing out any WAG bags people had abandoned along the trail. Unfortunately, this is a major problem on the mountain, though much less so on the Mountaineer's route. I attribute this to the greater level of wilderness experience and <a href="https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles">Leave No Trace</a> awareness of climbers attempting the mountaineer's route.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGnsB8eFvaNP_-cJoYnhyphenhyphenmlJr3dAXtOErUO7R-8hms7pmZxQXt3MArGT3R8E4crv7-xnMUkvBjhq3NApWbj8HuBhVXMswr6HM5-6DHOGLABsuFcdbLeuxc5WP-UspWA_mb2wbcydnkWA/s1600/DSC_0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGnsB8eFvaNP_-cJoYnhyphenhyphenmlJr3dAXtOErUO7R-8hms7pmZxQXt3MArGT3R8E4crv7-xnMUkvBjhq3NApWbj8HuBhVXMswr6HM5-6DHOGLABsuFcdbLeuxc5WP-UspWA_mb2wbcydnkWA/s1600/DSC_0221.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary cresting the first step into Lower Boyscout Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The climb above Lower Boyscout Lake is where you really earn your dinner. The use trail you were on becomes an endless sea of boulders to navigate marked only by a nebulous series of rock cairns. It is easy to get off the "trail" in this section but as long as you know where you need to end up it is not a major issue. It took us nearly 45 minutes to make it though the boulder field but eventually we made it out.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnP-GoU4oh3Z2M4so_pDg6QaqZyIx1_H_fTM3gMP5LnAyC7AyaQp-ph-ji5TMcSxRbSqmzdVzVbbhKfQzLu1YKEhyphenhyphenUaX6OmbCSx9qnbVuFTY5gL7ZpCnQ0CooOXRUMF9YPvuB9H1KSjN8/s1600/DSC_0224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnP-GoU4oh3Z2M4so_pDg6QaqZyIx1_H_fTM3gMP5LnAyC7AyaQp-ph-ji5TMcSxRbSqmzdVzVbbhKfQzLu1YKEhyphenhyphenUaX6OmbCSx9qnbVuFTY5gL7ZpCnQ0CooOXRUMF9YPvuB9H1KSjN8/s1600/DSC_0224.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the trail. The large boulder in the center is where we are heading.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2RsSIiMIwtLVKM7uRbGVh_6SUOsJnmW0wRHUaCHhm20Z6LXPd9Hzx4W1XYf2R3rLwX3XX-EZ52CrjUpE_huo5IBdcY809I6OrSsU6-hl9AED9N1Zueyh4iSwxNUEki95HUIigUxy3cE/s1600/DSC_0227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2RsSIiMIwtLVKM7uRbGVh_6SUOsJnmW0wRHUaCHhm20Z6LXPd9Hzx4W1XYf2R3rLwX3XX-EZ52CrjUpE_huo5IBdcY809I6OrSsU6-hl9AED9N1Zueyh4iSwxNUEki95HUIigUxy3cE/s1600/DSC_0227.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm looking for a pile of rocks to follow? The boulder got bigger!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After we left the boulder field we had to climb up the slabs. The slabs is a section of large, wet granite slabs that you have to climb. There is nothing terribly difficult about this section except that it is fairly steep and requires some careful navigation to avoid a painful slip and slide on the rock.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2yXp6xDoRWFAKumQmPbqcsZipd6V8wVowSJtVe8Hu4Z5er4-VBOk6MAfoJBvzNQgxYWEPnAKiZFsu_kcD6fg0J4Yw9-gKAIgCP37x7Nrs9PdZFGVKo4Fd_Nmgsm6CoaGFhgajudXs6U/s1600/DSC_0337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2yXp6xDoRWFAKumQmPbqcsZipd6V8wVowSJtVe8Hu4Z5er4-VBOk6MAfoJBvzNQgxYWEPnAKiZFsu_kcD6fg0J4Yw9-gKAIgCP37x7Nrs9PdZFGVKo4Fd_Nmgsm6CoaGFhgajudXs6U/s1600/DSC_0337.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo is from the descent, but gives a good idea of the area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKtHpwqwUkug1G9FgOY_UqXFP3HM65SYmufXLSW2adX1jpKNvMXfAB9KFiuXokKId8LdGRNz5dIPaLcA9ugOeT8r63ul6ZkGe6eQ-RGUQAruWs0FN-AAO_4Y-WDsr5FrloTCm-XG8tyo/s1600/DSC_0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKtHpwqwUkug1G9FgOY_UqXFP3HM65SYmufXLSW2adX1jpKNvMXfAB9KFiuXokKId8LdGRNz5dIPaLcA9ugOeT8r63ul6ZkGe6eQ-RGUQAruWs0FN-AAO_4Y-WDsr5FrloTCm-XG8tyo/s1600/DSC_0234.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making my way through the slabs.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once we made it past the slabs, we stopped for a quick snack at the last trees before we hit the treeline. Fortunately is was not terribly hot as this was the last shade we would encounter.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkk2TzHRSFE/U7orfnxQR4I/AAAAAAAABq0/OgXX3ur_qaw/s1600/DSC_0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkk2TzHRSFE/U7orfnxQR4I/AAAAAAAABq0/OgXX3ur_qaw/s1600/DSC_0243.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last of the trees above the slabs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once you leave the treeline you come upon Upper Boyscout Lake. Its at this point that we really started to feel the altitude. For me at least, the lack of oxygen was the most noticeable. I found myself having to stop and catch my breath every few minutes and my appetite dropped away pretty sharply. It started to become a struggle to continue eating and drinking enough.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CZMj6UMzVkY/U7orjw2nHDI/AAAAAAAABrM/6hrUY3uS5PU/s1600/DSC_0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CZMj6UMzVkY/U7orjw2nHDI/AAAAAAAABrM/6hrUY3uS5PU/s1600/DSC_0246.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper Boyscout Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZh1gRmxhpmNusGDpvtKMNnPgFnKXoRenoa2QcZg-sqWV0gW4Q29OheLa8MxGDwGHn1aanpwWwrOEw4l5f7fPJQnnDwQM6NLH6CXRY838s1v0vcPtr2pMy6BMQdVQ7-ZZK0D3cfB51Qx8/s1600/DSC_0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZh1gRmxhpmNusGDpvtKMNnPgFnKXoRenoa2QcZg-sqWV0gW4Q29OheLa8MxGDwGHn1aanpwWwrOEw4l5f7fPJQnnDwQM6NLH6CXRY838s1v0vcPtr2pMy6BMQdVQ7-ZZK0D3cfB51Qx8/s1600/DSC_0247.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back at the treeline from just above Upper Boyscout Lake. Lone Pine and the Alabama hills are visible far below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As we made the climb up the slope above Upper Boyscout Lake, dad really started to hit the wall. I think a combination of altitude and lack of appetite had kept him from eating sufficiently and he began showing signs of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitting_the_wall">bonking</a>. We made a few rest stops and he ate some, but I was still concerned with the situation as we continued to climb.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLqItp8bM9tDaDYWrh7oqF-wkt7vl_Ua961bhgDTmFz7Eth1IJ4NXal9EDCQxSyqHFBG6Noz0uVif9NahqXsajliVvmZ9DHklTCwVkNP9Spqdp_mbmRqGA3DrYHDzHH5dvWnQcwBh8dg/s1600/DSC_0251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLqItp8bM9tDaDYWrh7oqF-wkt7vl_Ua961bhgDTmFz7Eth1IJ4NXal9EDCQxSyqHFBG6Noz0uVif9NahqXsajliVvmZ9DHklTCwVkNP9Spqdp_mbmRqGA3DrYHDzHH5dvWnQcwBh8dg/s1600/DSC_0251.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Uphill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CB62g6z0sy4/U7ors6YTOrI/AAAAAAAAB9I/gCmpP0yvfZA/s1600/DSC_0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CB62g6z0sy4/U7ors6YTOrI/AAAAAAAAB9I/gCmpP0yvfZA/s1600/DSC_0253.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"How far is it?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s3_XlKlZDBM/U7orxQevSYI/AAAAAAAABsY/QVuFmOCtAx4/s1600/DSC_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s3_XlKlZDBM/U7orxQevSYI/AAAAAAAABsY/QVuFmOCtAx4/s1600/DSC_0256.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick rest and a snack.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh147cQt6ui35mJlAscKKBnNvVi4C1HSogjj9vcC4v3FV5DidlkAEpmXYc6VRAhoeoUb_95qZVCwv2x1oV0ALGazkqLjafvP_1BPLGhB07JdrlgGBG-JFRq4OB1KRCVAsjD0Tnlb5v0VMQ/s1600/DSC_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh147cQt6ui35mJlAscKKBnNvVi4C1HSogjj9vcC4v3FV5DidlkAEpmXYc6VRAhoeoUb_95qZVCwv2x1oV0ALGazkqLjafvP_1BPLGhB07JdrlgGBG-JFRq4OB1KRCVAsjD0Tnlb5v0VMQ/s1600/DSC_0259.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The summit finally visible!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oYlvyN24Nss/U7or6dDgtQI/AAAAAAAABtM/HhbKlzktYaM/s1600/DSC_0262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oYlvyN24Nss/U7or6dDgtQI/AAAAAAAABtM/HhbKlzktYaM/s1600/DSC_0262.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Whitney up close and personal. You can see the Mountaineers chute if you look closely.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At this point you may find a noticeable gap in the photos. The reason for this may be obvious to more experienced climbers already; Dad bonked. I have to admit I had not been watching him closely enough after his first brush with a bonk. Since then, nearly an hour had passed and I had been preoccupied with my own battle with the altitude. We had made it to the base of the slope below Iceberg Lake, less than a kilometer from the lake as the crow flies but closer to 45 minutes climbing at altitude.<br />
<br />
I had been following him and allowing him to set the pace. All of a sudden, he just sort of sat down on a rock. As I caught up with him I noticed he was dozing off a bit. I immediately realized he had once again bonked, but much harder this time. Over many years of endurance sports and climbing I have seen many people (including myself) in this position and knew that the only way to correct the situation was to get some sugars and fluids into him. I broke out my chocolate bars and he drank a good amount of water laced with <a href="http://www.nuun.com/products/nuun-energy">Nuun</a> Energy. Luckily he responded quickly and regained his alertness after about 20 minutes, though he was far from 100%.<br />
<br />
At this point I had to make a decision; descend or continue to Iceberg lake. The prospect of descending in his state was not good as we faced a 3+ hour down-climb with lots of rocks to make it back to the trailhead. However, continuing to Iceberg lake also posed risks as we still needed to climb up the last few hundred feet of loose rock and sand. After a few minutes of deliberation I decided to continue to camp and re-evaluate our situation once there. We made the final climb without incident and arrived in about an hour.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RXqVimE7Kn4/U7osFGql88I/AAAAAAAABuU/qf9rDL5h_j0/s1600/DSC_0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RXqVimE7Kn4/U7osFGql88I/AAAAAAAABuU/qf9rDL5h_j0/s1600/DSC_0271.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Campsite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once at camp we quickly set up the shelter and pumped some water. We fired up the stove and made dinner. Over the years, climbers and rangers have piled up numerous stones to create very effective windbreaks around the campsites. We had managed to get a nice site nestled next to a large boulder and were sharing the area with only 2 other groups.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8925wAIctnxVQ-bjWuO7m_Ix8qRfb_fP_CE8qLMg9-_4lfrwU_eE-QRC9Yp9w1Y1CKjKcU5Dja2WjMtWoZdmi2c471UooD4MALvMJRmVPAE4NxIzU59xV_9Z62zOdTQ_3EfzeTCE8hOA/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8925wAIctnxVQ-bjWuO7m_Ix8qRfb_fP_CE8qLMg9-_4lfrwU_eE-QRC9Yp9w1Y1CKjKcU5Dja2WjMtWoZdmi2c471UooD4MALvMJRmVPAE4NxIzU59xV_9Z62zOdTQ_3EfzeTCE8hOA/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooking up a storm on my handy <a href="http://www.cascadedesigns.com/msr/stoves/rapid-cooking/pocketrocket/product">MSR Pocket Rocket</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wiNm5I-OKc0/U7osCD01iII/AAAAAAAABt8/1a18hyzLeKo/s1600/DSC_0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wiNm5I-OKc0/U7osCD01iII/AAAAAAAABt8/1a18hyzLeKo/s1600/DSC_0268.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sous chef isn't feeling well</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We spent the evening relaxing and taking in the amazing surroundings at the lake. Once of the highlights of trips like this for me experiencing a place so few people care to or are able to visit. As the sun set we were treated to a few fly overs of Navy F-18's.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i4CCbynptFc/U7osKxkOadI/AAAAAAAABu8/hNawG3e1QF8/s1600/DSC_0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i4CCbynptFc/U7osKxkOadI/AAAAAAAABu8/hNawG3e1QF8/s1600/DSC_0276.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The summit looming overhead</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlNfmETQAT9ma6fLpLqFNxzUfKWUZaAE2QMLuMzRMU9ee3jRmZ2_gw7uSKhT4yanEiJg4RPnIphBvz4hF8Xuzd2HFUhXssv60-blcZ7UxKaEJiQXnirsSTh4yxGyefsmbFKICig2P2i4/s1600/DSC_0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlNfmETQAT9ma6fLpLqFNxzUfKWUZaAE2QMLuMzRMU9ee3jRmZ2_gw7uSKhT4yanEiJg4RPnIphBvz4hF8Xuzd2HFUhXssv60-blcZ7UxKaEJiQXnirsSTh4yxGyefsmbFKICig2P2i4/s1600/DSC_0278.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iceberg lake complete with...Iceberg!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The sun rises early in the mountains. 5:30 am rolled around and the tent was in full sunlight so we had no problems waking up. The bonk from the past afternoon left dad pretty drained so he elected to stay at camp and sleep in and rest for the descent. I elected to climb with another pair of climbers camped near us (as I didn't want to risk climbing solo). It was definitely a disappointment to be making the climb alone, but it was the right decision so as not to create a dangerous situation if he bonked again. So I headed out alone at 6:15am.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTFYwIPEV1pvuiNF_ovaz_IicnKVZIYdZHIBn9vNa6Aml5VDK1kcBSHc7DapcGm1to262IhH3xamkF_rH3lKdczJLVPvDcz8FUDg4sSTN4UOFZzfLNOncyefJRYoz9pqafksHHNrJoNQ/s1600/DSC_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTFYwIPEV1pvuiNF_ovaz_IicnKVZIYdZHIBn9vNa6Aml5VDK1kcBSHc7DapcGm1to262IhH3xamkF_rH3lKdczJLVPvDcz8FUDg4sSTN4UOFZzfLNOncyefJRYoz9pqafksHHNrJoNQ/s1600/DSC_0289.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The climb begins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I started up through the massive boulder field at the base of the chute heading towards the base of the buttress where I met up with the other two climbers who had started just behind me. We continued picking our way though the cracks and boulders until we hit the scree field.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYP8-dDccA7OZ8S1dZi67igCBQ7ZNsw1UD9bdY4eWCasl3ORPNEP-FbApICDjUdzkaD5qKQEcmeuUbMvB6vyES16rjdXa0SCx2fm7OtVF3x54VsDEgGvpC2oeZQUbK9CikYkp9nVA03o/s1600/DSC_0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYP8-dDccA7OZ8S1dZi67igCBQ7ZNsw1UD9bdY4eWCasl3ORPNEP-FbApICDjUdzkaD5qKQEcmeuUbMvB6vyES16rjdXa0SCx2fm7OtVF3x54VsDEgGvpC2oeZQUbK9CikYkp9nVA03o/s1600/DSC_0291.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iceberg Lake falling away below</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TWAIaChqkbo/U7osg-UkFgI/AAAAAAAABw8/0Nf2z6-stDU/s1600/DSC_0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TWAIaChqkbo/U7osg-UkFgI/AAAAAAAABw8/0Nf2z6-stDU/s1600/DSC_0292.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just cresting the buttress before moving into the scree. Still a long way to go.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrmhl2e8vZr9cveLJ7pBGdq18CIPCUSCoUiFR5CvtVAqH8WWWbyAdYBWKvKiNKuqsW3KGEHf27jZa6CwlWXSSbXGQuO3uiVZU3oj-iyPqoBwXWqaDaZjAvaGYkTCe-dc7ndQbaIjrNFc/s1600/chute1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrmhl2e8vZr9cveLJ7pBGdq18CIPCUSCoUiFR5CvtVAqH8WWWbyAdYBWKvKiNKuqsW3KGEHf27jZa6CwlWXSSbXGQuO3uiVZU3oj-iyPqoBwXWqaDaZjAvaGYkTCe-dc7ndQbaIjrNFc/s1600/chute1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie time! Place your Ad here on my head.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--iXsYZZZJls/U7otn8-trwI/AAAAAAAAB3M/ci7HqxVpR8U/s1600/chute2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--iXsYZZZJls/U7otn8-trwI/AAAAAAAAB3M/ci7HqxVpR8U/s1600/chute2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling good. Even managed a smile.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtrgyM8Of_7YT8O9d9Fg-bT7RRgqeiCQL0VzL0rtcViNH45pQFLr3z5RWNj3-xw_2drRuXjfXroX5zTl0lZ3i-r-RWxNKyRZO1mSsMv2GQUsuL_cQGz1M_sCfE7ug7Ds-8oB7EIU_Gd8/s1600/DSC_0297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtrgyM8Of_7YT8O9d9Fg-bT7RRgqeiCQL0VzL0rtcViNH45pQFLr3z5RWNj3-xw_2drRuXjfXroX5zTl0lZ3i-r-RWxNKyRZO1mSsMv2GQUsuL_cQGz1M_sCfE7ug7Ds-8oB7EIU_Gd8/s1600/DSC_0297.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting closer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is worth noting here that I always wear a helmet on climbs like this. Not because it will help much if I fall but because it is very easy to dislodge a large rock and I don't want to get hit in the head with one.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acKeC7KWLbs/U7ospcKtapI/AAAAAAAABxs/VTzuM-l3ibo/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="423" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acKeC7KWLbs/U7ospcKtapI/AAAAAAAABxs/VTzuM-l3ibo/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back down at Iceberg Lake in the distance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ck4KhN1fGeEbW6l6hN5JBJimbyCBY2ECFDo-K0UL5bgeT1T8U3vz_0cY_LF-nQmT8SPddHayjE6bpVCLHAbbOQcgKm9A3x-fPpDFxpES4VQmTS1U8d4-fOHvHSZR1WZh2Z5ugRuV_9k/s1600/DSC_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ck4KhN1fGeEbW6l6hN5JBJimbyCBY2ECFDo-K0UL5bgeT1T8U3vz_0cY_LF-nQmT8SPddHayjE6bpVCLHAbbOQcgKm9A3x-fPpDFxpES4VQmTS1U8d4-fOHvHSZR1WZh2Z5ugRuV_9k/s1600/DSC_0300.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearly to the notch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fv-cEYKkniI/U7osuXNQU-I/AAAAAAAAByM/JSLfQriFkVE/s1600/DSC_0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fv-cEYKkniI/U7osuXNQU-I/AAAAAAAAByM/JSLfQriFkVE/s1600/DSC_0302.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Russel to the North</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZw1Uhf6R0OxrJYxtiordPtPg8FbvLJilabZICe6OSve09mZAt0_3thzkCg1AurKfsb-qYqlSAzoQ4Ns_aaJRbWbvYf_zkgJf0pvoVk0rt8_TkzMgqF1ZrWqTEdMkb7t8M7QVwZvW388/s1600/DSC_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZw1Uhf6R0OxrJYxtiordPtPg8FbvLJilabZICe6OSve09mZAt0_3thzkCg1AurKfsb-qYqlSAzoQ4Ns_aaJRbWbvYf_zkgJf0pvoVk0rt8_TkzMgqF1ZrWqTEdMkb7t8M7QVwZvW388/s1600/DSC_0304.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Notch at last!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At 8:04 we made it to the notch. We spent about 5 minutes resting before starting up the final 400. The first move of this section is probably the most involved of the entire section and requires a bit of confidence as there is significant exposure just behind you. I offered to spot one of the other 2 climbers as he was not as comfortable with this type of climbing and he made the move with no issues. I quickly follow them and remembered I meant to take a photo of the move, so I settled for a shot from the top (lack of oxygen causes weird things to make sense). We then continued on up picking our way back and forth across the various shelves of rock. I think I will let the photos explain the rest of the climb.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdHa93Yr_nOVewLvWb5EoFbwuq-uf3DkDgFN1qoR1YPI8mo-uwzIERJppr-oI8dfJryDSdlWd8rGWjdvexOM6LSIA5nU5Kje5RS3BeEuYn3HqKLQhEnoZHBAKm9bjXfUiuYW1qiI0o-w/s1600/DSC_0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdHa93Yr_nOVewLvWb5EoFbwuq-uf3DkDgFN1qoR1YPI8mo-uwzIERJppr-oI8dfJryDSdlWd8rGWjdvexOM6LSIA5nU5Kje5RS3BeEuYn3HqKLQhEnoZHBAKm9bjXfUiuYW1qiI0o-w/s1600/DSC_0306.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down at the ledge below the final 400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kGzkBX_evlE/U7os02XSs0I/AAAAAAAABy0/YKfXVpwkqHI/s1600/DSC_0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kGzkBX_evlE/U7os02XSs0I/AAAAAAAABy0/YKfXVpwkqHI/s1600/DSC_0307.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I forgot to take a photo of the first move, so I took a photo looking down at it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--UNAABpeFV4/U7os3Vzf1LI/AAAAAAAABzE/kE5l4dSOtbg/s1600/DSC_0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--UNAABpeFV4/U7os3Vzf1LI/AAAAAAAABzE/kE5l4dSOtbg/s1600/DSC_0309.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final 400 in all it's glory.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TloeFh5k148/U7os7KxGtwI/AAAAAAAAB9c/JIQGUUNmDMU/s1600/DSC_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TloeFh5k148/U7os7KxGtwI/AAAAAAAAB9c/JIQGUUNmDMU/s1600/DSC_0312.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About 70% there. Climber above for scale. The last bits of ice are left on the route.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hmJ4ISphxG2pb-IQqkAIISitu9-b1T-hx2Wk-ljkh-peE3vZYnlfgneJygciYkm4rEKQE2WqG1zAlLzB1vh1CfEKsKoHUs7ZnQ8LXp641Labg-v80dhO9CATolk7kSP0fUUO9d9-SFU/s1600/ff1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hmJ4ISphxG2pb-IQqkAIISitu9-b1T-hx2Wk-ljkh-peE3vZYnlfgneJygciYkm4rEKQE2WqG1zAlLzB1vh1CfEKsKoHUs7ZnQ8LXp641Labg-v80dhO9CATolk7kSP0fUUO9d9-SFU/s1600/ff1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this thing on? Looking back down the final 400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--IP2WGlPzcE/U7otuELFfZI/AAAAAAAAB5M/yzfQ9NjzsMw/s1600/ff3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--IP2WGlPzcE/U7otuELFfZI/AAAAAAAAB5M/yzfQ9NjzsMw/s1600/ff3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tkysfcxnLl0/U7otumCT-XI/AAAAAAAAB5U/fPn6fdTbrs4/s1600/ff5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tkysfcxnLl0/U7otumCT-XI/AAAAAAAAB5U/fPn6fdTbrs4/s1600/ff5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking my way past some ice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX65n54KScKBhqB8K20pMz6zQsDc1Ky8uXgWIGKR0Hry_M3KMilQikZZXui2XqjRd30FPcHUXl-K6IXclD5uQ1eU_cvAg35AuTKcckzxoS8N6fDK3ulqfpjGUVNkRiY-5PtB1dwUqrvcY/s1600/ff10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX65n54KScKBhqB8K20pMz6zQsDc1Ky8uXgWIGKR0Hry_M3KMilQikZZXui2XqjRd30FPcHUXl-K6IXclD5uQ1eU_cvAg35AuTKcckzxoS8N6fDK3ulqfpjGUVNkRiY-5PtB1dwUqrvcY/s1600/ff10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Epic self shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LDRCsXOCZDw/U7otwOBNQPI/AAAAAAAAB6I/9hqqIWF4NNw/s1600/ff9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LDRCsXOCZDw/U7otwOBNQPI/AAAAAAAAB6I/9hqqIWF4NNw/s1600/ff9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is quite steep at the top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vnbN87v20Ig/U7otpuj7bxI/AAAAAAAAB3k/JjfV6cvr8-g/s1600/ff15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vnbN87v20Ig/U7otpuj7bxI/AAAAAAAAB3k/JjfV6cvr8-g/s1600/ff15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is a bit of a struggle one handed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kEhJpf4jPeY/U7otqsZ-ppI/AAAAAAAAB44/oEYvx6oyT_4/s1600/ff17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kEhJpf4jPeY/U7otqsZ-ppI/AAAAAAAAB44/oEYvx6oyT_4/s1600/ff17.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final push over the crest!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xvvw-OGUOCc/U7otq6i9jMI/AAAAAAAAB4E/zJyX7TkC9Po/s1600/ff18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xvvw-OGUOCc/U7otq6i9jMI/AAAAAAAAB4E/zJyX7TkC9Po/s1600/ff18.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wait, I made it?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z68OjoEbdps/U7otrt64G_I/AAAAAAAAB4U/T-Ei0BsC_ww/s1600/ff19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z68OjoEbdps/U7otrt64G_I/AAAAAAAAB4U/T-Ei0BsC_ww/s1600/ff19.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh. It's pretty far to the summit hut.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJE2g1vqPSXC3vkLb96qbXMe4e1d21_pjVxNtW_oqtaCLCZhdotdpuKCuT-po6Q7YoicGi5-7yE1qtgRsZAv0tIDnRhZp-OSpCYGNmxl5EuoEqa46tt1uR2aGldn-S2O771ayG6s0QCw/s1600/DSC_0313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJE2g1vqPSXC3vkLb96qbXMe4e1d21_pjVxNtW_oqtaCLCZhdotdpuKCuT-po6Q7YoicGi5-7yE1qtgRsZAv0tIDnRhZp-OSpCYGNmxl5EuoEqa46tt1uR2aGldn-S2O771ayG6s0QCw/s1600/DSC_0313.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That far</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqSjVR9a66r-bmOqojjQwmSXMAxmL94Te8wbpGTMZ_hnmWgbln5o7Mbc9-a93i2Gp3237UNAua0H220mDLEM2qEPNqYw7FG6grqa7jc8zdJlhxNr3WdU206bkaVDMDAbnfD64KoWwUGs/s1600/ff21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqSjVR9a66r-bmOqojjQwmSXMAxmL94Te8wbpGTMZ_hnmWgbln5o7Mbc9-a93i2Gp3237UNAua0H220mDLEM2qEPNqYw7FG6grqa7jc8zdJlhxNr3WdU206bkaVDMDAbnfD64KoWwUGs/s1600/ff21.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off we go</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fM2YINT2DOI/U7ottD0CuFI/AAAAAAAAB5I/GOsUmkZUKLI/s1600/ff22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fM2YINT2DOI/U7ottD0CuFI/AAAAAAAAB5I/GOsUmkZUKLI/s1600/ff22.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I look confused about something</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cCc27RNVTmfod8JPKrbC2LFRizlvNRfn_4_4OXX5ANFYfu1s43zDOEp_4e8qWABLEwzld8ajWE7btT8shyphenhyphenmY-Er9gLRJcO1sPB9mWrvc5m0bmhhecEAAUs86gKkX4i_xPHZMHN2jGHY/s1600/ff23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cCc27RNVTmfod8JPKrbC2LFRizlvNRfn_4_4OXX5ANFYfu1s43zDOEp_4e8qWABLEwzld8ajWE7btT8shyphenhyphenmY-Er9gLRJcO1sPB9mWrvc5m0bmhhecEAAUs86gKkX4i_xPHZMHN2jGHY/s1600/ff23.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who put all these boulders up here?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RRLOyCDIrSo/U7otxOGHvPI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/Xq752c4ymXE/s1600/sum3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RRLOyCDIrSo/U7otxOGHvPI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/Xq752c4ymXE/s1600/sum3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Russel selfie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_UHGCNebdQo/U7otA9V2zOI/AAAAAAAAB0E/IgI_svzAGiA/s1600/DSC_0317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_UHGCNebdQo/U7otA9V2zOI/AAAAAAAAB0E/IgI_svzAGiA/s1600/DSC_0317.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I finally made it to the shelter!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C3VKQVwf-_0/U7otweTFr4I/AAAAAAAAB6A/9HlOVUa02O4/s1600/sum2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C3VKQVwf-_0/U7otweTFr4I/AAAAAAAAB6A/9HlOVUa02O4/s1600/sum2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the very top...I'm Tired.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ho-S0vgcHqQ/U7otxb41Y3I/AAAAAAAAB6U/r1AEmud9lkI/s1600/sum4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ho-S0vgcHqQ/U7otxb41Y3I/AAAAAAAAB6U/r1AEmud9lkI/s1600/sum4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie with Lone Pine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I32ls5w7-g4/U7otAP6H5PI/AAAAAAAAB0A/ynZc7Ukyros/s1600/DSC_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I32ls5w7-g4/U7otAP6H5PI/AAAAAAAAB0A/ynZc7Ukyros/s1600/DSC_0316.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone lugged this huge plaque up here</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cwsDlwJA7dI/U7otHqSAO7I/AAAAAAAAB0o/u-5Dq3tRvxc/s1600/DSC_0321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cwsDlwJA7dI/U7otHqSAO7I/AAAAAAAAB0o/u-5Dq3tRvxc/s1600/DSC_0321.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back down at Whitney Portal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S6C4UQqxSv8/U7otEBMx-tI/AAAAAAAAB0U/waywlNc2CFM/s1600/DSC_0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S6C4UQqxSv8/U7otEBMx-tI/AAAAAAAAB0U/waywlNc2CFM/s1600/DSC_0319.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iceberg lake 2000 ft. below</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseSySwnUy33P8LRRrmAZTXE0QXxBByr_gOZQx0UH3A-ALiEDi5cX5X_PG6lrJsSHv6LB3gEoWGc1KuK1fau_YpY5k4kHBAIGqpLqtCjvHpdj7eLMRqewBHEl1pfNuLMZI8T0yMLg-IH8/s1600/DSC_0325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseSySwnUy33P8LRRrmAZTXE0QXxBByr_gOZQx0UH3A-ALiEDi5cX5X_PG6lrJsSHv6LB3gEoWGc1KuK1fau_YpY5k4kHBAIGqpLqtCjvHpdj7eLMRqewBHEl1pfNuLMZI8T0yMLg-IH8/s1600/DSC_0325.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Official Summit Photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xCO4VInZRrY/U7otPfcGY6I/AAAAAAAAB1Y/b2E6zlF2ZQI/s1600/DSC_0327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xCO4VInZRrY/U7otPfcGY6I/AAAAAAAAB1Y/b2E6zlF2ZQI/s1600/DSC_0327.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The summit register</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After all the climbing I summited at 9:03. It was perfectly calm with very little wind and only a bit chilly. I spent a total of about 25 minutes on the summit. I ate some gummy worms I had brought as I couldn't palate anything else I had. While I was there, there was a huge rockfall on one of the ridges to the south of the peak. It sounded like a freight train derailing and of course my oxygen starved brain forgot to take a photo. We cautiously made our descent and were back at Iceberg lake by 11am. I thanked the two other climbers for a great run and packed up dad and the tent. We headed out to some building clouds and thunder on the way down.<br />
<br />
The ledges posed the only real obstacle on the descent as we were tired and got lost for a short time. I neglected to actually look for or follow the rock cairns and ended up too far along a shelf for a short time. I quickly realized I was not going to be able to go down that way and we back tracked until we found the path. I could write a lot more about the descent but you can get pretty much the same idea by reading this post backwards and imagining that our knees hurt a lot more this time.<br />
<br />
We finally dragged back into the portal at around 3:30 for a well deserved portal burger and a shower.<br />
<br />
Overall, it was an amazing climb. The one major downside is we both didn't make it. Despite the disappointment, it was the correct decision based on dad's physical condition at the time. This trip reinforced a few lessons for me that I have learned over time but hadn't paid as much attention to while climbing:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory.</li>
<li>Don't assume the other climber is eating enough. Regularly check in with each other to ensure everyone is staying hydrated and fed.</li>
<li>Don't try and continue climbing if you are having altitude or other physical issues. Get to a safe place, rest and then descend.</li>
<li>Leave no trace. Don't leave trash for the poor rangers to pick up. They are really nice people who work hard to make sure the area is clean and pristine for you.</li>
<li>There is always next time. No mountain is worth dying for. </li>
<li>Pack food you really like. Stuff tastes gross at altitude.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-36886731625015014232014-06-17T13:15:00.003-07:002014-06-17T13:15:54.711-07:00The Road to Whitney 4: The Final CountdownHere we are, just a few weeks away from summit day and I have finally begun final preparations for the trip. My training plan has been doing it's job and all my gear is together and ready. The final weeks before a trip are often the hardest as the anticipation has built up to astonishing levels over the past months of training. The key now is to continue to train and keep the fitness you have built up and refine and organize your gear load for max efficiency on the trip.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Gear load out</b><br />
<b><br /></b>How you pack your gear is the second most important decision you can make behind what you take. Gear selection itself should be complete by now (<a href="http://www.expeditiondan.com/2014/03/the-road-to-whitney-2-trails-training.html">see my post on gear selection here</a>) so you just have to figure out how to stuff all your things in your pack in a way that won't hinder you on the trail. I have laid out a photo of nearly all of the gear I will be bringing (excluding clothing and food) to give you an idea of the range of items that you need to carry.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoUn5-mn_lH9_OHmWiBHLjFhTBszXAzpxW8E-cQRypl5rP3coheLzQ2owZJj-RX34gRfyFvtIQvc78r_o_g6Q3PVYx9ZmI5f4OAyJLCCMbnvj_n9yiLXLRJqowc2gfMEW-5WQqo_4ks4/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoUn5-mn_lH9_OHmWiBHLjFhTBszXAzpxW8E-cQRypl5rP3coheLzQ2owZJj-RX34gRfyFvtIQvc78r_o_g6Q3PVYx9ZmI5f4OAyJLCCMbnvj_n9yiLXLRJqowc2gfMEW-5WQqo_4ks4/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG" height="332" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Observant readers will notice the lack of a headlamp...it's in the pack!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
There are two important factors to consider before you start stuffing things into your pack; the item weight and when you will need them. Balancing your load with heavy items can sometimes be difficult to manage due to either size or shape. My rule of thumb is to place my heavy items vertically about 3/4 of the way to the bottom of the pack and in the direct center line of the pack right up against my back. This ensures most of the load is directly on my hips and I won't be unbalanced. If you are strapping heavier items externally, I always make sure to balance the load with something of equal weight on the opposite side of the pack; I don't want to be tipping over on rocky traverses or falling in creeks.<br />
<br />
The other important factor when determining gear location is when or how often I will use the item. Items like sleeping bags and tents can be placed at the bottom of the pack, while items like food and water should be right at the top or near an access point so you don't have to take anything else out to get to them.<br />
<br />
An example of my pack load layout is as follows<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Top</b>: Small, high use items. Food, water, lights, first aid and navigation, cameras.</li>
<li><b>Upper-Mid</b>: Rain gear, Jackets, gloves and water filtration.</li>
<li><b>Middle</b>: Stove, cooking gear, spare batteries, rain fly.</li>
<li><b>Lower-Mid: </b>Bear Canister</li>
<li><b>Bottom: </b>Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad.</li>
<li><b>Externally</b>: Rock helmet, tent poles, ground tarp, trekking poles.</li>
</ul>
<div>
The most important thing here is to make sure the items you need most often on the trail are easily accessible and that your load is distributed comfortably. You want to avoid strapping too much stuff to the outside of your pack as this can get caught on trees or underbrush and hinder your movement.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Another often overlooked packing strategy is how you pack your food. I always arrange my snacks into pre-measured bags with a time written on it I have to eat it by. This ensures I eat enough along the trail and don't have to search around for different food items in my pack. As you gain altitude, this become a real life saver as you will naturally lose your appetite. By stuffing down the food in each bag by the pre-determined time, I am always assured of having eaten enough.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All that is left now is to make sure you pack everything in your car for the trip. I find it an absolute must to use a detailed checklist so I avoid forgetting anything important. The last thing you want is to leave a camera battery at home or to forget your hiking boots.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Final training</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
With so little time remaining before the trip, there is not really much time left to continue to improve your fitness. I am currently focused on maintaining my form and avoiding injuries. My current training tempo looks something like this:<br />
<br />
Cycling- 30 miles, 4x per week.<br />
Stair climbing- 80 reps, 4x per week.<br />
Running- 4 miles, 1x per week.<br />
Hiking- 10+ miles, 1-2x per week.<br />
Rock climbing- 2 hours, 3x per week.<br />
<br />
Again, I want to stress that there is no point in killing yourself trying to get into better shape this close. You are simply maintaining the base fitness you have already built up and moving towards a peak training tempo about 1 week prior to leaving. At that point, you want to begin resting so you will be fresh for the actual summit attempt.<br />
<br />
Avoiding injuries or illness is the biggest worry at this point in time; I generally recommend ramping up your intake of vitamin C and observing strict sleep schedules to help you avoid illnesses and to train with a healthy dose of caution.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-38477248707173056082014-06-12T19:13:00.003-07:002014-06-12T19:14:41.547-07:00Double Summit dayAnother training day out on a local peak. 4300 feet of climbing and 15 miles covered.<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Flj5AXx7wZk/U5pdlrIVx_I/AAAAAAAABfA/uAgMZ8tA2r4/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Flj5AXx7wZk/U5pdlrIVx_I/AAAAAAAABfA/uAgMZ8tA2r4/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Summit: No big deal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-60901906908780585972014-05-28T09:03:00.000-07:002014-05-28T09:08:37.960-07:00The Road to Whitney 3: Eating on the MountainOne of the most commonly overlooked aspects of climbing mountains is nutrition. Over the years, I have found that more and more people are just downright clueless about what to eat in the backcountry and Mt. Whitney sees an exceptionally high concentration of these people each year. I think part of this is the general decline of diets nationwide as a whole, but there seems to also be a healthy dose of uninformed food choices as well.<br />
<br />
So what should you take to eat on the mountain to get the best performance possible?<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktYZdOA0IaENT_pJa7YhY6TnnT7Q_OP0qF_6fyRPxN0_tWuTDQLpz45m6v8hFhilEr0u-wiWGGLxP1OGnCgF-onJwR50Xax9AAkXWAD24i_W8v8X7ceKFTAuEM6BhOPL3mEPLYrIShyU/s1600/DSCN3119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktYZdOA0IaENT_pJa7YhY6TnnT7Q_OP0qF_6fyRPxN0_tWuTDQLpz45m6v8hFhilEr0u-wiWGGLxP1OGnCgF-onJwR50Xax9AAkXWAD24i_W8v8X7ceKFTAuEM6BhOPL3mEPLYrIShyU/s1600/DSCN3119.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sadly, The last time you will eat this well is at the <a href="http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/">Whitney Portal Store</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Balance, Balance, Balance!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
A common thing I see inexperienced eaters in the wilderness do is rely on one food source because it is light or convenient. I have been out with people who brought only trail mix and beef jerky for a multi-night trip! A good rule of thumb is to try and mirror the balance of a healthy diet you would have at home. Your body will need a good mix of fats, proteins, carbohydrates and fibers to work at its best.<br />
<br />
One thing you want to try and avoid when climbing mountains is to be overly concerned with minimizing calories or fats; diets are not going to help you perform well. Now, I'm not advocating eating anything under the sun, but your body needs a healthy dose of fats and calories to function. Don't forget, a single day climb of Mt. Whitney can last for well over 12 hours of continuous activity and you will run out of energy if you don't eat properly.<br />
<br />
My go-to menu items for this type of trip include nuts, dried fruits and chocolate for snack items. Another common choice is cliff or power bars. While store bough energy bar are convenient and offer fairly balanced nutrition, I simply can not palate them as I get to higher altitudes (you naturally lose your appetite as you ascend). To get around this, I make my own energy bars. A great resource to help you start making your own can be found at the <a href="http://hub.sierratradingpost.com/homemade-energy-bar-recipes/">Sierra Social hub</a> and I can confirm that all the recipes are great tasting and easy to make. I have tweaked a few of these recipes into my main go-to snack source on trail.<br />
<br />
Breakfast is usually a mix of fruit and grains and maybe high protein items like hard boiled eggs if it is a short trip. For dinners I tend to stay away from many of the pre-packaged backpacking meals as I only like a few of the menu choices available. I prefer to go with 5 minute rice and packages of curry as it offers all the fats and carbs I need and tastes much better to me. If weight is a concern, I will go with dried meals from AlpineAire or Natural High as I prefer their menu choices.<br />
<br />
An item that simply cannot be overlooked is the importance of staying hydrated. Many trail foods (energy bars and trail mix in particular) are nearly as good at dehydrating you as they are at keeping you fueled. To help combat this I always drink at least 6 ounces of water when eating trail foods. On more difficult expeditions, I also bring sports drink mixes to add to water. My go-to's are Cytomax and Nuun tabs as I enjoy the taste and it replenishes valuable nutrients, not to mention it can cover the taste of iodine if I treated my water.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>How Often to eat?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
How often you eat is nearly as important as what you are eating. There is no reason to drag along all this great food if you aren't eating it at the proper time. One thing I have been guilty of in the past while doing a lot of hard climbing is waiting to eat until a good stopping point. I would often say "I will eat when I get to the top of this ridge" or some other arbitrary goal even if I was hungry then. Don't do this! What this caused me to do was run out of energy before eating and even after I finally ate it took awhile to recover enough to keep my original pace.<br />
<br />
What you should be doing is eating small amounts of food fairly often. I try for about 200 calories per hour during tough activities. This is roughly equivalent to a granola bar or a handful of trail mix. This keeps your calorie and blood sugar levels constant and helps you maintain your level of activity.<br />
<br />
One trick that has helped me immensely is to stop stashing away all my food in my pack. I try and keep it accessible either in a hip-belt pocket or in some other easily grabbed place. Not having to stop makes me much more likely to eat regularly. A particularly handy item I recently added to my gear setup is the <a href="http://www.ribzwear.com/">Ribz Front Pack</a>. This gives me a great deal of storage volume within easy reach at all times.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Sample menu list</b><br />
<br />
So what should your Climbing menu look like? Unfortunately, it is tough for me to make a definitive outdoor menu as almost everyone's taste varies. However, I have put together a sample menu for an overnight summer mountaineering trip such as Mt. Whitney.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Breakfast</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1/2 cup Dried Fruit</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1/2 cup unsalted nuts</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>2 packs instant oatmeal</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Coffee</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Lunch</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1 package dehydrated noodle</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>OR</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1 energy bar</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>small chocolate bar</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Dinner</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="http://www.rei.com/product/753482/alpineaire-pepper-steak-with-rice-2-servings#descriptionTab">AlpineAire Peppersteak and rice</a> dehydrated meal</i><br />
<i>OR</i><br />
<i>1 package 5 minute rice and Meat Curry Pouch </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>small chocolate bar</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Snacks</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>homemade energy bars (3/day)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>dried fruit</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>unsalted peanuts</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>dark chocolate bars</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>cytomax drink mix</i></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-47914640348669986092014-04-22T13:23:00.000-07:002014-04-22T13:23:30.837-07:00Gear Review: REI Carbon Power Lock Women's Trekking Poles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0nC9Jid1bcLxZ_95i17yMRsGfJiFeVaRbMcrL4FjJeSU7JREfQwm1mO9tkFB2NVkx4smCEhvPQuASJqfWowIy49Q-mlp5K2TP3lJz4fr-ZyVp0Jcn_oZQuSJ0qtZLnWM0HlnHuaK4q0/s1600/DSC_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0nC9Jid1bcLxZ_95i17yMRsGfJiFeVaRbMcrL4FjJeSU7JREfQwm1mO9tkFB2NVkx4smCEhvPQuASJqfWowIy49Q-mlp5K2TP3lJz4fr-ZyVp0Jcn_oZQuSJ0qtZLnWM0HlnHuaK4q0/s1600/DSC_0103.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why not jump on the Summit?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As you can see from <a href="http://www.expeditiondan.com/2014/04/first-summit-of-spring.html">Dan's last post</a> about our first summit of the year, I now have trekking poles, which has caused me to jump for joy! Since Dan and I now are preparing to summit Mt. Whitney together in September - yes, we got our permit! - I decided that trekking poles were something that would be a good investment. So, I now officially have legit hiking boots (see the<a href="http://www.expeditiondan.com/2014/03/gear-review-salomon-comet-3d-lady-gtx.html"> review of my awesome Salomon hiking boots</a>) and trekking poles.<br />
<br />
<br />
Dan, of course, helped me choose my trekking poles. There were a couple of things we looked at to make the choice. The first thing that Dan recommended for a good pair of trekking poles was ones that use power locks instead of twist locks. Both types of locks allow you to make your trekking poles shorter for storage and longer for use. This also allows you to adjust the poles to the right height for your height as well as adjust them based on whether or not you're going uphill (where it's better to have them shorter) or downhill (where it's better to have them longer). According to Dan, the twist locks are much less reliable and much more likely to break, so that quickly removed a couple of choices from our pool.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiod3TmCf8i5NapNmBLYvKpuboMfL6UORPf4Zs9c4iw_j120GmFbn6ILDPZvxNPr9Eu3jCF95lTF2jS18D_Sdrqyc4rk8ur3L1oFdSjdEiC-oRMuUnziaQVd-ujVf1OrbYg8aXTZpxqimU/s1600/DSC_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiod3TmCf8i5NapNmBLYvKpuboMfL6UORPf4Zs9c4iw_j120GmFbn6ILDPZvxNPr9Eu3jCF95lTF2jS18D_Sdrqyc4rk8ur3L1oFdSjdEiC-oRMuUnziaQVd-ujVf1OrbYg8aXTZpxqimU/s1600/DSC_0106.JPG" height="261" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lock open for adjustment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDYU-DfG6W9-7qqB9Wb9JaQYBnRKovDQwWquzKXXshpyksQJEArlkIj3MuU2xeotRL-H24_LQtIrFvY1hX2-XKwHXP1onC3JaH_5_9hpS18u0i6BkDGH4n-jeuy5PpPqU0NTXyZKAKA8/s1600/DSC_0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDYU-DfG6W9-7qqB9Wb9JaQYBnRKovDQwWquzKXXshpyksQJEArlkIj3MuU2xeotRL-H24_LQtIrFvY1hX2-XKwHXP1onC3JaH_5_9hpS18u0i6BkDGH4n-jeuy5PpPqU0NTXyZKAKA8/s1600/DSC_0109.JPG" height="261" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snap it closed to lock in place.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Another thing that differentiates trekking poles is the weight. Personally, if I'm hauling myself up the side of a mountain, I don't really want to carry a lot of extra weight. This also removed a couple of options from our pool as I quickly found myself favoring the lighter carbon fiber poles. Carbon fiber is both strong and light, which is great because I also didn't want something that might snap while out on a hike.<br />
<br />
The final things we looked at were the type and size of the grip. Women's trekking poles have smaller grips, which is nice since we tend to have smaller hands. However, my hands aren't all that tiny, so I skipped some of the smaller grips as they were a bit too small for me. I also preferred the foam style grip over the plastic and cork options. I found the foam grips to be more comfortable for my hands.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3Viur9H5wmA3643xtektxLc6ZX8gxCBc5DoA1J1px5xeZ_lhL1hYpCQkErcRqtFf3JWQM1qavWP4Q1BQFGDW9TaC8YIu-fCIbtjWGe6n_a8cVd_5qQF3zUZsR9cn990qiKFSTDiDoDo/s1600/DSC_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3Viur9H5wmA3643xtektxLc6ZX8gxCBc5DoA1J1px5xeZ_lhL1hYpCQkErcRqtFf3JWQM1qavWP4Q1BQFGDW9TaC8YIu-fCIbtjWGe6n_a8cVd_5qQF3zUZsR9cn990qiKFSTDiDoDo/s1600/DSC_0104.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women's poles have narrower grips for smaller hands.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the end, I decided to go with the <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/860490/rei-carbon-power-lock-womens-trekking-poles-pair">REI Carbon Powerlock</a> poles that were light and comfortable. On the plus side, the ones I chose also had a nice blue and black color combo, which I did also take into account in my choice, though less so. I do love color, but of course it's more important to get the right thing, so color is really more of a plus in the end.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Vdzv3dOU8jt6yz6jy_m-h3wrK1RCvxpOhJ7-Lb6vc6FtGFCpLucH2Io5bLxFAaafKygvh3n5-vwYWxV68zhHydtGqwix0wyQd3pFx5F3oy8Glj625JkeO5VQ2tVZMZ1Tt7yCm7eEP-M/s1600/DSC_0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Vdzv3dOU8jt6yz6jy_m-h3wrK1RCvxpOhJ7-Lb6vc6FtGFCpLucH2Io5bLxFAaafKygvh3n5-vwYWxV68zhHydtGqwix0wyQd3pFx5F3oy8Glj625JkeO5VQ2tVZMZ1Tt7yCm7eEP-M/s1600/DSC_0086.JPG" height="400" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue and black color scheme</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once I bought my new poles, I couldn't wait to get out and try them, so the other weekend Dan and I drove out to Half Moon Bay and decided to hike up one of the taller peaks here on the peninsula, which also just happened to have a spectacular view of both the ocean and the bay! When we first started, the hike was very flat, which isn't really the type of terrain you need trekking poles for, so I was having trouble getting a good rhythm down. However, once we started uphill, I found my rhythm easily and really started to enjoy using the poles.<br />
<br />
One thing I started to notice after a while was the fact that my arms were definitely getting a workout. I guess they were taking some of the work away from my legs while going both up and down the peak. They were really helpful to help pull myself up the mountain as we went up and balance myself on the way down.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRxDod0dgEx4wDzwC9fQ45fPW7gwry9ksLkRU0sUIiJj2PblhO7sL3_7wHc32IPRHcFG7tSnmsfTq948kJToXu6w6F9qRQH2NZLx4FVPYFObCHVrPWNFxcVBQCXkqOuIQHPpGIkqjcfE/s1600/DSC_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRxDod0dgEx4wDzwC9fQ45fPW7gwry9ksLkRU0sUIiJj2PblhO7sL3_7wHc32IPRHcFG7tSnmsfTq948kJToXu6w6F9qRQH2NZLx4FVPYFObCHVrPWNFxcVBQCXkqOuIQHPpGIkqjcfE/s1600/DSC_0085.JPG" height="400" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matching outfit? Of course!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Yesterday, Dan and I took them out for the second time on a hike near Mt. Diablo, one of the tallest peaks in the Bay Area. We actually summited Eagle Peak, which was around 2,300 feet and is basically right next to Mt. Diablo (we were looking up at it). This was actually a much better trail to test out my new trekking poles because it was a much rockier trail and, especially on the way down, I felt the poles were more useful.<br />
<br />
The ascent definitely had some steep parts and I really felt the poles working for me there. I could feel my arms working to help pull myself up with the poles and take some of the pressure off my legs. It was also helpful having them for stability as there were a lot of loose rocks on the trail. In addition to loose rocks, we encountered an area where the trail narrowed quite a bit and was surrounded by trees and bushes. Here the poles were actually nice to have because I could push branches out of my way.<br />
<br />
However, going down from the peak is really where my poles began to shine. If I thought the way up had a lot of loose rocks, the way down had even more. Both Dan and I were doing a lot of sliding, but thanks to our poles, we did minimal falling - in fact I fell only once and Dan didn't fall at all. Unfortunately, when you're going over small loose rocks like that it doesn't matter how much grip your shoes have because those rocks have none. This is where I found my poles really coming in handy. Dan showed me a way to hold them out in front of you and to the side to help balance on the way down and catch myself when I started to slip.<br />
<br />
So far I am really loving my trekking poles. I think they are a great addition to my hiking gear and have improved my hiking experience. If you're planning to graduate from being a beginner hiker, better shoes and trekking poles will help get you all set.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPs8jKWfo3VHTUi8ZNCE4NrXcd9-1ywuCyYYbJcBbiRshm0MGwtmi4YHp87vhM3X2JeRTerIIx-IOJTBYAacZMRYUgdx3tK3YaZt7SaUpMPczOwhStnILKPpzcLxhjfebEUYaaGz1ONfw/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPs8jKWfo3VHTUi8ZNCE4NrXcd9-1ywuCyYYbJcBbiRshm0MGwtmi4YHp87vhM3X2JeRTerIIx-IOJTBYAacZMRYUgdx3tK3YaZt7SaUpMPczOwhStnILKPpzcLxhjfebEUYaaGz1ONfw/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New summit tradition..."Summit Splits!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12385708584309325630noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-48352601116619991482014-04-17T16:03:00.000-07:002014-04-18T18:32:50.400-07:00The Beginner Hiking Series 2: What to bring, When to go and What type of hiking you can do.Now that you have been on a hike or two, you are probably wondering where to go next. Sure, you could continue to do the same simple hikes (and in fact many people do just that) but many hikers will want to branch out and specialize in the types of adventures they enjoy. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolnR3EV8u0BXmmB5jbTOfEDnI9f1dEvVfPcg0aWHWYwqTfnXo1QuqFyo-G8oDHFxi4KEWJuCG1cv5kz4my25nyZojx0av4Rb-Jf_DgM0z_4fkMt6r5N20Bkp7gLzZrcfy-vAqY0eeW1Q/s1600/DSC_0150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolnR3EV8u0BXmmB5jbTOfEDnI9f1dEvVfPcg0aWHWYwqTfnXo1QuqFyo-G8oDHFxi4KEWJuCG1cv5kz4my25nyZojx0av4Rb-Jf_DgM0z_4fkMt6r5N20Bkp7gLzZrcfy-vAqY0eeW1Q/s1600/DSC_0150.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you Prefer a well maintained trail?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVK6d8oIJvd02RYUvatuzW_lRsOeF9t9iAS3T-GEN8mrO2z-ihg-jjUN12w4cMiZ_DLZUIFew69s8moMYh9r1WrbZsYHtnHNNUorowPi2vslTVxiOpQ0zSJHdvmTSTXL3frQTEsuU4CLk/s1600/DSC_0867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVK6d8oIJvd02RYUvatuzW_lRsOeF9t9iAS3T-GEN8mrO2z-ihg-jjUN12w4cMiZ_DLZUIFew69s8moMYh9r1WrbZsYHtnHNNUorowPi2vslTVxiOpQ0zSJHdvmTSTXL3frQTEsuU4CLk/s1600/DSC_0867.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or an adventurous scramble?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVK6d8oIJvd02RYUvatuzW_lRsOeF9t9iAS3T-GEN8mrO2z-ihg-jjUN12w4cMiZ_DLZUIFew69s8moMYh9r1WrbZsYHtnHNNUorowPi2vslTVxiOpQ0zSJHdvmTSTXL3frQTEsuU4CLk/s1600/DSC_0867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Types of Hiking</span></b><br />
So far in this series, we have only touched on hiking in it simplest form; going on a relatively short trek on well maintained trails. However, the term hiking covers many different activities that range in difficulty from leisurely walks to extremely strenuous outdoor expeditions. To give you a better understanding of the different types of hiking you can try, I have listed out some of the most popular options below.<br />
<br />
<b>Day Hiking</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5achR8hlflsQW9YuMBgZJpKRU5OUSCSFxpI3UODn5VFJuiblW8LT6IgUy3LKFQ-IjQyQU7uT5_IuZ8atW1uT4V4B01K-nX0JrfcPcAl1JnigLwAIbTkqTRBX5DQz7t4fHBZpw79BSbI/s1600/DSC_0813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5achR8hlflsQW9YuMBgZJpKRU5OUSCSFxpI3UODn5VFJuiblW8LT6IgUy3LKFQ-IjQyQU7uT5_IuZ8atW1uT4V4B01K-nX0JrfcPcAl1JnigLwAIbTkqTRBX5DQz7t4fHBZpw79BSbI/s1600/DSC_0813.JPG" height="320" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love a good, long day hike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Day hiking is the easiest form of hiking to understand; go on a hike that lasts at most a day. Most beginning hikers will be comfortable doing day hikes in the range of 2 to 6 miles that last about 3-6 hours. Typical trails can range from flat, well maintained paths to rough and rocky routes on steep slopes. Day hiking is the perfect way to get into other types of hiking because it involves the least time commitment the least gear. All you really need is a small pack and a few supplies (see <a href="http://www.expeditiondan.com/2014/01/the-beginner-hiking-series-getting.html">The Beginner Hiking Series 1</a> for what you should take) to have a great time.<br />
<br />
Now you might assume that day hiking would only be fun for beginners; but in fact it can be made quite difficult by simply adding distance to the hike. Many highly experienced hikers (myself included) really enjoy day hikes because they require very little time and so we can do lots of them. I personally prefer day hikes in the 10-20 mile range at a walking pace that most people would probably consider a light jog. While I admit this is certainly not something a beginner is likely to enjoy, it just goes to show that you can make day hiking a very strenuous activity.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Weekender Backpacking</b><br />
Before I explain what is involved in weekender backpacking, I should clear up some confusion I heard recently. When people uninitiated in the outdoors hear the term backpacking, they probably think college kids traveling around Europe staying in hostels. Backpacking in the outdoors is much different. In this context backpacking means hiking out into the wilderness and camping somewhere while carrying all you gear and supplies in your pack.<br />
<br />
Weekender backpacking involves camping out for 1 or 2 nights at a time, hence the weekender label. Most weekend length trips involve hiking to a campsite that is relatively close to the trail head, often as little as 4 or 5 miles. The short length of these trips make them a great avenue for new backpackers to gain some valuable experience and to learn the types of trails and camping they enjoy. It will also allow you to figure out what gear works for you and what is junk. Because the trail head (and your car) are relatively close, these trips are more forgiving than longer backpacking expeditions since you can most likely hike out to your car if something goes wrong or the weather turns nasty.<br />
<br />
While an exhaustive list of gear required is beyond the scope of this series (look for an upcoming guide to backpacking), the basic items you will need include: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove and cooking utensils. For this type of trip you will need a backpack with a capacity in the range of 45-55 liters.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Long Duration Backpacking</b><br />
Longer duration backpacking trips are basically the same as a weekend length backpacking trip, but last longer and typically cover significantly more miles. I tend to consider long duration anything longer than a weekend, but the most common trip lengths in this category last between 5 and 10 days. The miles traveled on the trip depends mostly on how fit you are and where the trip takes place. In flat terrain it is not uncommon to cover 15 to 25 miles in a day; but throw in significant altitude gain and you may only cover 5 to 10 miles per day.<br />
<br />
While longer duration backpacking seems almost the same as a weekend trip, it can require significantly more back country experience and self sufficiency. On a weekend trip, if something goes wrong you are at most a day's hike away from help. However, if you are in the middle of a 10 day trip you may be 5 days hiking from help if something goes wrong. An example of this was a 7 day trip I took in Yosemite a few years back. The trail we chose was a large loop and at the midpoint we were over 40 miles from the nearest road. Had something gone wrong, I would have been on my own. To ensure you have a safe and fun experience, it is important you know how to repair or fix your gear and that you pack appropriate spares and extra food to allow you to deal with un-expected situations. My rule of thumb is that unless you are going with an experienced backpacker, you shouldn't attempt a trip like this until you have at least 3 or 4 shorter trips under your belt.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><b>Alpine Mountaineering </b></b><br />
Alpine mountaineering (or peak bagging) is defined as non technical climbing of mountain peaks at medium altitudes. This is not to be confused with climbing peaks like Mt. Everest or Mt. McKinley, which involve technical mountaineering at extreme altitudes. Most alpine peaks can be climbed in a single day and many require only a sturdy pair of boots and some basic supplies to attempt. The most famous climb of this type in the United States is Mt. Whitney; the highest point in the continental US. You can find lots more information on climbing and training in my <a href="http://www.expeditiondan.com/p/the-road-to-whitney.html">Road to Whitney</a> blog series.<br />
<br />
While climbing a mountain may seem pretty far removed from hiking, many Alpine climbs require hiking significant distances while on approach to the mountain itself. Once you reach the mountain you are often required to "scramble" up steep, loose rock slopes and there are rarely well maintained trails. A major concern for many hikers is the effects of altitude on the body when climbing these peaks. Due to the relatively short approaches to many climbs of this type, the body is unable to acclimatize to the altitude in time to prevent the onset of symptoms.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKc0g_IMQcMAnI5TxukR3fZhM08ziem9AVg3liqSzMwOEOUScU_-fz32PhGeZy6B6qq6I8T-19Ar1n82qS9FHvvuh4MLkoAEMF7gNhZ24-aQJuU4G-9b7BP0KSjEJRbIRFVnzjGo112w/s1600/mountaineering1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKc0g_IMQcMAnI5TxukR3fZhM08ziem9AVg3liqSzMwOEOUScU_-fz32PhGeZy6B6qq6I8T-19Ar1n82qS9FHvvuh4MLkoAEMF7gNhZ24-aQJuU4G-9b7BP0KSjEJRbIRFVnzjGo112w/s1600/mountaineering1.JPG" height="420" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometime. this is as good as the trail gets...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The Eastern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_(U.S.)">Sierra Nevada</a> mountains are a very popular destination for this type of hiking and climbing due to the temperate weather and ease of access to numerous great mountains. While an alpine mountaineering adventure is certainly not out of the realm of possibility for a beginner, I always recommend you go with someone who is experienced at this type of climbing or hire a guide for your first trip or two. There are many dangers unique to climbing mountains that are not immediately apparent until its too late, leaving you in a dangerous or even life threatening situation.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Canyoneering</b><br />
Sometimes referred to as canyon hiking, canyoneering is essentially mountaineering in reverse. It involves descending a canyon and either camping or hiking back out. Most traditional canyoneering is non technical and requires only hiking skills; though a specific branch called "Canyoning" involves rappelling down technical sections using ropes and other gear. Canyoneering is deceptively difficult because unlike climbing a mountain where the second half is all downhill, you must climb all the way out of the canyon you just descended.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcpjlnmDeasmma2il6rnwcIvlpdsnziicMB3Bq_4SHniNa6L_iWwwWpXfkrdPPz04j9QWQKIBuyB7Mr9nZqhfEiyOFg7NBVmOgxD5zbP6lJ3hvsrFW5Zq6wBaSRwOMD-madJiNdW8k8w/s1600/DSC_0163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcpjlnmDeasmma2il6rnwcIvlpdsnziicMB3Bq_4SHniNa6L_iWwwWpXfkrdPPz04j9QWQKIBuyB7Mr9nZqhfEiyOFg7NBVmOgxD5zbP6lJ3hvsrFW5Zq6wBaSRwOMD-madJiNdW8k8w/s1600/DSC_0163.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a long way down, and back up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Probably the most famous and often underestimated canyoneering descent is the Grand Canyon. Many visitors simply do not grasp the effort that is required to make the 5,000 vertical foot climb from the bottom of the canyon. For scale, the climb to Mt. Whitney from the trail head involves an elevation gain of 6,000 ft. While altitude is not a factor in canyoneering, the deceptive ease of the descent often leads less experienced hikers to over commit and turns an otherwise fun trip into a grueling and dangerous return in 100+ degree heat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBoFU0sNgd-IinuH6TKUKpCBDWUFdLjtQSnFMeVR-WgqbNyIAiOJCDLLI7Wt7hTghANERn0PVjGRc2NjZKOeIiT_wnszixBSEazR2zJoMlAQjs7An4j0thgQ72ASqmasjLEQ3VvgNPdY/s1600/DSC_0176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBoFU0sNgd-IinuH6TKUKpCBDWUFdLjtQSnFMeVR-WgqbNyIAiOJCDLLI7Wt7hTghANERn0PVjGRc2NjZKOeIiT_wnszixBSEazR2zJoMlAQjs7An4j0thgQ72ASqmasjLEQ3VvgNPdY/s1600/DSC_0176.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;">What to Bring</span></h4>
What you bring on a hike really depends on three factors: where you hike, what time of year you hike and how far you hike. Since this blog is about beginner hiking I will focus the discussion on day hiking and won't be covering the equipment required for other types of trips.<br />
<br />
<b>Where</b><br />
Understanding where you are going to be hiking allows you to fully prepare for what you will need to take with you. The unique terrain and climate of an area requires special consideration to ensure you have what you need. Below I have listed some area specific considerations commonly encountered on hikes.<br />
<br />
<i>Hot, Dry climate</i><br />
The desert can be a singularly unforgiving place; lack of water, vegetation and infrastructure make it a bad place to get stuck or run out of supplies. To help you best cope with a desert climate you should bring extra water and sun protection with you. I also personally recommend extra first aid supplies; I have a bad habit of getting lots of cuts and scrapes in the desert and have been known to fall into a Cholla cactus or two.<br />
<br />
<i>Cool, wet climate</i><br />
The biggest challenge to a cooler climate is staying dry and warm. Because of this, I always recommend that you bring a full waterproof layer and the means to generate warmth in case of trouble. I always bring a <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/810628/light-my-fire-firesteel-scout-20-fire-starter">Firesteel</a> and a lighter in case I get stranded and need to stay warm. I generally don't bother lugging extra water if there are streams or lakes nearby, but I will bring a <a href="http://www.rei.com/search.html?ir=q%3Awater+filter&remove=Water+Treatment%60water-treatment&r=category%3Awater-treatment%7Cwater-filters&q=water+filter">water filter</a> or at the very least <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/406032/potable-aqua-iodine-and-taste-neutralizer-tablets">Iodine tablets</a> to treat the water. While many people will tell you that you can safely drink the water in many places without trouble, I personally feel you should never take the risk of getting sick and prefer to play it safe. It is true that much of the water in the wilderness is safe, but if you are on a day hike, you are likely in an area frequented by lots of people, so its best not to trust any water you find.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Temperate, coastal climate</i><br />
Coastal areas generally have pretty forgiving climates and don't require too many special considerations. The most common thing to worry about is rapidly changing weather. Since I live near the coast, this is one of the more common environments I find myself hiking in. I will generally bring a windbreaker layer in case clouds or fog roll in as the temperature can drop 30 degrees in as little as half an hour.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmMi7GJtF0uwXW2D-17PNMv0H9co6CIBASlYVxCav02dheoczz0rYgFr8_eWK9GK9A1QQJi7sVu_SZYR0_w2OMrtetdz3pagMh_OV_VPZ85gYZfnyhyJHqmsAImOpUBPszwnXR54DVKs/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmMi7GJtF0uwXW2D-17PNMv0H9co6CIBASlYVxCav02dheoczz0rYgFr8_eWK9GK9A1QQJi7sVu_SZYR0_w2OMrtetdz3pagMh_OV_VPZ85gYZfnyhyJHqmsAImOpUBPszwnXR54DVKs/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A coastal day hike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>Mountainous terrain</i><br />
Mountainous areas pose an interesting combination of the challenges we have discussed already. High altitudes tend to bring dry air and rapidly changing weather combined with lack of shelter. My preferred mountainous area for hiking is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_%28U.S.%29">Sierra Nevada Mountains</a> in California and this often takes me to relatively high altitudes. Knowing the particular area is pretty important in the Sierras because the entire area has a somewhat desert like climate that can make conditions tough to deal with. To best deal with the weather I bring a fleece or down base layer and a waterproof windbreaker in case of rain or cold. For water I generally will bring a water filter as well as a little extra water in case of trouble. I also bring sturdier boots or shoes because many mountain trails are pretty rugged and rocky.<br />
<b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHHOBna9ZAKcKz7eHvLEPlwRwPz3J_7H2W5uzuLpDD0STNkLe58lVCbVUVbPdpK9HqpHPTsZtJjWGqFsp3IQ8bTTpfO9nWvRjjxNgHpBNEj7FsQ4dfpXdrfKPRHf3SAwOBxLUvH453KU/s1600/DSC_0858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHHOBna9ZAKcKz7eHvLEPlwRwPz3J_7H2W5uzuLpDD0STNkLe58lVCbVUVbPdpK9HqpHPTsZtJjWGqFsp3IQ8bTTpfO9nWvRjjxNgHpBNEj7FsQ4dfpXdrfKPRHf3SAwOBxLUvH453KU/s1600/DSC_0858.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weather changes fast in mountains...it was clear about 20 minutes before this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>When</b><br />
Understanding the unique challenges to different seasons is important because it can greatly impact your hiking experience. I have laid out some simple guidelines for each season below:<br />
<br />
<i>Winter</i><br />
Nights come early in the winter so always bring a flashlight or headlamp. Due to the cooler weather its important to bring warmer clothing and shoes. I like to carry an extra pair of socks in case my feet get wet and I always make sure my boots or shoes are waterproof. I also carry extra food as staying warm burns extra calories.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Spring</i><br />
Spring tends to still be cool but the weather can change rapidly, so its important to be prepared in case it cools down and rains or snows. I bring waterproof and warm layers even if I don't always use them. I also still bring lights as sunset still tends to be relatively early.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Summer/Fall</i><br />
Heat is you biggest enemy in the summer. I bring extra water and sun protection and wear breathable clothing so I don't overheat. Finding water will start to become an issue in the summer unless the source is pretty large. In the fall I carry lights and extra water as most available water sources are probably at their season low.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<b>How Far</b><br />
How far you can hike is a pretty important decision that only you can make. Knowing your limits and when to turn back can make the difference between an enjoyable hike and a potentially dangerous situation. When you are just starting out hiking you probably don't want to choose hikes longer than about 5 or 6 miles. This will allow you plenty of time to finish even at a slower pace if you get tired. However, as you progress you will naturally find longer and more adventurous hikes that appeal to you. The best way icrease your distance is to do progressively longer hikes until you know your limits and then you can pick hikes of the correct length for your fitness level. My rule of thumb is to set a turn around time for myself to ensure I don't go too far. For example, If I am on a long hike that is 10 miles out and then 10 miles back I will choose a time that I have to be heading back by no matter where I am. Since I like to start early in the morning I usually use 2pm or 3pm as my absolute turn around to ensure I get back before dark.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Safety</b><br />
There are 3 simple rules you can use to help stay safe on your hikes:<br />
<br />
<i>Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return</i><br />
This is the best way to ensure if you have a problem you receive help quickly. This way, if you are injured and can't hike out help will know where to look for you quickly.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Bring a first aid kit</i><br />
This is pretty self explanatory.<br />
<br />
<i>Be prepared to stay out longer than you expect</i><br />
A little extra food and water can make the difference if you are forced to stay out longer than expected, or even if you just happen to be hiking slower than you thought you would.<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">When <i>should </i>I hike?</span></h3>
The time of day you hike is largely up to you, but I generally recommend that you start early and finish early. The first reason I recommend this is because the earlier you start, the more daylight you have to hike in; this means you can take longer hikes but also gives you more time to hike out if you have a problem. The second is that most people don't get up early and the trails (and parking) will be less crowded. Many hiking areas have very limited parking and if you arrive early you are almost assured at getting a nice space.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-35056595533432865732014-04-07T08:01:00.001-07:002014-04-07T08:01:27.553-07:00First Summit of the Spring!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today, we headed out for our first summit ascent of the Spring to test out some new gear. Only 2000 feet of elevation gain, but it's a start! As you will notice, we each responded quite differently to the situation...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrITRyCkottwgNiwXSY3fOX57MHbw3km4AFvOiqRNnevkEDDglsnTXY_b0Y308q14JQd61Zx4ROIspHqtqyeYLZdV1fYkOiQCSvvp9wth4zlpUXYviC8TVSzKSrN_rra9l3ayLyS2yN9Y/s1600/DSC_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrITRyCkottwgNiwXSY3fOX57MHbw3km4AFvOiqRNnevkEDDglsnTXY_b0Y308q14JQd61Zx4ROIspHqtqyeYLZdV1fYkOiQCSvvp9wth4zlpUXYviC8TVSzKSrN_rra9l3ayLyS2yN9Y/s1600/DSC_0121.JPG" height="420" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKF136P0c8mQHHECyRDchyg2DQQeN4ixONPjXfnzUpsli4L4A0r0wwfrzhTnsnmNazp-iq_FtvaLW_sbrJFX23tWQj5nuX4CS9kSq95AuN5WKCTFWMyvxMaudHzRseIsux_o-GVU1NHc/s1600/DSC_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKF136P0c8mQHHECyRDchyg2DQQeN4ixONPjXfnzUpsli4L4A0r0wwfrzhTnsnmNazp-iq_FtvaLW_sbrJFX23tWQj5nuX4CS9kSq95AuN5WKCTFWMyvxMaudHzRseIsux_o-GVU1NHc/s1600/DSC_0103.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-46143742957231664092014-04-01T10:21:00.002-07:002014-04-01T10:21:33.109-07:00The Road to Whitney 2.5: Permit UpdateI just wanted to post a quick update on the knife fight that has been the 2014 Mt. Whitney permit lottery. To say that there has been some issues is putting it mildly. This is the first year that the lottery has been run completely by<a href="http://www.recreation.gov/"> Recreation.gov</a> and it has been frustrating to all involved.<br />
<br />
As of the close of the lottery on March 15, there were 8,744 applications submitted in total. While they do not release that actual number of participants looking for permits, the most sought after date, August 1st had nearly 800 people vying for the 160 quota slots (100 day-use and 60 overnight).<br />
<br />
The problems really began when the lottery itself was run; it appears that the system only ran through the applications once and so only filled about 65% of the total slots. Some dates had nearly 50 open slots after the lottery had run its course. Normally, the lottery will continue to run until all available slots are filled. Once people decide which dates they want to keep, the remainder of dates are released to be claimed by anyone.<br />
<br />
An additional hiccup reported by many people was that if they were listed as an alternate trip leader for another application that was selected, all other applications by that person were immediately cancelled and not subject to the lottery. This led many people to miss out on permits that they might otherwise have gotten.<br />
<br />
What this led to was a mad rush today (April 1st as I write this) to obtain the remaining permits. It took about an hour for the website to even allow booking of permits, at which point Inyo Forest service elected to take back control of the lottery process in large part I'm sure because of all the complaints they were getting.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, I was able to get the permits and camping reservations for my trips after sitting in the registration cue nervously. Sadly, many were not as lucky and it seems likely that the lottery process will see some scrutiny from the Forest Service before next year. Of course, you can hardly expect the process to be perfect the first year of a transition, and hopefully the Inyo Forest Service and Recreation.gov make changes for the better.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-48177155808027745422014-03-28T08:04:00.000-07:002014-03-28T08:18:12.225-07:00Gear Review: Fitbit Flex<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg712pUGoKrnq435t-L-5TuTXy2kdHlHzgu6eo_K0pj4w8LCui51nsN28eNu98Ik_h9TMdjw1YkxjQSojHTjdDnlUuja1OO6HOWy2VM9mvTSWBE3dUX2Klkt5b9vtM8FEYrkzrfmvJ0Cfg/s1600/DSC_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg712pUGoKrnq435t-L-5TuTXy2kdHlHzgu6eo_K0pj4w8LCui51nsN28eNu98Ik_h9TMdjw1YkxjQSojHTjdDnlUuja1OO6HOWy2VM9mvTSWBE3dUX2Klkt5b9vtM8FEYrkzrfmvJ0Cfg/s1600/DSC_0084.JPG" height="400" width="263" /></a><br />
<b>Review by <a href="http://www.expeditiondan.com/p/about-author.html">Michelle</a></b><br />
<br />
I'm the Co-Founder of a mobile startup called <a href="http://www.blinkapp.co/">Blink</a>.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
I know, you're wondering what this has to do with the outdoors. Absolutely nothing. Which is precisely why for Christmas this year I asked for a <a href="http://www.fitbit.com/flex?gclid=CNP7xem9tL0CFcuSfgodVVQASw">Fitbit Flex</a>. </div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
Being a Co Founder of a mobile startup here in Silicon Valley means that I generally work 14 hour days, 7 days a week. And 99.9% of that time is spent sitting in front of a computer screen. For someone who enjoys living healthy, this puts quite a strain on exercise time.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
I had been wondering for a while how little exercise I was getting, and began to think it was time I had a way to actually find out (rather than just optimistically guessing every now and then). Enter the Fitbit Flex.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
I chose this over the myriad other wearables out there after careful research and based on several criteria:</div>
<div style="font-family: arial;">
<ol style="font-size: small;">
<li>What it does</li>
<li>How it looks & feels</li>
<li>Price</li>
<li>The company</li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLeHEygx2Zna1P0nq5NYR6vtp4U0UyAZ3ulzPkwIOY5yMGp1pTX9WwJnlXsrjbRJlRc5SKaLuGVkKhW6SLgzQhUUfRyInhKwqC70wF4KLJA-LA6n6SHDR4Qz0wU3jd-1_J4m3Ib9vUkI/s1600/IMG_1066.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLeHEygx2Zna1P0nq5NYR6vtp4U0UyAZ3ulzPkwIOY5yMGp1pTX9WwJnlXsrjbRJlRc5SKaLuGVkKhW6SLgzQhUUfRyInhKwqC70wF4KLJA-LA6n6SHDR4Qz0wU3jd-1_J4m3Ib9vUkI/s1600/IMG_1066.PNG" height="320" width="180" /></span></a></div>
<h2>
<b><span style="font-size: small;">What it does</span></b></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">My background is in Product Management, and that means I love data. Give me charts and graphs any day of the week. And the Fitbit gives me that in spades.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
After pulling the Flex out of the box, I was guided through a very simple set up process in the Fitbit app. In just a few minutes I was up and running.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
This app has been the real joy of the Flex to me. It's not only well designed, but it shows me at a glance every stat I could possibly want.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
I can see the number of steps I've taken, how many miles I've covered, my total active minutes, calories burned, sleeping patterns, and also enter optional outside data like weight, calorie intake, and water consumption.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
As part of set up, I set a goal for myself on how active I want to be. The app shows me every day a color-coded indicator of how I'm tracking against my goals. I can also tap on the wristband to see progress reflected with a series of lights when I'm on the go.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
If I want more details, I can drill down into each category and look at a graph of exactly what I did and at what time. It's basically heaven for me.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
One of the most surprising aspects for me has been tracking my sleep. By wearing the Flex to bed, I'm able to track the time I spend asleep, restless, and awake. Realizing just how little quality sleep I was actually getting was pretty eye opening.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi027KMhMN_umGubs9-MnzlmS4D12aVPOKDHTUXSKuyf0laeMYVD2VAqIFesF3Wq1uPnotXIJtJmT-Bt_HmYVgD-aSWjA6Qp6Ysowxh7PqyBWcB3IF1J9hTdta2YCNBDmo3qTCLejY2QMo/s1600/IMG_1067.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi027KMhMN_umGubs9-MnzlmS4D12aVPOKDHTUXSKuyf0laeMYVD2VAqIFesF3Wq1uPnotXIJtJmT-Bt_HmYVgD-aSWjA6Qp6Ysowxh7PqyBWcB3IF1J9hTdta2YCNBDmo3qTCLejY2QMo/s1600/IMG_1067.PNG" height="180" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="font-family: arial;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">How it looks and feels</span></b></h2>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOEaT23LUtYuVqff57aSf09h_zAhyo6FfOqxnn6lGRUW4UkK3WSbSySpu7124UE2GFTkE5PfOefalueOqL8PK8nePyrrLx3gG84Kw0yPwi4vVd_04Cqq3t4ZOH7yoUCw52L_r8bB7pCA/s1600/DSC_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOEaT23LUtYuVqff57aSf09h_zAhyo6FfOqxnn6lGRUW4UkK3WSbSySpu7124UE2GFTkE5PfOefalueOqL8PK8nePyrrLx3gG84Kw0yPwi4vVd_04Cqq3t4ZOH7yoUCw52L_r8bB7pCA/s1600/DSC_0066.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a>The Flex came with a small wristband that is adjustable. I have very tiny wrists, and this is a constant concern when I buy watches and bracelets. I needed something that wouldn't slide around and annoy me all day.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
Since buying it, I've been pleased to see that it's slim enough to be basically invisible under all but my tightest sleeved clothing. It's so inconspicuous that unless I point out to someone I'm wearing it, I've never actually had anyone remark on it.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
It comes with one wristband to start (I got basic black), but there are several different colors of bands that you can change to including green, blue, red, and gray. This means I'll have plenty of fashion options. After all, you might as well look good if you're going to be wearing this every day.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
I wear mine all day and most nights, and I've found it to be very comfortable. To remove dirt and oil though, I'd recommend washing the band itself with warm water and mild soap now and then. I generally do this while the tracker unit is out and charging.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<h2 style="font-family: arial;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Price</span></b></h2>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
At just under $100, the Flex was one of the more affordable of the wristband trackers out there. It's not the cheapest, but it's also far less expensive than what I considered to be the next best options.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="font-family: arial;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">The Company</span></b></h2>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
I'd read a lot of great things about Fitbit as a company, and I certainly respected them as a fellow startup. For me, some of the best innovations I've seen come from smaller companies, and so I was more inclined to take my business to them that to Nike or Jawbone.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
Although I know they've been through some recent growing pains on the Force, I can say I've been nothing but pleased with my Flex. </div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="font-family: arial;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">So what's the verdict?</span></b></h2>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
I'm almost 4 months into owning the Flex, and I can say I'm very happy with it. I think it's a well-made and incredibly useful product. It's serving as a daily reminder to me to stand up, walk around, and get exercising whenever I can. I've already recommended it to family and friends and several have purchased one and been just as pleased with the results.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
I've still got a long way to go, but the enjoyment of seeing how far I actually have come (and the reminders when I occasionally fall behind) have been great thus far. I'm noticing that as I make better choices in exercising, I also make better eating choices.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
All in all, it's been really satisfying to start feeling like I'm taking control of my health again, even if it's just a few steps at a time.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400668242474671693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-50586463925609593832014-03-19T07:41:00.000-07:002014-04-22T13:20:27.849-07:00Gear Review: Salomon Comet 3D Lady GTX Hiking Boots<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Recently, Robyn picked up a pair of <a href="https://www.salomon.com/us/product/comet-3d-lady-gtx.html?article=328088">Salomon Comet 3D Lady GTX</a> boots for day hiking and the occasional overnight jaunt. If you would like to read about how she chose these boots be sure to check out the <a href="http://www.expeditiondan.com/2014/02/the-beginner-hiking-series-buying-your.html">Beginner Hiking Series: Buying your first pair of serious hiking boots.</a><br />
<br />
The Salomon Comet 3D boots are billed as a lightweight boot for long day hikes and overnight backpacking adventures. What they forgot to mention is that these are likely to be one of the most comfortable pairs of boots you will ever own. Salomon has clearly managed to take the great fit of their trail running shoes and transfer it into their boot lines. <br />
<br />
The first thing you notice about these boots is that they are really great looking. Many women's boots on the market tend to be styled like a scaled down men's boot and are offered in colors that are questionable, to say the least. Robyn commented that these boots look like they were actually designed by a woman. The bright colors are there but understated. Many women's boot color pallets seem like a neon sign post designed to point out that they are in fact, made for women.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nlAH8yxJyB8/UykPUrXMoXI/AAAAAAAABM0/JRhgXJ9vQFM/s1600/DSC_0196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nlAH8yxJyB8/UykPUrXMoXI/AAAAAAAABM0/JRhgXJ9vQFM/s1600/DSC_0196.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dark shoe panels are nicely accented with purple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Robyn finally got to take them out this past weekend for a 10 mile day hike. At first, I was a bit skeptical these boots would provide a pain free first hike. While they are quite light, they seemed fairly stiff in the toe and midsection and I was worried Robyn would encounter the dreaded first hike blisters while breaking these in. Fortunately, there appeared to be a minimal, if any, break in period required and we got to see what a great pair of boots these really are.<br />
<br />
Once on the trail, Robyn's first impression was that the Salomon Comet 3Ds are comfortable - really comfortable. Her description of the fit was that they were like "comfy Italian slippers" and that they felt really stable. To really run these boots through their first hike paces we chose a hiking trail loop with about 1000 feet of climbing and descending.<br />
<br />
On steep downhill terrain the boots performed equally well on both loose and hard packed dirt. They provided plenty of grip and ankle support even on ground that was torn up by erosion gullies. The generous padding in the sole prevented any uncomfortable pressure points from developing and kept the impact fatigue to a minimum.<br />
<br />
Despite the drought in California we managed to find a reasonably deep stream crossing. The boots had no issues crashing through the stream with water up to the top of the toe. The water rolled right off due to the <a href="http://www.gore-tex.com/">Gore-Tex</a>.<br />
<br />
Going uphill is really where these boots started to shine. Robyn noted that the boots did not rub on her ankles at all and felt really light like a running shoe. She noted that she felt much more comfortable keeping her whole foot on the ground on really steep slopes rather than "toeing in" as many hikers with stiff boots tend to do.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r5x_ZvMeLhY/UykPZm41vYI/AAAAAAAABOQ/7zHnaXA032w/s1600/DSC_0254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r5x_ZvMeLhY/UykPZm41vYI/AAAAAAAABOQ/7zHnaXA032w/s1600/DSC_0254.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10 miles down and the boots are feeling great.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The only real downside we found with these boots is that due to their dark color they can get somewhat warm. The ventilation is good, but in direct sunlight it just can't keep up fully with the amount of solar energy being absorbed by the large black panels. Wearing a thinner sock made for warm weather should easily mitigate much of this, and they are sure to be toasty in the winter.<br />
<br />
After only a the first outings it is hard to evaluate the long term durability of the boots, but they seem well built. If Salomon's other shoes are any indication, they should last for at least a few years if not longer depending on the boot mileage and how well we care for them.<br />
<br />
These boots turned out to be a fantastic surprise. They are genuinely one of the most comfortable women's boots on the market and at $200 are a great value. We highly recommend them if you want your feet well cared for on your outdoor expeditions.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbMdRhXlUP9rX33iVM_6EI1pvCaMiaEKeR2rOILsPUa89E4N8nkIK_6_D1XpYlPjVHnjYzYEWxpWjirYdVsXua2XR0QZc4GMzau7mT5FL2NrNPVqCNu0RHlXulAsK-ntI-8-kQJWfOnU/s1600/DSC_0248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbMdRhXlUP9rX33iVM_6EI1pvCaMiaEKeR2rOILsPUa89E4N8nkIK_6_D1XpYlPjVHnjYzYEWxpWjirYdVsXua2XR0QZc4GMzau7mT5FL2NrNPVqCNu0RHlXulAsK-ntI-8-kQJWfOnU/s1600/DSC_0248.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robyn at the ridge high point in her Salomon Comet 3D boots</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-41689676010244272902014-03-11T10:12:00.000-07:002014-03-11T12:43:42.292-07:00The Road to Whitney 2: Trails, Training and Gear<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In this second installment of <a href="http://www.expeditiondan.com/p/the-road-to-whitney.html">The Road to Whitney Series</a>, I want to go into more detail about the Mountaineer's Route in preparation for both my solo single day trip and the overnight trip I am planning with my dad. In addition to the route, I will cover the training required and my training plan in more detail. And last I put together a preliminary gear list for both trips. If you missed it, be sure to check out <a href="http://www.expeditiondan.com/2014/01/the-road-to-whitney-1-start-of-it-all.html">The Road to Whitney 1: The Start of It All</a>.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Route</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b><br />
</b> <i><b>Route Overview</b></i><br />
The Mountaineer's Route is the second most popular route for climbing Mt. Whitney; second only to the famed "Whitney Main Trail". In fact, John Muir made his first ascent of Mt. Whitney up what is today recognized as the Mountaineer's Route; the main trail had yet to be established. While the Main trail is a well marked and heavily maintained path leading all the way from Whitney Portal to the summit, the Mountaineer's Route is more accurately described as a use trail that extends about 60% of the way to the summit. The majority of the Mountaineer's Route is actually the North Fork Lone Pine Creek Trail and it is not until you reach main massif of Mt. Whitney itself that you are truly on the Mountaineer's Route. The North Fork Trail and Mountaineer's Route see significant traffic each year and are in no way hard to follow assuming you know where you are going. I still hear about a few people (OK, more than a few) each year who manage to get lost along the way and end up returning to the portal disappointed. In order to avoid such a fate, it is important to thoroughly study the route to ensure you take the proper path. Failure to stay on the correct line can result in you: getting lost, or worse yet, land you in a dangerous situation where difficult and technical climbing is required. So how do people get lost if there is a use trail? As I mentioned earlier, the use trail covers about 60% of the climb, with the remaining 40% being either off trail scrambling or climbing. Many people approach the Mountaineer's Route with little respect and assume (incorrectly) that it is as easy to follow as the main trail. But don't despair yet, as long as you know how to navigate to each major landmark and which line to take when you arrive, there is much less chance of getting lost. To help familiarize you with the major landmarks along the route, I will explain each difficult or technical section in detail. All of the major milestones and landmarks are indicated on the main map shown below.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZ0kofdb1Bg4-6Gk5kx7VPORdF02mIxQgGIpbeGwMhu-Nmb4ylHht-T_aUPOMYFYfGzENRpSNTdCh5y9oujX-DQ9VswnNcQpGSfFg4ZnRdHkc2qwzDlax3kuTEEE90QyrFgdrOkHMra0/s1600/Whitney+MTNR+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZ0kofdb1Bg4-6Gk5kx7VPORdF02mIxQgGIpbeGwMhu-Nmb4ylHht-T_aUPOMYFYfGzENRpSNTdCh5y9oujX-DQ9VswnNcQpGSfFg4ZnRdHkc2qwzDlax3kuTEEE90QyrFgdrOkHMra0/s1600/Whitney+MTNR+map.jpg" height="640" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mountaineer's Route</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><i><br />
</i></b> <b><i>Major Landmarks</i></b><br />
<br />
<b>1. Main Trail Turn off</b><br />
Both the Mountaineer's Route and the Whitney Main Trail leave from the <a href="http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/">Mt. Whitney Portal</a> store and campground located above Lone Pine and both use the same trail head. However, once you set off, the turn off for the Mountaineer's Route is less than a mile up the trail so you will need to be on your toes. If you miss the sign, you will be in for some backtracking to regain the correct trail. Fortunately, this turnoff is outside of the permit zone so you won't be fined if you head too far up the main trail.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLWTEhqoACLFP7YnxlTjc0zWwb0iKNSL_-18GFkJTc1XZECSUxvQuEI9iwNlJdnucbkqvxVeCILGZPpOEKFK5REULp6PfYJfle32K2VLeWn8C6qp25TsmZ-w-Hh6u0CR_iy8au4ax_Js/s1600/trail+turn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLWTEhqoACLFP7YnxlTjc0zWwb0iKNSL_-18GFkJTc1XZECSUxvQuEI9iwNlJdnucbkqvxVeCILGZPpOEKFK5REULp6PfYJfle32K2VLeWn8C6qp25TsmZ-w-Hh6u0CR_iy8au4ax_Js/s1600/trail+turn.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Image Courtesy of <a href="http://timberlinetrails.net/">timberlinetrails.net</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>2. Ebersbacher Ledges</b><br />
The Ebersbacher Ledges are the first major obstacle you will encounter along the route. The route up the ledges was pioneered in 1953 by Dale and Frances Ebersbacher as a way to bypass the thick and nearly impassable alder and aspen trees that choke the narrow canyon Lone Pine Creek follows. A more accurate description of hiking through the trees I have heard is that it is more akin to tunneling than walking. The ledges bypass requires you to scramble up a 3rd class rock flake and traverse along several narrow ledges that eventually switch back up to a larger ledge that allows you to walk along to the saddle above the mess of trees. The main difficulty of the ledges is making sure you start in the right location. Once following the correct ledge, there are numerous rock cairns marking the turns you need to take so it is not too hard to stay on track. Once you get high enough, the route doubles back onto a much wider ledge with some trees and you simply need to traverse to the west back to the creek.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI__B5_Ckphc9C4GgeVnAAbrwkB2umVFNnQ-n0Ip4g7apQXTzmPI40ZSFfqoSckBjLP7dpM0AfAYatj9FInGZbm7SkfzEGAjc9XDPd8MsK-Ha-LeAKNkijVpKqfa4HQq7aPSeijz3Bckk/s1600/Ledges+route.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI__B5_Ckphc9C4GgeVnAAbrwkB2umVFNnQ-n0Ip4g7apQXTzmPI40ZSFfqoSckBjLP7dpM0AfAYatj9FInGZbm7SkfzEGAjc9XDPd8MsK-Ha-LeAKNkijVpKqfa4HQq7aPSeijz3Bckk/s1600/Ledges+route.jpg" height="516" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Ebersbacher Ledges Route looking north</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>3. Upper Boy Scout Lake</b><br />
The turn off at Upper Boy Scout Lake is not technically difficult but is important because it is where you will be leaving the Lone Pine Creek Trail and continuing on the Mountaineer's Route proper. The normal route involves turning off and heading south up a fairly loose slope to the next higher plateau. Most people prefer to follow the creek for as long as possible before turning up the slope. There are numerous cut-offs that traverse the loose slope, but these involve significant bush whacking and some deep sand so they are not as popular. At this point, if you need water you can instead continue on up to Upper Boy Scout Lake itself for water (be sure to filter and treat the water!) before continuing on. Rather than backtracking, you can take a cutoff across the slope to save time, but this involves a loose slope, so proceed with caution. This second option is outlined in red.<b></b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7o-b5k1uWMXZp-mNVH7M3jDsRhQexFuivsCnMSC0Fo_-HbThIPigFG4CtcAIELjk05oaZ8eEGqgE7XLgys_O9Db432NksuIlA_A13C8n5yFRiKN3MgllIi8sIjBnoHM7jb_ia56-acmM/s1600/Upper+Boyscout+Lake+turnoff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7o-b5k1uWMXZp-mNVH7M3jDsRhQexFuivsCnMSC0Fo_-HbThIPigFG4CtcAIELjk05oaZ8eEGqgE7XLgys_O9Db432NksuIlA_A13C8n5yFRiKN3MgllIi8sIjBnoHM7jb_ia56-acmM/s1600/Upper+Boyscout+Lake+turnoff.jpg" height="640" width="627" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper Boy Scout Lake turn off looking west</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b>4. The Notch</b><br />
The Notch is by far the most physically challenging portion of the entire climb, despite its unimposing sounding name. This portion of the climb involves ascending nearly 2000 ft. in a narrow, rock or snow filled gully up the north east face of the mountain. Depending on the time of year it is attempted, conditions can range from packed snow to endless loose rock and gravel. When the gully is filled with snow, ice axe and crampons are required but the climbing is reasonably pleasant. In late summer when all the snow has melted, the climb is a much different animal requiring rock hopping and navigation of endless loose rock. Any late summer climber should be prepared for sliding back as much as climbing up; picking the correct line here is very important. Due to the sudden altitude gain, this is often where climbers get hit hardest with altitude sickness. For the purposes of both climbs, I will need to ensure that I summit and start back down with plenty of daylight as The Notch is awful to descend in the dark. In all seasons, a rock helmet should be considered mandatory.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GrrQkpmGY8g/UxkP9vI7fEI/AAAAAAAABGw/Y1gYxzskMZY/s1600/Slot+Route.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GrrQkpmGY8g/UxkP9vI7fEI/AAAAAAAABGw/Y1gYxzskMZY/s1600/Slot+Route.jpg" height="612" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The north east face of Mt. Whitney above Iceberg Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br />
</b> <b>5. The Final 400</b><br />
The Final 400 is imaginatively named as it is the Final 400 feet of climbing before you reach the summit plateau. In true mountaineering fashion, Mt. Whitney saves the best for last. The Final 400 is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Decimal_System">Class 3</a> section requiring scrambling and some climbing to reach the summit. While it is the most technically difficult climbing of the route, it does not pose too big a challenge in the summer. In winter, this section is notoriously icy and dangerous, but summertime conditions allow for climbing without the need for ropes or gear. In fact, the most difficult portion of the Final 400 is the first 8 feet which requires you to climb up a an awkward rock shelf. After the initial shelf is cleared, you simply need to weave back and forth along the rock ledges to the summit. Below I have outlined one of the more common approaches, though there are endless variations. Once you reach the top of the Final 400, you are on the summit plateau a short distance from the summit hut.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFTodQlK-A52pvvrq9d5XpxWsG019Vm8JZUIbsGIwPdPiGw5NJtDmrU51SHw8zLXMIek5odHiT8viEcQmWMDtxdeSckWpLAlZE2XDzxVqgXiZ5TD42YsxlLeKcrM1T0-cj9wwqT4Rp-M/s1600/Final+400+route.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFTodQlK-A52pvvrq9d5XpxWsG019Vm8JZUIbsGIwPdPiGw5NJtDmrU51SHw8zLXMIek5odHiT8viEcQmWMDtxdeSckWpLAlZE2XDzxVqgXiZ5TD42YsxlLeKcrM1T0-cj9wwqT4Rp-M/s1600/Final+400+route.jpg" height="526" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Final 400 section from the North</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Training</span></b><br />
So, what is the best way to train for climbing mountains? The answer is quite simply, "by climbing mountains." Unfortunately, most people (myself included) do not have the time or the easy access to large mountains to reliably train this way. What this means is that we have to come up with an approach to training that works all the same muscle groups and mimics the motions and strains you will be placing on your body.<br />
<br />
To make sure I am properly prepared for climbing, I will be focusing my training in three main areas listed below:<br />
<i><b><br />
</b></i> <i><b>Cardiac Fitness</b></i><br />
Being in good cardiac shape is the most important area to be fit while climbing at high altitude. Not only do I need to worry about the physical difficulty of climbing the mountain, but I need to consider the effects of lower oxygen on my system. At sea level, there is roughly 20.9% oxygen by volume in the air I breathe, but as the altitude increases, the oxygen available decreases steadily. By the time I reach the summit of Mt. Whitney, there will only be 57% as much oxygen as there would be at sea level, meaning every breath will only have about 11.9% oxygen by volume in it. In short, this means I will need to take two breaths to get the same amount of oxygen I would in a single breath while training at sea level. Because of this, I need to be in great shape to allow me to function well with a heavily increased heart rate.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURE1Z6QZRwyEPkDh8sCFAGTO5y2ynneVX31QwEmYf58FBZiDCY3qX3ZSYlbnP2KzTiY2ICT4W3bbT25tY2sbxFggojaSaAA8_6-1BHXyEYt0h5KSIWb1vF58nh6-FRvgtjKgwAInxttU/s1600/O2vsAltitude.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURE1Z6QZRwyEPkDh8sCFAGTO5y2ynneVX31QwEmYf58FBZiDCY3qX3ZSYlbnP2KzTiY2ICT4W3bbT25tY2sbxFggojaSaAA8_6-1BHXyEYt0h5KSIWb1vF58nh6-FRvgtjKgwAInxttU/s1600/O2vsAltitude.JPG" height="332" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chart showing decrease in oxygen at altitude compared to sea level</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><i>Leg and Core Strength</i></b><br />
While working on leg and core strength might seem like a no-brainer to some, I often find that people don't always fully understand just how to go about training these muscles for mountaineering. For most people, when they think increasing leg strength they will naturally think of running paired with leg presses in the gym. However, both of these workout routines aren't well suited to making you a strong mountaineer. While running is a good way to build cardiac strength, it won't offer much help while climbing a mountain. Running strengthens muscle groups best used to propel you over flat ground with your weight directly above your hips, but while climbing steep mountain slopes, you will be hard pressed to find this motion being required. As for leg presses, they build large, fast twitch type muscles that are great for lifting up a large weight a few times. Unfortunately, mountaineering doesn't require you to lift a heavy set of weights a few reps then rest; it requires you to do it hundreds and hundreds of times in a row. To best prepare myself, I plan to leave both training methods out of my training plan and focus on the typical "stair stepping" motion which is what is most commonly found while mountaineering. This strengthens the muscles that are best for supporting me while my center of gravity is forward of my hips and my upper torso is leaning forward. This also strengthens my core which will allow me to balance and support a heavy pack load on uneven and steep slopes. I have found that hanging leg lifts paired with lunges and squats wearing a weighted pack are best for strengthening the muscles needed. Of course, there are many other ways to strengthen the correct muscle groups than I use. Remember our mantra when thinking of alternate training, "The best way to train for climbing mountains is by climbing mountains." Always tailor the training method to the end use.<br />
<ul></ul>
<br />
<i><b>Endurance</b></i><br />
Training for endurance is by far the most straightforward of the three focuses to my training, but also the most difficult to do properly. The single day summit attempt I'm planning will involve at least 10 hours of continuous effort to complete. To best prepare for a long effort I will be using both long duration hikes and interval training on my bike to boost my overall endurance. I plan to use a bi-weekly fast hike of around 10 miles to condition my legs to long distances at a fast pace. Interval training is a technique where you alternate between high intensity workouts and resting. My goal with interval training is twofold: it will boost my recovery rate and increase my lactic threshold. Both of these factors together will allow me to recover from hard hiking faster and go longer without getting sore.<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
In the previous installment of this series, <a href="http://www.expeditiondan.com/2014/01/the-road-to-whitney-1-start-of-it-all.html">The Road to Whitney 1: The Start of It All</a> I laid out an initial training plan shown below:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Cycling:</i> 4 to 5 days. 25+ miles per ride.</li>
<li><i>Hiking, non weighted pack:</i> 1 day every other week. 5-10 miles.</li>
<li><i>Stair climbing, weighted pack (10-25 lbs):</i> 3 times per week. 500 vertical ft. equivalent.</li>
<li><i>Squats, lunges, and wall sits:</i> 3 times per week. 30 reps each.</li>
<li><i>Hang bar leg lifts:</i> 4 times per week. 10-30 reps.</li>
</ul>
<div>
This training regimen has so far been quite effective but as we begin to move into spring I plan to add additional workouts to build upon the athletic base I have built up so far this winter. My dad is (hopefully) following the training plan I created for him, which is quite similar. The new training plan looks something like this:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Cycling:</i> 4 to 5 days. 25+ miles per ride.</li>
<li><i>Cycling intervals</i>: 3 days. 10x 2 minute reps.</li>
<li><i>Hiking, weighted pack:</i> 1 day every other week. 10 miles fast pace.</li>
<li><i>Stair climbing, weighted pack (30 lbs):</i> 4 times per week. 800 vertical ft. equivalent.</li>
<li><i>Squats, lunges, and wall sits:</i> 4 times per week. 30 reps each.</li>
<li><i>Hang bar leg lifts:</i> 4 times per week. 10-30 reps. </li>
</ul>
The final major obstacle to consider for this trip is training for the altitude. While nothing compares to Mt. Everest, Mt. Whitney still tops out at 14,505 feet and poses a non trivial altitude challenge. The main obstacle to climbing at high altitude is the possibility of developing symptoms of altitude sickness or AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). In the altitude range of Mt. Whitney, the most common symptoms of AMS include headache, dizziness, fatigue and nausea. As altitude increases into the range of Mt. Everest (20,000ft +), the initial symptoms grow in severity and you begin to accumulate fluid in the lungs and your brain swells. Unfortunately, once symptoms develop there is very little that can be done to treat the effects other than descending to a lower altitude. For this reason, it is vitally important to acclimatize properly before climbing to high altitudes. Acclimatization is accomplished by slowly ascending to higher altitudes in increments of around 1000-2000 feet per day and then descending again. Doing this repeatedly allows the body to build up a reserve of red blood cells to better carry oxygen and allow your body to cope with the reduced oxygen at higher altitudes.<br />
<br />
Fortunately for me, my Whitney climbs only require that I contend with the more mild symptoms of AMS; but even these can be a trip killer as I live at an elevation of around 20ft. On a climb this past year, I ascended too quickly while climbing Mt. Tom Ross in the Sierras and I became fairly disoriented and developed quite a bad headache. All this led me to climb the wrong ridge on the approach to the summit and become temporarily lost; not something that is advisable in the wilderness. Fortunately, I have enough experience with the symptoms of AMS that I immediately aborted my summit attempt once I realized I was in the wrong place and my symptoms were getting worse.<br />
<br />
To ensure that I am properly acclimatized for both Whitney trips I plan to use a two part strategy to acclimatize. First, I plan to climb another Eastern Sierra peak name Mt. Dana (13,061 ft.) in the weeks prior to my first trip. The great thing about Mt. Dana is that it is a very short climb (6 miles round trip) which will allow me to summit and get back down quickly. While I certainly won't be properly acclimatized, this climb will give my body a head start on the acclimatization for Whitney and allow me to gauge my overall fitness at altitude. The second phase will involve arriving at the Mt. Whitney portal campground (8,360ft.) and camping for two nights before I climb to the summit. After the first night, I will climb part way up the trail to around 10,000 feet and then descend again for the second night. This should allow my body to acclimatize enough to summit the following day with hopefully minimal altitude symptoms.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Gear </span></b><br />
While all this training should prepare me pretty well physically for climbing, every pound of gear I don't need to haul to the summit will make the going that much easier. So how do you pack light for a trip like this? My plan is to minimize weight where possible without going so far as to resort to an ultralight set up. Ultralight is a backpacking method where every ounce that can be shaved is done away with by using extremely light and minimalist gear. This lightweight approach is all well and good, but in mountaineering it is quite difficult to do away with some of the heavier items due to their essential nature when weather conditions go south.<br />
<br />
Over the years I have learned that the best way to control weight without resorting to extreme measures is to simply limit or reduce the amount of gear you can take. There is often a tendency to bring every piece of gear "just in case" and so you end up with a stuffed pack that weighs a ton. My favorite technique for limiting the amount of gear I take is by simply limiting the amount of pack space available. To help me do this, I keep a minimum gear list that always comes with me no matter the length of trip. I then create a second list of additional items I will need that is specific to the trip length and terrain I will be encountering. Below I have examples of both the minimum gear list as well as a list for both my single and multi day climbs of Mt. Whitney.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Backpack comparison (2).jpg" height="540px;" id="docs-internal-guid-ca5564d3-ae8a-20d1-259e-b59938727065" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DRaGnj4486ZeCh-Hk9s_eQYLBp-ZwrtnkivSTu1I0A-5hlP8iOiQt5yAj4HXMtzHK4qqHm0T4xpi-wW76sTrf_CNFfWzYJa4M4pQ7rfHc1RYnp0-TERq5HCwX9bl1fwK" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="653.625px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My trip packs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i><b>Mountaineering Minimum Gear List</b></i><br />
<div style="float: left; width: 50%;">
<ul>
<li>High top boots</li>
<li>Long pants</li>
<li>Wool socks</li>
<li>Thermal underlayer</li>
<li>Fleece or down jacket</li>
<li>Thermal hat</li>
<li>Waterproof gloves</li>
<li>Long sleeve shirt (or arm covering)</li>
<li>Brimmed hat</li>
<li>Sunglasses</li>
<li>Headlamp (w/ spare batteries)</li>
<li>Rock helmet</li>
<li>Leather rock gloves</li>
<li>Water filter and Iodine tabs</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="float: right; width: 50%;">
<ul>
<li>Sunscreen </li>
<li>Food (~300 cal/hr)</li>
<li>Water (.5L/hr)</li>
<li>Knife</li>
<li>Compass</li>
<li>Paracord (50ft.)</li>
<li>Trekking poles</li>
<li>Map</li>
<li>Backpack rain cover</li>
<li>First aid kit</li>
<li>Waterproof/windproof shell</li>
<li>Rain pants</li>
<li>Cameras</li>
<li>Aspirin</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: both;">
<br />
<i><b>Mt. Whitney Single Day Trip</b></i></div>
</div>
For my single day climb of the Mountaineer's Route, I will be using my Deuter Futura 32L pack (pictured left above). My biggest concern for a one day push is keeping the pack light. Every bit of weight I don't bring is that much less energy I will need to expend. However, I still need to balance staying light with the requirements for safely climbing the mountain. In addition to the minimum gear list, I will need the following items for the Mountaineer's Route:<br />
<div style="float: left; width: 50%;">
<ul>
<li>Gaiters</li>
<li>Crampons (snowpack dependent)</li>
<li>Small tarp (if rain is expected)</li>
<li>Camelback bladder</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="float: right; width: 50%;">
<ul>
<li>Water treatment drops (due to polluted water)</li>
<li>Ice axe (snowpack dependent)</li>
<li>Whitney zone permit</li>
<li>WAG bags (required)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<i><b>Overnight Trip</b></i><br />
The overnight trip is going to be by far the more difficult of the two trips to pack light on. The addition of a sleeping bag, pad, and some shelter means there is simply more gear than on the single day climb. For this trip I will be using my other climbing pack, the REI Pinnacle 35 (pictured right above). While not much larger in terms of absolute internal volume (35L vs 32L), the Pinnacle has a more open internal layout that is better suited to holding bulkier gear like a sleeping bag and bear can. Since my dad is coming along on the overnight trip, we will have two packs to use for splitting gear that can be shared. In the list below, I note which items will be shared. This list is in addition to all the items from both lists above.<br />
<div style="float: left; width: 50%;">
<ul>
<li>Small ground tarp (shared)</li>
<li>Sleeping pad</li>
<li>Stove fuel (shared)</li>
<li>Cup/bowl</li>
<li>Small bear canister (shared)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="float: right; width: 50%;">
<ul>
<li>Sleeping bag</li>
<li>Ultralight stove (shared)</li>
<li>Cooking utensils</li>
<li>Rain shelter (if rain is expected) </li>
<li>Cooking pot (shared)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
Now, you probably noticed we are not bringing a tent. We are doing this primarily to save weight and because sleeping out under the stars in the Sierras is a great experience. Of course, this assumes the weather will be good. In case of bad weather, we will probably lug along a lightweight shelter but I am hoping this is not required.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-68480318832351492232014-02-24T08:31:00.000-08:002014-02-24T09:14:04.087-08:00The Beginner Hiking Series: Buying your first pair of serious hiking boots.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
At some point nearly every new hiker will want to begin to progress from easy, beginner hikes to something more challenging. Up to this point, I have been advocating light hiking shoes and trail runners for the beginner. Don't get me wrong, these shoes are fantastic for their intended purpose - short day hikes on relatively well maintained trails - however, tougher terrain and longer hikes will really push these lightweight shoes to, and often past, their limit. This post will show you how to wade through the endless styles and types of boots and to pick out just the right pair for your needs. To help illustrate this process, I will have you follow along with my wife, Robyn, as she picks out a new pair of hiking boots.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><br />
</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>The basics of hiking boots</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Walking into an outdoor sports store and looking at the dizzying selection of hiking boots may seem intimidating to the un-initiated and rightly so. There are dozens of boots of all types and styles sporting a wide array of technical sounding bells and whistles. How do you decide which one is right for you?<br />
<br />
The first step is of course understanding just what makes up a hiking boot. Walk into the footwear aisle of any outdoor store and you will, in short order, be bombarded with an endless string of terms and technical jargon about the different parts of a boot. To give you a bit of a leg up on understanding all this, I have created a simple diagram that shows the main parts of a hiking boot. There are of course many more parts in addition to those I have labeled, but these are the areas you want to focus on knowing to help with picking out the right boot for you.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfP5sYyudwB_ZObMTqNlM1Or6-6g6eEdEEQOKsc6t0IoGGQMoQg8pwJflp9L8800uE62wSOatOPMdom4Qxeg6UoVUHVmgi9v3GXvh6OorlYZeO6ty_kLttiSxfLl2jg7FPX4L-U4cKx0/s1600/Boot+diagram.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfP5sYyudwB_ZObMTqNlM1Or6-6g6eEdEEQOKsc6t0IoGGQMoQg8pwJflp9L8800uE62wSOatOPMdom4Qxeg6UoVUHVmgi9v3GXvh6OorlYZeO6ty_kLttiSxfLl2jg7FPX4L-U4cKx0/s1600/Boot+diagram.JPG" height="472" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The basic parts of a hiking boot, plus dirt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Style</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
While there may seem to be an endless variety of boots, there are in reality only four basic styles of boots to choose from.<br />
<br />
<i>Light hiking shoes</i><br />
A light hiking shoe is most similar to a trail running shoe, but is generally made of slightly heavier material and may have a stiffer sole. This type of shoe is best suited to short day hikes on well maintained trails or paths. Light shoes sometimes offer increased water-proofing and a heavier sole than a trail runner would. In my opinion these are generally not much of an upgrade from a trail running shoe and so I recommend that you don't bother with these if you are looking to upgrade to a more advanced boot. <br />
<br />
<i>Hiking boots</i><br />
Hiking boots are really where you begin to see a major improvement over trail running shoes. These boots have a medium to high cut ankle and a much stiffer sole. Hiking boots are designed for long day hikes or overnight backpacking trips with relatively light loads. The flexible synthetic materials used in their construction means that break in is minimal and they will probably be comfortable right out of the box. This is most likely the type of boot you should select at this point in your hiking career.<br />
<i><br />
</i> <i>Heavy backpacking boots</i><br />
Backpacking boots are designed for carrying heavy loads on long trips (4 days or more) and consequently are some of the sturdiest, heaviest boots available. These boots almost always have a high cut ankle and boast very stiff soles and leather uppers. This means you will often have a lengthy and painful break in period before they can really be worn for long periods. They are generally too heavy and hot to be of much use for casual hiking.<br />
<i><br />
</i> <i>Mountaineering boots</i><br />
Mountaineering style boots are for climbing mountains. These boots are heavy, warm, and extremely stiff to allow for climbing steep rock or ice slopes. The soles on these boots offer almost no flex and so under no circumstances would you want to hike with these; they will cook your feet and aren't too comfortable for walking around normally. Additional features include <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crampons">crampon</a> compatibility and heavy duty waterproofing, and when you throw in their much heavier price tag, it rounds out a package that is much more than you want for hiking.<br />
<b><br />
</b> As you might expect, not every boot fits nicely into these categories and they should be taken as general guidelines. There are times when a lighter or perhaps heavier boot is appropriate, but these rules are a good starting point none the less.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Cut</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The cut of the boot is primarily determined by where the top of the collar falls on your ankle. The main three cuts are detailed below:<br />
<br />
<i>Low cut:</i><br />
A low cut boot extends to the base of the ankle, meaning they will offer about the same amount of support as a trail runner. Low cut boots are best suited to well maintained trails that offer even terrain as they will offer only minimal ankle support. Due to the lack of ankle support, you should not carry much pack weight with this type of boot.<br />
<br />
<i>Medium cut:</i><br />
A medium cut boot will extend from just below to just above the ankle. They offer much improved ankle support over a low cut boot and are more suited to uneven trails and rocky terrain. These boots offer enough support to carry a medium weight pack.<br />
<br />
<i>High cut:</i><br />
High cut boots extend well above the ankle and are designed to support heavy loads on or off trail for many days at a time. The trade off with these boots is that they are heavier than low or medium boots are.<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Material</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Most boots on the market today are a mixture of leather and synthetic materials. For the purposes of choosing your first pair of serious boots, material is probably the least important factor you need to consider.<br />
<br />
At one time, full leather boots were the norm on the boot market. However, in recent years the total market share of this material has dropped considerably, though it is still quite prevalent. The main types of leather available are full grain, split grain, and Nubeck leather. <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Full grain leather</i>: This is the heaviest and sturdiest available but also the hottest and least breathable.</li>
<br />
<li><i>Split grain leathe</i>r: This leather is lighter than full grain as it is only the thin outer part of the cow hide. Consequently it offers less durability and water resistance. </li>
<br />
<li><i>Nubeck Leather</i>: Nubeck is full grain leather that has been buffed for increased wear resistance and water proofing. It has increased flexibility but still needs break in like full grain leather does.</li>
</ul>
In the last few years, synthetic materials have made significant inroads into the boot market. There are numerous synthetic materials available and in general they offer light weight, excellent water resistance, and good flexibility. The downside is they are not as durable as a leather. Most boot manufacturers offer a mixed design using both leather and synthetic materials to try and gain the best of both worlds.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Choosing a boot</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Now that you have been bombarded with a little information about what types of boots are out there, we can get down to actually choosing some boots. Now, to say that we are just scratching the surface of all there is to know about boots is a huge understatement. I could easily drone on for pages and pages on the different parts of a boot or the enumerable bells and whistles available from different manufacturers. Not to mention the myriad types of lacing systems and the 'revolutionary' tread patterns some manufacturers claim. Instead I am going to make this process as easy as possible by only considering the factors that will really matter to you as a relatively new hiker. Since this is meant to be your first pair of "real" boots, we are going to ignore light hiking shoes because they are really not an upgrade from the cross trainers or trail runners you have been using to this point. We will instead focus our search on hiking boots as this is almost certainly what you will want to end up with. But how do you choose a pair? The main factors that will be important in your search are:<br />
<ul>
<li>Fit: The MOST important factor in choosing a hiking boot is fit. Poorly fitting boots will ruin just about any hiking trip. I have found over the years that salespeople at outdoor stores are generally not very good at this part of helping you select a boot. I feel that this is so important I am devoting an entire section to how to fit boots. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Weight: The weight of a boot is quite important to your decision and depends on what type of hiking you like. For long, fast day hikes I always recommend trying to keep the boot as light as possible. This weight savings will really add up as you pile on the miles. If you prefer shorter, rougher hikes or multi-day hikes, you can afford a heavier boot as it will provide some extra support and durability.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Ankle Support: Deciding how much ankle support to go with can be a tough decision. My rule of thumb when deciding on ankle support involves answering 3 simple questions:</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<i> 1. "What type of terrain am I hiking on?"</i><br />
<blockquote>
The answer to the first question is probably the most difficult to predict, but in the end isn't that difficult. If you plan on mostly hiking on trails with just a little rough terrain, a low cut boot will be perfect. If you plan about 50/50 non-rough and rough terrain you will need a medium or high cut boot. If you plan to do rough terrain with significant climbing you will definitely want a high cut boot. See? Not so tough.</blockquote>
<i> 2. "How long are my hikes?"</i><br />
<blockquote>
The second question is much easier. For short hikes a low or medium cut boot will suffice. If you plan long or multi-day hikes you will need a medium or high cut boot to provide enough ankle support for the extra miles (and steps!) that you will be doing.</blockquote>
<i> 3. "Will I be carrying any weight?"</i><br />
<blockquote>
The third question is also fairly simple. If you plan on not carrying much weight, low or medium cut boots are fine. If you plan to carry any significant weight (>15 lbs) high cut boots are mandatory to give you enough ankle stability on rough ground.</blockquote>
<ul>
<li><i>Price</i>: Price is important, to a point. Of course, everyone has a budget for boots that they will want to stay within. However, I generally think of the price as spread out over the life of the boot. A good pair of boots will probably last you at least 4 years, maybe more. With that in mind, I usually only use the price to exclude boots that are just too expensive for me. Once done, I don't really look at the price unless I'm shopping between different retailers for the same boot. I rarely skimp on price if the boot fits well.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li><i>Breath-ability</i>: The breath-ability of a boot is largely determined by how much venting material is on the upper part of the shoe. If you live somewhere where it is hot, you will want more venting. If you live in cooler, wetter areas you do not need this feature as much. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><i>Style</i>: Style is last on the list here for several reasons. While <i>some</i> people insist looking good in the outdoors is directly proportional to how well you perform, I personally find that you can have a great time and look like an idiot if you so desire. All joking aside, the style of a boot really only needs to impress you, since by and large you will not be hiking around huge piles of people. For the most part, boots looks pretty good these days so you don't have to worry too much. If you need to match colors, some manufacturers even offer multiple color options.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div>
Below is a selection of mid range boots currently on the market that are are roughly what you want to look for and their price:<br />
<br />
<div style="float: left; width: 50%;">
<ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr37k2ITaGnxI54XU4hNL9r9itYwnWSEP0PfxpsDdvwDfS3PlHeP7tl0ZmVslQN_s3Kru6EnOaquXMlTcFd90IilKu5YwgDSLevx9I7G6GZZ-xkQ-W8dOubMRkDGcT8UbRFosXbqVlqww/s1600/shoe1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr37k2ITaGnxI54XU4hNL9r9itYwnWSEP0PfxpsDdvwDfS3PlHeP7tl0ZmVslQN_s3Kru6EnOaquXMlTcFd90IilKu5YwgDSLevx9I7G6GZZ-xkQ-W8dOubMRkDGcT8UbRFosXbqVlqww/s1600/shoe1.jpg" height="200" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asolo Men's Fugitive GTX- $230<br />
<i>Photo:<a href="http://www.rei.com/">REI.com</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayPFv1knMj92mBF5-CN-_30Iz5_E0sQoxGs3m00zBa8l4fAQhlW_Iisf6C0cuczs3FY2hHwZctTzNSpFTkJJxgjHSnR0jg2VillhXTZ7ZMqnRkAyCLIFC98nIi0QekM_mmrW4f9QurC0/s1600/shoe2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayPFv1knMj92mBF5-CN-_30Iz5_E0sQoxGs3m00zBa8l4fAQhlW_Iisf6C0cuczs3FY2hHwZctTzNSpFTkJJxgjHSnR0jg2VillhXTZ7ZMqnRkAyCLIFC98nIi0QekM_mmrW4f9QurC0/s1600/shoe2.jpg" height="158" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zamberlan Men's 230 SH Crosser plus-$170<br />
<i>Photo:<a href="http://www.rei.com/">REI.com</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPskFJuw5kgyqUNiQ2YWM39ocvyVbemUcXrGg_Uh6FgvtK0uCfs5Ji8k6nPHseQBCd9bc3X_st3IibF37qv5mmrBsCZCdrnvM1sd3GsHh8-nwn8Dh-QSapI9gtwXmsqsbcO3XpsSJeds/s1600/shoe3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPskFJuw5kgyqUNiQ2YWM39ocvyVbemUcXrGg_Uh6FgvtK0uCfs5Ji8k6nPHseQBCd9bc3X_st3IibF37qv5mmrBsCZCdrnvM1sd3GsHh8-nwn8Dh-QSapI9gtwXmsqsbcO3XpsSJeds/s1600/shoe3.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahnu Men's Elkridge II mid-$160<br />
<i>Photo:<a href="http://www.rei.com/">REI.com</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTSCg1CwVnXGmR4JEU1uN8z4TRkcplgnwCDU-G9HhLzE7zJiodIA74OiDP8C7KA1s1I4Y2cpjDnA7MayT9cvObCa8HlBcMm9SHpDamtMwAD7pMQ3YhdyfEbw_i5YwoqsKVXiqWMFLlNo/s1600/shoe4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTSCg1CwVnXGmR4JEU1uN8z4TRkcplgnwCDU-G9HhLzE7zJiodIA74OiDP8C7KA1s1I4Y2cpjDnA7MayT9cvObCa8HlBcMm9SHpDamtMwAD7pMQ3YhdyfEbw_i5YwoqsKVXiqWMFLlNo/s1600/shoe4.jpg" height="154" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merrell Men's Chameleon Mid-$160<br />
<i>Photo:<a href="http://www.rei.com/">REI.com</a></i><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="float: right; width: 50%;">
<ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIr8bdHOjKn4Kekp-H0O8fk20SOQnyJhVkj7cURt0AmqI-calL2s0OdP7h3Txw8r5GKjF5I1U1fMHpgRQdKSc5PJhzuqklB4YIPa85abHU62iVuGNqgodtrN6aom56gT1AyuyDo8f5fQ/s1600/shoew1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIr8bdHOjKn4Kekp-H0O8fk20SOQnyJhVkj7cURt0AmqI-calL2s0OdP7h3Txw8r5GKjF5I1U1fMHpgRQdKSc5PJhzuqklB4YIPa85abHU62iVuGNqgodtrN6aom56gT1AyuyDo8f5fQ/s1600/shoew1.jpg" height="200" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lowa Women's Renegade GTX-$225<br />
<i>Photo:<a href="http://www.rei.com/">REI.com</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1nXWWFBIPM3j3KUBNpL3MvqR7o8fZyTmZJ38Qe_i03lkTJ4q3hSCxYq9OZ_ro9Rq8-VqqaA3IFvuQ2IA-F5EyO-jUXsxKubWKU-LDcrx-86ymrM5LHChYUPS9K7oNxONF1Hl10Qzeio/s1600/shoew2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1nXWWFBIPM3j3KUBNpL3MvqR7o8fZyTmZJ38Qe_i03lkTJ4q3hSCxYq9OZ_ro9Rq8-VqqaA3IFvuQ2IA-F5EyO-jUXsxKubWKU-LDcrx-86ymrM5LHChYUPS9K7oNxONF1Hl10Qzeio/s1600/shoew2.jpg" height="160" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salomon Women's Comet 3D GTX-$199<br />
<i>Photo:<a href="http://www.rei.com/">REI.com</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKUb7-TwIGlxrdMpqVxHxHgABnnLktHhpjO2bTOfYsWDZgU010cGecQSphNl-JVk1FLIYbNrJn7UHtq7ohSMXS6wHIyeVkM07AJ3m_mhMzu7_K9UDc02kvBlFOzul86MwaypgJwxhJ0A/s1600/shoew3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKUb7-TwIGlxrdMpqVxHxHgABnnLktHhpjO2bTOfYsWDZgU010cGecQSphNl-JVk1FLIYbNrJn7UHtq7ohSMXS6wHIyeVkM07AJ3m_mhMzu7_K9UDc02kvBlFOzul86MwaypgJwxhJ0A/s1600/shoew3.jpg" height="130" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asolo Women's Trinity-$195<br />
<i>Photo:<a href="http://www.rei.com/">REI.com</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy3OcNYbS2HHR9SUXWJbzQ5arj3k4-2GK97eOp4vcTV687nDS1xBpZ9U-i-Jlj8ASuEEXs_t_N_DSzs8OwU8tY8NMn3AK_sVz53s7rITYtNdhUZs5rnwPyICgW772FQpdER-tyt6j2u8/s1600/shoew4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy3OcNYbS2HHR9SUXWJbzQ5arj3k4-2GK97eOp4vcTV687nDS1xBpZ9U-i-Jlj8ASuEEXs_t_N_DSzs8OwU8tY8NMn3AK_sVz53s7rITYtNdhUZs5rnwPyICgW772FQpdER-tyt6j2u8/s1600/shoew4.jpg" height="171" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenn Women's Voyageur Mid-$120<br />
<i>Photo:<a href="http://www.rei.com/">REI.com</a></i><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <br />
<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="Left">
<h3>
<b><br />
</b></h3>
<h3>
<b><br />
</b></h3>
<h3>
<b><br />
</b></h3>
<h3>
<b>In Pursuit of the perfect fit</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
</div>
I purposely devoted an entire section to fitting and trying on boots because it is the most difficult and least understood part of the entire process. The fit of a boot is somewhat different that a street shoe or even a running shoe, which often leads people to incorrectly assume a boot they just tried on fits correctly. <br />
<br />
When picking out boots to try on, it is important to understand both what type of feet you have as well as the general characteristics of the boots you are considering. For example, European brands (Asolo, Salomon, Zamberlan, and Lowa etc.) tend to run narrow. If you have wide feet, you might find one that works but in general they probably won't fit as well as boots from Keen or Merrel, which tend to be wider. Some boots are also offered in wide sizes.<br />
<br />
However, the fit of the boot itself is not the only thing you need to consider. Socks are equally important to the equation and will really make or break the fit of even a perfect boot. A perfectly fitting boot is really a rare thing to find so you will almost certainly need to tailor your socks to get the correct fit. Hiking socks tend to be thicker and have more cushion under your foot than an athletic sock would. They also rise higher on your leg so you wont get rubbing from a high cut boot. I personally recommend bringing your own pair of hiking socks (though many stores have loaners of varying quality) so that you can use to asses how the boot would fit in real life.<br />
<b><br />
</b><b>How to try on boots</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
When I try on boots, I follow a specific set of rules to ensure that I can accurately gauge a boot on the correct qualities. I start out by choosing 2 different pairs of boots that I am interested in. I have found that by only trying 2 at a time, you can best judge them side by side. If you try and evaluate more pairs at once, you just end up getting confused and may pass on boots that fit better.<br />
<br />
Starting with my two pairs, I try on each pair (both boots) individually. The first thing I do with each is run through a simple checklist of items about fit to see if the boots will work or not.<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Size:</i> Does the boot fit? I generally start with my normal street shoe size and work up or down from there. You don't want your toes squished against the end of the boot (lightly touching is probably ok).</li>
<li><i>Width: </i>The boot should fit snugly against the sides of your foot. This is where knowing your foot width comes in handy. You also don't want your foot to be able to slide around. A simple test I use to check this is to stand and try to spin my foot (think placing your hand palm down on a table and rotating in place). If you can do this in the boot, it's too wide! </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><i>Interior size:</i> This is probably the toughest part to check as it is somewhat subjective. You want to make sure the bulk of your foot fits. A common place to have problems is the top of your foot (where there is a bone protruding). Many boots have a somewhat shallow depth along the the tongue and if you have a vertically thick foot you will find this uncomfortable. A properly sized boot will snugly hold the bulk of your foot but not put too much pressure. A good way to gauge the correct level of snugness is to take your right hand and wrap it around your left forearm. Hold it tightly enough so that you can just barely not pull your arm out with ease. That is how tight your boot should feel. Snug, but comfortable. There are a wide array of insoles available to help with boots that may not fit internally, so don't discount a boot right off the bat if it's a little large inside. </li>
</ul>
Once I have tried my first two pairs I usually will discard one, or sometimes both pairs; then it's time for two more. When I find a pair that seem to fit well, I keep them and replace the other pair until I have gone through all my possible boots. I usually try to keep the total pool to about 6 different boots at most to keep from getting overwhelmed. <br />
<br />
Now that I (hopefully) have a pair that fits well, I begin to do a more thorough test of the boot to see how they fit. It is REALLY important that you spend some quality time in the boot to make sure they do indeed fit. I find that after about 5 minutes any pressure points or tight areas will cut off enough circulation or pinch long enough for me to really notice it. Assuming that this doesn't happen I try and do two or three laps around the store, sometimes more depending on the boot. The boot should feel snug, not lift in the heel or slide around in the toe. During the walk I focus on checking how stiff the boot feels.<br />
<br />
Once a boot has passed the "walk test" I start to break out the tougher tests. Most outdoor stores have a little rock shaped stair you can try boots on. This is where I asses how well the boot grips and if I slide around while climbing or descending. I do three easy tests here to hopefully find any problems. The first is walking uphill. While stepping up I repeatedly try and make my foot slide in the boot. If I can't make my foot slide around and smash into the back of the boot it is a good fit. The second test is the reverse of the climbing test where I walk down and test to see if my toes cram into the front of the boot. This is VERY important because having your toes jammed into the front of the boot will be really painful on long hikes. My last test is to stand on the edge of the rock step balancing on my toes so that my heels hang over the edge in space. While doing this I check to see how stiff the boot is and if the collar at the back digs into my leg or ankle. If it does, you will probably have lots of painful blisters in rougher terrain. As a last check, I try and stick my finger between the collar and my leg while balancing. This will give you a good measure of how much the boot is flexing. If you can fit your finger, you are in good shape!<br />
<br />
Now, sometimes you will find a boot that passes all the tests and fits <i>almost</i> perfectly except for one tiny pinch point or sharp seam. If this happens, ask for another pair of the same boot. There is a large variation in the exact size and workmanship quality of boots from pair to pair. It is almost impossible to make two pairs of boots identical because they are constructed by hand. So if you find a pinch point in an otherwise great boot, another pair will probably not have the same issue. If the issue is solved, you have found your boots. I generally don't try and adjust the socks in this situation since the pinch won't be resolved by thicker or thinner socks.<br />
<br />
Once you take a pair of boots home, I also usually recommend that you wear them around the house (inside only) for the rest of the day. This will allow you to really make sure they still fit during a longer wear while still giving you the option to return them.<br />
<br />
<b>Robyn's road test</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> Now, all this information can be somewhat overwhelming all at once, and rightly so. Choosing a new pair of boots is daunting. To give you a real world case study of the process, I enlisted my wife Robyn, who conveniently happened to be buying a new pair of boots.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
Her decision to purchase a new pair of boots was based on several factors which greatly influenced the choice of boot style. The first and most important factor was that up until now she has been hiking in a pair of Salomon trail runners, which she loves, but she has not owned a pair of heavier boots for those adventures when we really need them. Secondly, we have been planning several tough trekking trips in the coming months which will be particularly punishing to ankles and feet if not properly protected. Robyn has had a history of swollen ankles, so we made the decision that the new boots would be at a minimum a medium to high ankle boot to ensure there aren't any nasty injuries while out in the boonies.<br />
<br />
Prior to setting off, I did extensive research on available boots that would potentially fit her needs (something I highly recommend doing) so that I could hopefully steer her away from any poor performing boots. With a ton of boot intelligence in hand, we headed to our local outdoor store where Robyn took her first pass at the boots available. While she was looking at boots, I did my best to refrain from pushing her towards any specific boots; the last thing I wanted to do was to pressure her into a boot she wasn't wild about. Since she has a relatively difficult foot shape to fit, I recommended she try on two sets of boots that were fairly similar each time to help narrow down a manufacturer or rough shape that would work, rather than confusing the issue by trying wildly dissimilar boots. For trying on boots, Robyn opted to use several thick loaner socks at the store, as she didn't have a proper pair of hiking socks to try on with higher boots.<br />
<br />
The first two pairs of boots she selected to try on were the <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/796065/lowa-renegade-gtx-mid-hiking-boots-womens">Lowa Renegade</a> and <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/847020/lowa-bora-gtx-qc-hiking-boots-womens">Lowa Bora</a> boots. She started with her street shoe size and both pairs were fairly accurate on sizing. However, Robyn has slightly upturned toes and so the vertical space in the toe boxes was not quite adequate. She also found that the top of the shoes were digging into the back of her ankles, so both pairs went back to the shelf. Next up were the <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/803672/ahnu-montara-boot-hiking-boots-womens">Ahnu Montara</a> and the <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/854864/ahnu-sugarpine-waterproof-hiking-boots-womens">Ahnu Sugarpine</a>. Both of these boots offered a large toe box and a slightly wider fit. Once again, her street shoe size was correct and the boots fit well overall and were comfortable. However, in this case we found one of those instances where there is one small item that ends up being a deal breaker. Robyn has a slightly more protruding bone on the top of her foot (which often makes shoes difficult to fit) and in both of the Ahnu boots the tongue dug sharply into her foot. At first, I suspected this might be something with that particular boot, but both pairs pinched in roughly the same location. We discarded these after judging them as a step closer, but not quite right and looked for boots with roughly the same amount of space on top of the foot. The obvious contenders for this seemed to be the <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/842425/vasque-breeze-20-mid-gtx-hiking-boots-womens">Vasque Breeze</a> and <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/851875/salomon-comet-3d-lady-gtx-hiking-boots-womens">Salomon Comet 3D</a>. She immediately discarded the Vasque boots with a pinching tongue, but upon trying on the Salomon boots she immediately had an "AH HA!" moment. The boots were pinch and pain free and had plenty of space in the toes and above the foot.<br />
<br />
With these boots picked out, she spent some time wearing the boots around the store and running them through their paces. Both climbing and descending offered excellent foot support and plenty of grip, even on the steepest test terrain available. Standing on the edge of the platform caused no excessive ankle issues from the collar and so she declared them a good boot. Over the coming weeks, we will continue to test out these boots to see how they perform in the wild.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-49550132288541975062014-02-04T11:29:00.000-08:002014-02-04T11:32:29.127-08:00Dusk on Lone Pine Peak<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HhHHjIkvM1w/UuMJ_rQRO9I/AAAAAAAAAso/l_UJI2KOINw/s1600/DSC_0200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HhHHjIkvM1w/UuMJ_rQRO9I/AAAAAAAAAso/l_UJI2KOINw/s1600/DSC_0200.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last rays of sunlight on the peak<br />
<i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-24995974913690108542014-01-30T13:37:00.000-08:002014-02-25T21:23:22.999-08:00The Road to Whitney 1: The Start of It All<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4>
<b>The Call of the Mountain</b></h4>
Mountain climbing season is almost here! Ok, so technically it's not; it's only mid January but the warm weather here in California has gotten me in the mindset to start training. And this year, I want to really focus on a proper training plan as opposed to years past when I relied mostly on core fitness and guts (foolishness) to get me through my adventures.<br />
<br />
So far for the coming season, I have several concrete trip plans as well as several back burner project peaks to summit. But the main focus this year is probably going to be a pair of trips to Mt. Whitney. This mountain in particular has become somewhat of a mountaineering cliche over the last few years. The sheer number of climbers makes it seem like the Disneyland of the Eastern Sierra; the very mention of climbing it can draw dirty looks from self proclaimed "serious" alpinists.<br />
<br />
I have climbed Mt. Whitney before, but it has been nearly ten years since my last climb and it seems like it's time to go once again. I'm not sure what it is that draws me back now; the allure of that mountain and the beautiful area surrounding it is mystically intoxicating. My goal this time around will be to explore a route that I haven't experienced before: the Mountaineer's Route. The last time I climbed Whitney was via the much more traveled main trail. Now, the plan will be to climb the shorter, but more technically and physically challenging path; and to do it solo. I chose a solo attempt for my first trip because quite frankly none of my friends thinks hauling their behinds up a 14,000 ft. peak in the wee hours of the morning for a single day attempt is any fun. I, on the other hand, am a glutton for physical punishment and think it's fun; a lot of fun.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSuWsW7rvwvHPX2bWtaiocai8tYQm_WGv2xK8MAOLvDTMg36KlvsWbvCb3PJUD59hdxPuADSoSvNTfs0BeHypsPJQz0v0upA47wqr3tF1KqoOH69NfZhimj2NKY9-rB__QgMqP2vBv7k/s1600/whitneytopo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSuWsW7rvwvHPX2bWtaiocai8tYQm_WGv2xK8MAOLvDTMg36KlvsWbvCb3PJUD59hdxPuADSoSvNTfs0BeHypsPJQz0v0upA47wqr3tF1KqoOH69NfZhimj2NKY9-rB__QgMqP2vBv7k/s1600/whitneytopo.jpg" height="396" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Topo Map showing the approximate path followed by the Mounatineer's Route.<br />
<i>Photo: <a href="http://www.alpineskills.com/">alpineskills.com</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The second trip to Mt. Whitney has been much less of a planned affair from the start. In passing I had mentioned to my father that we should give it a shot this year. He has never climbed the peak and I incorrectly assumed he had all but given up on tackling the summit. But to my surprise, he agreed to an overnight attempt of the main trail or maybe even the Mountaineer's Route. Now, my dad is hardly your typical retired 60-something-year-old. He has a pacemaker, and has had one for the past 30 years or so. In fact, he is the longest surviving pacemaker recipient in the world. Not to let this type of thing stop him, he is an avid cyclist who rides centuries and 200+ mile weeks on a regular basis, which is more mileage than I do! So, in all reality he should not have too much difficulty climbing the mountain. You can probably start to see where I get my athletic lunacy from here.<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b>The Permit Dilemma: Not Everyone Gets to Climb the Mountain!</b></h4>
<br />
Now that we have the makings of a few trips, we need to get down to the hard reality of planning and actually pulling off these trips. Due to the volume of people wanting the climb the mountain, the forest service has instituted a quota system on people entering the "Mt. Whitney wilderness zone" for single day and overnight trips. What this means is that you will need to have a permit to climb the Mt. Whitney trail, and that there are not enough permits to go around during peak season.<br />
<br />
The way to get permits is by entering the permit lottery. Lottery applications begin February 1st at <a href="http://www.recreation.gov/">www.recreation.gov</a> and end on March 15. The permits available during the lottery cover both single day and multi-day trips along the Whitney Trail, as well as day trips on the Mountaineer's Route. And here is where a nice little loophole entered my calculations.<br />
<br />
My solo trip up the Mountaineer's Route requires a permit so I will be forced to enter the lottery and sweat it out with everyone else. However, multi-day trips on the Mountaineer's Route are not subject to the lottery since a majority of the route is outside the "Whitney zone". Why this condition applies to only the overnight and not the single day permits is beyond me...most likely the forest service has some very complicated reason for doing this. At any rate, there is still a daily quota of 100 people, but you can reserve them up to six months to the day in advance on a first come, first serve basis.<br />
<br />
Taking advantage of this, I procured a permit for two nights on the Mountaineer's Route for the overnight trip so that my father and I are assured of at least having a permit. The plan is to back up those dates with a main trail permit lottery application so we might have more route options. Unfortunately, the main trail overnight permits are the most sought after and so the likelihood of obtaining a permit on the same date is far from certain. So, it looks like there is a very strong chance I will be doing the Mountaineer's Route twice this year. Awesome!<br />
<br />
With the permit situation covered, at least until the lottery applications are open, I turned to advance planning and training to get into mountain shape for the season this year.<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b>Advance Planning</b></h4>
<br />
One of the common concerns each year is snow on the trails and how it will affect your climb. For the main trail, snow and ice is not a good thing; it makes the infamous 99 switchbacks to trail crest hazardous and unpleasant. The Mountaineer's Route, however, can benefit from a good snow pack in early summer by improving climbing conditions over several sections of fallen, broken rock known as scree. Climbing over the scree is like trying to climb a sand dune; you take one step up and slide back two steps. What the snow does, is hold everything in place and allow you to cut in nice, clean steps making life much more pleasant. You will need crampons and an ice axe to do this, but even this extra weight is much better than the alternative. Unfortunately, if the snowfall so far this season is any indication, snow won't be a factor.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUxFWK3VE1B-ohD6UAaWf40cv7_crtH_3JMQnC_Y40MFGUkpymj-f81TR-mt4vTeiZzk07wlxlCY4LReOld6ZxmYF9qIdSnIluUqHl0ix3vCXTa6EOv0OypYh-Edvxk0g4DSQKoacwhE/s1600/whitney_1280x720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUxFWK3VE1B-ohD6UAaWf40cv7_crtH_3JMQnC_Y40MFGUkpymj-f81TR-mt4vTeiZzk07wlxlCY4LReOld6ZxmYF9qIdSnIluUqHl0ix3vCXTa6EOv0OypYh-Edvxk0g4DSQKoacwhE/s1600/whitney_1280x720.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somehow, I don't think snow will factor into the equation.<br />
<i>Photo: <a href="http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/">www.whitneyportalstore.com </a>webcam</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A second, less obvious effect of the thin snowpack this season may be limited availability of water on the route. Normally, there are really only three reliable sources of water close to the trail: Iceberg Lake, Upper Boyscout Lake, and Lone Pine Creek. A fourth, but far less attractive option is Frog Pond; it is smaller and even more seasonally dependent, as well as farther from the trail making it an iffy water source at times. If water levels are low, the available water that the three main sources offer may be of extremely poor quality, even if filtered and treated. This would mean that additional water would need to be carried in, thus creating a significant weight issue. Based on the chart I created in the first installment of <a href="http://www.expeditiondan.com/2014/01/the-beginner-hiking-series-getting.html">The Beginner Hiking Series 1: Getting Started</a>, and adding some extra to account for the altitude, you would need around 18 liters of water for the expected two day expedition in the 40F-90F temperature range that normally occurs in June on the mountain. This would mean a water load of nearly 40 pounds! Even on the shorter duration one day push, a realistic water requirement would be 10-12 liters; which still would mean 20-25 pounds of water. While these numbers may seem rather high for water intake, an important thing to remember is that dehydration is one of the major contributors to the onset of altitude sickness symptoms. The dry mountain air and extreme exertion mean you will need to replace at least 3/4 liters of water per hour to stay properly hydrated. Cooking water will also need to be considered on the two day trip, as that water will subtract away from the drinking water totals. The only thing to do at this point is to hope that water will be available in June, which with any luck it will be.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwD3HggxTg_BwA_2mg5H8r8fDPSgmsZLWsRLd5pUd9C0qN9LeMverdtJEqbHfwYgyTrjjzWSZMFhVdnqSnc6G0tqWxX3EvDcRMyIF0MhLowLB4HM2SFMmcJ6lsxhdXZJWjDrPjkU2tJOE/s1600/TIME.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwD3HggxTg_BwA_2mg5H8r8fDPSgmsZLWsRLd5pUd9C0qN9LeMverdtJEqbHfwYgyTrjjzWSZMFhVdnqSnc6G0tqWxX3EvDcRMyIF0MhLowLB4HM2SFMmcJ6lsxhdXZJWjDrPjkU2tJOE/s1600/TIME.PNG" height="123" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water consumption is a serious concern at altitude, this chart reflects a minimum number at altitudes above 10,000 Ft.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<h4>
<b>Fitness Training</b></h4>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
This far in advance, training really needs to focus on base fitness and overall strength. Intensive training and altitude conditioning this far out will only cause you to "peak" early and you will have trouble maintaining that level of fitness all the way until the trip. With nearly six months to train, I am personally focusing on cardio fitness and leg strength. Both my dad and I are pretty serious cyclists, so our overall level of fitness is much higher than the average person. Because of this, I tailored our training to continue cycling at a normal pace for the next three to four months to maintain where we are physically. I personally want to focus most of my development in my overall climbing leg strength. Running and cycling use different muscle groups that the typical 'stair stepping' motion used in mountaineering, which is going to be a major component of the climb. To help overcome this deficiency, I am working into our training a lot of weighted stair exercises and hikes to build those groups up. A sample of my weekly training plan for the next three months is listed below.<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Cycling:</i> 4 to 5 days. 25+ miles per ride.</li>
<li><i>Hiking, Non weighted pack:</i> 1 day every other week. 5-10 miles.</li>
<li><i>Stair climbing, weighted pack (10-25 lbs):</i> 3 times per week. 500 vertical ft. equivalent.</li>
<li><i>Squats, lunges and wall sits:</i> 3 times per week. 30 reps each.</li>
<li><i>Hang bar leg lifts:</i> 4 times per week. 10-30 reps.</li>
</ul>
<div>
As you can see, this training schedule is designed to keep my cardio fitness level more or less intact for the next few months, as well as develop my legs for climbing. I also include hang bar workouts to strengthen my core muscles, which will help with supporting the weight of my pack, as well as increase my overall balance on the climb. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h4>
<b>The Next Steps</b></h4>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
With this initial planning foundation, I will need to begin intensive study of the route to ensure that I'm able to find my way along the correct path, even while at altitude. Additionally, I will begin selecting gear required for the trip and continue the training schedule until it's time to ramp up to more intensive workouts. Then will come some altitude training to begin building up my reserve of red blood cells so I will be better able to function at altitude (I live right at sea level). All these subjects and more will be covered in future posts in this series, so stay tuned.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-68183701511085585562014-01-21T08:19:00.000-08:002014-02-10T11:46:37.316-08:00The Beginner Hiking Series 1: Getting Started<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
So it's 2014, and you have just made a new year's resolution: get fit and have fun doing it. At this point, you have hopefully come to the conclusion that the best way to do this is to get started hiking regularly. This blog series will show you how to get started and what gear and knowledge you will need to have an amazing time. When deciding how best to teach these skills I realized the best way was to actually take someone who was not a hiker and turn them into one. My sister Michelle was kind enough to act as our willing volunteer as someone who is not a hiker, but really wants to get started. <br />
<br />
The biggest mistake most people make with new year's resolutions involving fitness is picking an activity that is not particularly fun and so it is difficult to incorporate into a healthy lifestyle change. The countless people joining gyms in January only to quit again in February or March is perfect evidence to show that this approach is no good.<br />
<br />
Hiking, on the other hand is more than just a great way to get into and stay in shape. It is a major part of an outdoor lifestyle that is hard to give up once started. It is unlikely that you will still be hitting the treadmill in your later years, but hiking can be enjoyed for nearly your entire life.<br />
<br />
OK, enough about why hiking is great; let's talk about how you can get started.<br />
<br />
<b>What to bring?</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>The necessities</b><br />
While you don't need much to get out on a hike, there are a few things that I always insist are mandatory. The first, and often the most forgotten, is water. I often see people out on a hike, several miles from anywhere with no water. I have asked people I've run into about why they don't have any water and the usual reply is "I didn't think I needed any." While you can easily go several hours without water on a hike when it isn't too hot, its all too easy to roll an ankle and be stuck out for an extended period of time. Then you need water. How much water? I have put together a simple table to help you calculate how many liters of water you should bring per person:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-HNtLKfrWzlWqVTerSGuwhWqJzUH4z0F6AJWSC-KNfWjFoLP8FnvOefkQ8s5YjNN_dGguZNF-916w_KMBe6_EhCVIVSYd-CAXDYJkdKHOugYdHq91NT2hUvFNIvxEoMVE6lGqLp4_E8/s1600/TIME.PNG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-HNtLKfrWzlWqVTerSGuwhWqJzUH4z0F6AJWSC-KNfWjFoLP8FnvOefkQ8s5YjNN_dGguZNF-916w_KMBe6_EhCVIVSYd-CAXDYJkdKHOugYdHq91NT2hUvFNIvxEoMVE6lGqLp4_E8/s1600/TIME.PNG" height="134" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Now, how you carry water is almost as important as how much you bring. I generally prefer either a hydration bladder or a large, Lexan Nalgene brand bottle. You can argue that it really doesn't matter what kind of water bottle you use; and that is true to a certain point. However, there is nothing like getting to the half way point of a long, hot hike only to find your water bottle leaked all your water while crushed in your pack. We almost had this happen; Michelle had packed a small freebie type bottle from work and it leaked almost immediately. Fortunately, I had a few spares with us and so I lent her one.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSDKh2H0qe1ZBij6WjknuUwkxTBdhR3xGBHxhycJhVyLbwYSowucPCFa4Jex4lnOQIQyKCr48Xwi9z6w3U94czlHGDS25Mu0mnPmsOmf29kPRJFqOq8GEX9wXRl_jdCC6epO3vvlTm5I/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSDKh2H0qe1ZBij6WjknuUwkxTBdhR3xGBHxhycJhVyLbwYSowucPCFa4Jex4lnOQIQyKCr48Xwi9z6w3U94czlHGDS25Mu0mnPmsOmf29kPRJFqOq8GEX9wXRl_jdCC6epO3vvlTm5I/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not all water bottles are created equal.<br />
<i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHINALCLfwZ4cZn28e2p-EkQIXUuKXXG_Y-3NuQ-tIbModV8OBX6hqocSciASZNKPGIaab_zaKPjQEvZfkHYr9uy0OB39-MDbz1dra8R361LlH8aGgUE7j9KwqpyFe_Rfnt6DKDdnkKY/s1600/DSC_0089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHINALCLfwZ4cZn28e2p-EkQIXUuKXXG_Y-3NuQ-tIbModV8OBX6hqocSciASZNKPGIaab_zaKPjQEvZfkHYr9uy0OB39-MDbz1dra8R361LlH8aGgUE7j9KwqpyFe_Rfnt6DKDdnkKY/s1600/DSC_0089.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lid tight and water flowing freely...not good.<br />
<i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Beyond water, it's generally a good idea to have your ID with you as well as some food in case you get hungry. I also like to make sure someone always knows where I am hiking and when I plan to return in case I get delayed and need help. Beyond those basic must haves, the other items you may want are listed below.<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>The Shoes</b><br />
Probably the first item you will need to start hiking is a decent pair of shoes. Its one of those items that can easily be overlooked, but is really key to enjoying your hikes. I can't count the number of times I've been in the wilderness<b> </b>and seen someone walking around in a pair of sandals or some cheap canvas shoes better suited to walking around their own house. I even saw a woman hiking into the Grand Canyon in a pair of 4" pump heels; not the best choice.<br />
<br />
The first thing my sister asked me when we started on this project was what type of shoes she should buy. I have often been asked by friends getting into the sport if they should run out and buy a pair of hiking boots for their first hike. My answer, in almost every case is, "Not so fast!"<br />
<br />
A good pair of hiking boots doesn't come cheap. Because of this it's really an investment that should be researched and thought out before taking the plunge. What I generally tell people is that they should start considering getting a nice pair of boots once they know more about what type of hikes they will be doing and what type type of shoe fits their needs.<br />
<br />
What I suggest instead is a pair of mid range cross training shoes or trail running shoes. I do this for two reasons: One, they are usually quite a bit less expensive than a pair of boots and two, they can easily function in other activities and so you will get more value out of them. <br />
<br />
Several good options on the market right now are:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.newbalance.com/Minimus-80/WO80,default,pd.html?dwvar_WO80_color=Black_with_Pink&start=11&cgid=267000">New Balance Women's Minimus 80 </a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Minimus 80, Black with Pink" src="http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/NB/wo80bp_nb_02_i?$dw_detail_main$" height="146" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo: New Balance</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.salomon.com/us/product/xr-shift-w.html">Salomon Women's XR Shift W</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="XR SHIFT W BL/YE/GY" height="200" src="https://www.salomon.com/scripts/resizeImage.aspx?width=550&height=550&background_color=ffffff&vertical_center=1&horizontal_center=1&filename=/medias/products/product3/328397.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo: Salomon</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/men-8217-s-ultra-109-gtx.html">The North Face Men's Ultra 109 GTX</a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAg1z3FMrIUobqQ0ssX6lPnd0qKDA0LMtkF3SHpY2XisVwY_oBk81_l8Vq44a_clEP4JX01BjVR1zPp2h7VcOuyeyjKk4GRbMloxeckDTSdk6pbeir3K4gy_FXBXjbIOP5-WNHyKtDGF0/s1600/CaptureNF.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAg1z3FMrIUobqQ0ssX6lPnd0qKDA0LMtkF3SHpY2XisVwY_oBk81_l8Vq44a_clEP4JX01BjVR1zPp2h7VcOuyeyjKk4GRbMloxeckDTSdk6pbeir3K4gy_FXBXjbIOP5-WNHyKtDGF0/s1600/CaptureNF.PNG" height="159" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo: The North Face</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sportiva.com/products/footwear/mountain-running/wildcat-20-gtx">La Sportiva Men's Wildcat 2.0 GTX</a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAB7ItbOFr-p50NwkIZDU71mZDfL0o8oI0YxxFnUU4s27X6qTIWIR_DOVX5P-0ZIFjOXtrGivX_kQzNMJmJd86OoeG4DypELwcsIT1DF8UCc_Z6n_UdU1u1nRL2k4qFyn64Ovfza_jseU/s1600/CaptureLSP.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAB7ItbOFr-p50NwkIZDU71mZDfL0o8oI0YxxFnUU4s27X6qTIWIR_DOVX5P-0ZIFjOXtrGivX_kQzNMJmJd86OoeG4DypELwcsIT1DF8UCc_Z6n_UdU1u1nRL2k4qFyn64Ovfza_jseU/s1600/CaptureLSP.PNG" height="135" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo: La Sportiva</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Michelle already owns an older pair of Salomon XA trail runners, so she will be using these on her hikes.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLClB5r1uizTJPzhyS65FCoMLrdFcXXoxuu9Re8WwEXpkA6b2wPWM0sPKX2hfQp821B7hXdxwugtRCxyRFLkBW5x8SWVyXvYd7xFQDFf4KC3-qRfmGACpl8CWY2p4yzNnQWOC3qmxaJnY/s1600/DSC_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLClB5r1uizTJPzhyS65FCoMLrdFcXXoxuu9Re8WwEXpkA6b2wPWM0sPKX2hfQp821B7hXdxwugtRCxyRFLkBW5x8SWVyXvYd7xFQDFf4KC3-qRfmGACpl8CWY2p4yzNnQWOC3qmxaJnY/s1600/DSC_0051.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>The Gear</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> Now that you have your shoes, you really don't desperately <i>need</i> any other gear to get going outside. However, there are a few optional items I would suggest that will increase your comfort and enjoyment, as well as help you get the most out of your time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Day pack</b><br />
A small backpack is a great addition to a hike. It lets you easily carry your water, food, and any other items you want to bring along. There is really no great secret to getting a great pack for this purpose; all you really need is a comfortable pack that fits what you need. One of my personal favorites is the <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/861436/rei-flash18-pack">REI Flash 18</a> but really any other pack will work. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJVIT-T0-S0mlHGlZZVZaGNuVnO7tYM4etW_GoBbb3F1qtFHbu2vmxXdUIH28mwCr-mfYaeKMAt1Jsh46AjXpP8BltF-zH0T5wgj_3tdYuEYTuuKFAMi2-POkeCSZNeWcg5LahUSAuQU/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJVIT-T0-S0mlHGlZZVZaGNuVnO7tYM4etW_GoBbb3F1qtFHbu2vmxXdUIH28mwCr-mfYaeKMAt1Jsh46AjXpP8BltF-zH0T5wgj_3tdYuEYTuuKFAMi2-POkeCSZNeWcg5LahUSAuQU/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG" height="400" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The REI Flash 18 makes a great day pack.<br />
<i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Flash 18 really does a great job due to it's small size and ability to pack down to a very compact shape if you want to travel with it. Not to mention that it's cheaper than many casual backpacks on the market, making it a great value. It is also capable of accepting a hydration bladder (Camelbak or other). <br />
<br />
As it turned out, my sister owned one of these packs already (guess who got it for her as a gift?) and so she decided to bring it along.<br />
<br />
<b>GPS or Fitness Tracking</b><br />
This is probably the least required type of gear to have, but I personally find it very useful to know where I went and how long it took. Its also a great way to visualize what you accomplished and to help you plan future outings.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fitbit.com/flex">Fitbit Flex</a><br />
This minimal "activity tracker" as Fitbit labels it, pretty much functions as a pedometer and gives you a calorie burn estimate. Additionally it allows you to sync via wireless with a computer or other wifi device, allowing for long term tracking and data analysis.<br />
<br />
Michelle had just received one of these as a Christmas gift, so I felt it was the perfect opportunity for a field test. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireI4WdkygIoXK2EbshKPqO9pjrA9InjTFONuc2-PzdvdDVnrUSGOa8Ts7QJWJD3v4bWLu8B8M7gIfOCWJcyzcgARlxZ3FIueV5XIK55T8aaOUrCED0SIqjNEar8kW1bFnZN5wMJuPgbQ/s1600/DSC_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireI4WdkygIoXK2EbshKPqO9pjrA9InjTFONuc2-PzdvdDVnrUSGOa8Ts7QJWJD3v4bWLu8B8M7gIfOCWJcyzcgARlxZ3FIueV5XIK55T8aaOUrCED0SIqjNEar8kW1bFnZN5wMJuPgbQ/s1600/DSC_0066.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The small sized band fits even the smallest wrists.<br />
<i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our initial impressions of the Fitbit Flex are that it is extremely comfortable; its even meant to be worn while you sleep. Since it does not need to actively send out a GPS signal, there were no issues with it losing its position during the hike. If you average 1 sync a day the battery has so far been lasting about 7 days between charging sessions. From this first real road test it seems the Fitbit does exactly what it advertises.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBg2PMROhlYRBWHPJIAuV8tP1CrQJsvkQ8ubapFLXuKQ-qzOJKxzgM4lL2ehvWIB26NWhVsOnKxAJxMH_5i9NiJgOj0BUBKd8blt8WShFEaXvMapNoSWQ5UP5PTOPcbaMPrijNwp_WKQ/s1600/DSC_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBg2PMROhlYRBWHPJIAuV8tP1CrQJsvkQ8ubapFLXuKQ-qzOJKxzgM4lL2ehvWIB26NWhVsOnKxAJxMH_5i9NiJgOj0BUBKd8blt8WShFEaXvMapNoSWQ5UP5PTOPcbaMPrijNwp_WKQ/s1600/DSC_0084.JPG" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Look for a more in-depth review of the Fitbit Flex in the coming weeks as we continue to test with it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mapmyhike.com/app/">Map My Hike</a><br />
Map My Hike is an app for your smartphone that delivers most of the same functionality as the Fitbit, but with addition of altitude tracking and a map overlay feature. This gives you more of the traditional GPS handheld experience than the Fitbit does. Of course, the downside is that you have to lug your smartphone around with you on adventures. While the app will log data without a cell signal on GPS only, the battery life could easily be the limiting factor on multi-day trips.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtd0EOWGVDH6rX4Qyc70Kk0YMJQFokjR6BQfKXcTroOd7z-oNqsZTwVx2gvINU5tXg_rb9oZOuQi28q5YHL3G36BG75RFZGxOF8KsGBN0AqrCrPNMEvVMiaVnj2kYBwzyQWdsVxyJRmXE/s1600/CaptureMMH.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtd0EOWGVDH6rX4Qyc70Kk0YMJQFokjR6BQfKXcTroOd7z-oNqsZTwVx2gvINU5tXg_rb9oZOuQi28q5YHL3G36BG75RFZGxOF8KsGBN0AqrCrPNMEvVMiaVnj2kYBwzyQWdsVxyJRmXE/s1600/CaptureMMH.PNG" height="320" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The app design is minimal but effective.<br />
<i>Photo: Mapmyhike.com</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>The trail</b><br />
Now that you are ready to go, you just need to get out and hike. For this initial trip, I chose a relatively short and easy hike of 6 miles in the <a href="http://www.openspace.org/preserves/pr_purisima.asp">Purisima Creek Redwoods open space preserve</a>. This trail is a part of the Bay Area ridge trail system and was excellent.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyvWiNofMHfoIrEfRzYGsrj7v6t6wUzxKeBfb1iKkOiN_I6R4Aoq_-YVcQ4gbGCW7kTvHFeqtw04bhxTXhs_qEHUrTDM2D-8VfIhnqgnPrpxraN2uTSU0psPqcuZuJuBxx3TkWnv-XrQ/s1600/DSC_0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyvWiNofMHfoIrEfRzYGsrj7v6t6wUzxKeBfb1iKkOiN_I6R4Aoq_-YVcQ4gbGCW7kTvHFeqtw04bhxTXhs_qEHUrTDM2D-8VfIhnqgnPrpxraN2uTSU0psPqcuZuJuBxx3TkWnv-XrQ/s1600/DSC_0046.JPG" height="320" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Route selection is key to ensuring enjoyment of your hike. The important thing to remember on these beginning hikes is to chose something you can tackle with relative ease; you don't want to go on a death march your first time out. The goal is to have a thoroughly enjoyable time, and we did just that. The unseasonably warm January weather here in California made for a cool, but pleasant hike through second growth redwood trees.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1k-vYJv62sCaZ9i5j5xpp0v8BUiB8QQ3KmfSrp8zxzlsAH-jm1Qw0-x_eSvGGuriPCgaftF_qx1JSirjFbvEjgoFk45t9vFixwlP6naF4BUqi3audBx9F81C6vwZeo8V0LKOaadDupQ/s1600/DSC_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1k-vYJv62sCaZ9i5j5xpp0v8BUiB8QQ3KmfSrp8zxzlsAH-jm1Qw0-x_eSvGGuriPCgaftF_qx1JSirjFbvEjgoFk45t9vFixwlP6naF4BUqi3audBx9F81C6vwZeo8V0LKOaadDupQ/s1600/DSC_0056.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool, dark Redwood trail.<br />
<i>Photo:Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgtQSbznHmlhrrFT1rDT8aWRuIN8B0qxOlWqSBkQ8vEZ_p4ujwTK3GX5w6i8NaODOJaomEcOPUmV1qdlJXmT5ReModiwdLcpPa6APrRY2QUaKyOaefywBJ9s8A7GiDRoAGvkcTHdbSwE/s1600/DSC_0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgtQSbznHmlhrrFT1rDT8aWRuIN8B0qxOlWqSBkQ8vEZ_p4ujwTK3GX5w6i8NaODOJaomEcOPUmV1qdlJXmT5ReModiwdLcpPa6APrRY2QUaKyOaefywBJ9s8A7GiDRoAGvkcTHdbSwE/s1600/DSC_0072.JPG" height="400" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RN4ONSrlZ5WqBs3uX4apk6HD6HwVuYayO2GiEnIxdlavmp-dGzOThwKhbtNKF02iLr6ElEvXa861yUaOJp8YRCTNCST5ex8KZZbs6cX1OeNgxyGypOLSGKG2dRwML9HJTT3mv7C2jsc/s1600/DSC_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>
Your first hike of the new year doesn't need to be a struggle. If you follow this simple guide you will almost certainly have a fantastic time. Stay tuned for more in this series as we follow Michelle in her development as a hiker.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com9Purisima Creek Trail, Redwood City, CA 94062, USA37.433955399999988 -122.3478620999999937.408737899999991 -122.38820259999999 37.459172899999984 -122.30752159999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-66480958579458767872014-01-07T22:08:00.002-08:002014-01-09T14:10:30.460-08:00Zip, Zip, and Away!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dan's wife Robyn here and it's time for my first post! Dan
started this blog around the same time we went zip lining in nearby Santa Cruz,
which reminded me of our first time zip lining in Hawaii. I thought that would
make a great post because we had so much fun. Since then, we've been zip
lining several times in several different places, but nothing has been as good as
our first time in Hawaii.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although Dan did not want to go at first (he thought it was
too expensive), I talked him into it. Looking back I'm so glad we actually
decided to do it because we had such a blast. The place we went, <a href="http://www.ziplinehawaii.com/tours-activities/zipline-tour/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Umauma Falls and Zip Lining Experience</a> on the Big Island of Hawaii, was awesome! There are a couple of main reasons that
this place has stayed our favorite zip lining place:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRICbo2Zb46CvPe7rQ2uXAD5LpEnBmZ4gk7KAZbOQ_uXIy64wDULosY6-mohnw0KJTNRYLDapxtyw-lHKJB6EHevx1feXCnZK4rUyp6QjdCz8wnOWfusCMZqqe3lsm5UAKB0XPpCpTdU/s1600/DSCN0969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRICbo2Zb46CvPe7rQ2uXAD5LpEnBmZ4gk7KAZbOQ_uXIy64wDULosY6-mohnw0KJTNRYLDapxtyw-lHKJB6EHevx1feXCnZK4rUyp6QjdCz8wnOWfusCMZqqe3lsm5UAKB0XPpCpTdU/s1600/DSCN0969.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One reason is the fact that they gave us harnesses that went
over our shoulders as well as around our waist and legs as you can see in this
stylish picture of us above. The reason this is so much better is because you
can go upside down while zip lining. Being able to go upside down while zip lining really made it
so much more fun! It also made for some great photos as you’ll see below...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0KAfieyiAEKZAKJ0X_d33gXqZVMsd3h3BXbDopR2ydwDOURKM6U-u3VnesPno3XS-CDs9D9B5UuEjOFRxiwYaj6COt5qa6SR1uSmnUxwlwwmONzX2VJmrrfJPh-qPFgxDaqXr9LO6Tw/s1600/DSCN0954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0KAfieyiAEKZAKJ0X_d33gXqZVMsd3h3BXbDopR2ydwDOURKM6U-u3VnesPno3XS-CDs9D9B5UuEjOFRxiwYaj6COt5qa6SR1uSmnUxwlwwmONzX2VJmrrfJPh-qPFgxDaqXr9LO6Tw/s1600/DSCN0954.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
...including my absolute favorite photo of the day, which was taken on their tandem zip line (another reason this place was so awesome!). It can be a bit challenging to take pictures while zip lining, but it was totally worth it as you can see below.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwq37L3SXBnRexlzHPKPs8Y4SNBx2R7sNz6Xxgu3ZPQJkgvCo5ukm6cZbIjKfVx8EH47F6BkVLlpUZ87Z8W2X6gQZC_3wsM0vNMOHNJHDi4H_OnwPJ7d4_aR2H3xXJ9eFzEE87mizgytM/s1600/DSCN0922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwq37L3SXBnRexlzHPKPs8Y4SNBx2R7sNz6Xxgu3ZPQJkgvCo5ukm6cZbIjKfVx8EH47F6BkVLlpUZ87Z8W2X6gQZC_3wsM0vNMOHNJHDi4H_OnwPJ7d4_aR2H3xXJ9eFzEE87mizgytM/s1600/DSCN0922.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another reason we loved Umauma is because of it's 2,040 foot zip line. Since we zip lined here, we haven't even come close to this length on one line. In fact, we probably haven't even come close to that with all the zip lines at each individual place combined. Okay, that may be a stretch, but I believe our local <a href="http://mounthermonadventures.com/redwood-canopy-tours" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Redwood Canopy Tours</a>' longest zip line is around 500 feet. Not that it's not an awesome place - I definitely recommend it if you're in the Bay Area - but it's hard to beat 2,040 feet on one line.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6PqRWQba65k6mJeA6usdR7QlwRfpbiPmpo6jlRkL7zbz9VzhKbXYPzW-IVo4yCiPVOH0i1KsS5PcE-boJtxG6bxry_ci79ggt7T-Q8sxWUmDYs4KKE84JpMtsxEYxp8AXVwg5HE50bo/s1600/DSCN0940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6PqRWQba65k6mJeA6usdR7QlwRfpbiPmpo6jlRkL7zbz9VzhKbXYPzW-IVo4yCiPVOH0i1KsS5PcE-boJtxG6bxry_ci79ggt7T-Q8sxWUmDYs4KKE84JpMtsxEYxp8AXVwg5HE50bo/s1600/DSCN0940.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The final reason why I, especially, liked Umauma is because they have stops set up for you. Now, if you've never zip lined before you may not know what I mean, but obviously you do need to stop before running into the tree or post that is holding the end of the line. At Umauma, they have stops set up for you, so you just go for it and don't worry about anything because it will stop you at the end. This is the only place we have zip lined that has had this. All of the other places give you gloves, so that you can stop yourself by reaching behind you and putting pressure on the line. I'm sorry, but I don't like having to do that. When I'm zip lining I want to have a good time and that includes wanting to go as fast as possible without having to worry about when to break so I don't hit whatever is at the end of the line. Having to worry about breaking at the other zip lining places really took away from the whole experience. Instead of enjoying being on the zip line during the - let's face it - short time you're actually on them, I'm worrying about when to break. Seriously, all zip line places should have these stops!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, if you're ever on the Big Island of Hawaii, seriously check this place out! We had an awesome time at <a href="http://www.ziplinehawaii.com/tours-activities/zipline-tour/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Umauma Falls and Zip Lining Experience</a> and we have both loved zip lining ever since. We even recently did night zip lining during the holidays. The only light was twinkle lights set up around the redwood trees. <a href="http://mounthermonadventures.com/redwood-canopy-tours" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Redwood Canopy Tours</a> only does their "Twinkle Tours" during December and early January, but if you get the chance to go, that is also highly recommended. Here is a bonus pic of us from our recent Twinkle Tour:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHN_hp4jeHzfXnqcTHLAjhYeK75V_bo-PgxgeKRwC3eNDHkPAuSg7D7kD6FPSbYVnm9JiG5QUocvvtZWPxO1A-R1gX09DFC8VNXD8jNkKOg9b8Aiq45QmUhfoKfBND0uU4Pa0sbxu3OE/s1600/redwood_bridge_207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHN_hp4jeHzfXnqcTHLAjhYeK75V_bo-PgxgeKRwC3eNDHkPAuSg7D7kD6FPSbYVnm9JiG5QUocvvtZWPxO1A-R1gX09DFC8VNXD8jNkKOg9b8Aiq45QmUhfoKfBND0uU4Pa0sbxu3OE/s1600/redwood_bridge_207.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you have never zip lined before, I really recommend trying it. Even if you're afraid of heights, you might just surprise yourself and have fun. Now, I will end this post with one of my other favorite pics I took zip lining.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjvV4ht1Kd_pCMGXiYIToVdRwUf14s9MHnB5T2QTE_9m3wDyb4Ezg_3X_uSIq2aKQDKRJ28_Qhw0AnV07HC3EkKGE_Qa-BJbyMpg7YW0459H9eIRp6IFAQ37hvJw1rLn5I_aC2cixxM0/s1600/DSCN0952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjvV4ht1Kd_pCMGXiYIToVdRwUf14s9MHnB5T2QTE_9m3wDyb4Ezg_3X_uSIq2aKQDKRJ28_Qhw0AnV07HC3EkKGE_Qa-BJbyMpg7YW0459H9eIRp6IFAQ37hvJw1rLn5I_aC2cixxM0/s1600/DSCN0952.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Now go forth and zip!<br />
<br />
<i>Oh and if you're looking for even more of a thrill, check out this list of the <a href="http://www.ziplinerider.com/Longest_Ziplines.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">longest zip lines</a>. The longest is almost 7,000 feet! I've definitely added that to my list!</i></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12385708584309325630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-38667386069217890882013-12-24T08:19:00.000-08:002014-01-07T20:09:32.535-08:00Mt. Whitney Portal Pancakes. Bet you can't eat one.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
In the spirit of holiday eating, I thought it appropriate to write a post about one of the most glorious food items known to man...the Whitney Portal Pancake. These behemoth pancakes are available only at the Mt. Whitney Portal Store, located 13 miles east of Lone Pine, CA. The Mt. Whitney Portal is the most popular (and closest) starting point for climbing Mt. Whitney (elev. 14,292ft) as well as for heading north on the John Muir trail. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The pancake itself is about 2 inches thick and infused with cinnamon and some other ingredients no one in the Portal Store kitchen seems to be able to remember (<i>riiiight). </i>At any rate, they are truly delicious and make a fantastic meal after a summit attempt or several weeks in the back country.<br />
<br />
My wife and I managed to finish about half of one together, which in itself felt impressive. The remains made a great trail snack when we hiked up to Lone Pine lake later that day. Despite my feeling of accomplishment, I once meet an elderly gentleman at the Portal Store who weighed about 125 pounds. He was telling us about how he had just returned from climbing the Mountaineer's Route (The harder, more technical of the 2 most popular summit routes) in a single day. While the story was impressive, it was far from unheard of. However, what he did next was; He sat down and ate <i>two </i>portal pancakes in about 10 minutes. I asked Doug, one of the store owners, if he had ever seen anyone do that before. He claimed maybe only a dozen or so people he knew of had done it, but wasn't sure. I honestly think that was more impressive than summiting the mountain.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFRQLPedVkW4zHEjpxqSlP0JJNPU0ZCpOmEyVmL-nwmkjjI9LrfR-nHKw7uOjffDKQFXxMmpRu8oKYaxYsINYlcsypR-k578tMnCK_1rOOX_klLj7qYZrmU3nH8OsUBXUbt4Qf4yt_zA/s1600/DSCN3119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFRQLPedVkW4zHEjpxqSlP0JJNPU0ZCpOmEyVmL-nwmkjjI9LrfR-nHKw7uOjffDKQFXxMmpRu8oKYaxYsINYlcsypR-k578tMnCK_1rOOX_klLj7qYZrmU3nH8OsUBXUbt4Qf4yt_zA/s1600/DSCN3119.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The world famous Whitney Portal pancakes. Few mortals can eat these alone, only together can they be conquered.<br />
<i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Unfortunately, the Portal Store is only open in the summer months, so you wont be able to load up on these bad boys for a holiday breakfast. But rest assured, come May the store will be open and churning out these babies for those who dare to try them. Any at any rate, its a great excuse to go to one of the truly great places in California, the Whitney Portal. Hope to see you on the slopes of Mt. Whitney this year,I cant wait.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMrW35NU6PC9V87IyqwgFw4aQmZblB3SGmulQHYW6mhY1LCV6GbzmTej6k8aCCygxEptyMV1LTb-3Syti3BvoX4M2dLqZsyk9AyUBiwTPsEjJDSEJAIbPzRKXVn5Ydq2LgiKUNtEhig0/s1600/DSCN0557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMrW35NU6PC9V87IyqwgFw4aQmZblB3SGmulQHYW6mhY1LCV6GbzmTej6k8aCCygxEptyMV1LTb-3Syti3BvoX4M2dLqZsyk9AyUBiwTPsEjJDSEJAIbPzRKXVn5Ydq2LgiKUNtEhig0/s1600/DSCN0557.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using my head for scale. There are 3 or 4 paper plates underneath there supporting it and it still spills over.<br />
<i>Photo: Robyn Norgan</i> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwaCp5vnXZtlBFW7FF_O1p_gfLHiqoN-F0K98G27TgsHOHHWYeo2hZFvp0dd0_naul6NUj52UzWuLFxUj63cERT9tVk_VMIzZvmpJ-qfxmcv9L8OakFrt4yrh3tnKwlenYainXCnkR_Q/s1600/DSCN0557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com0Whitney Portal, CA, USA36.5891667 -118.2258332999999811.0671322 -159.53442729999998 62.1112012 -76.917239299999977tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-81486468730057965512013-12-20T07:50:00.001-08:002014-02-04T14:13:14.806-08:00Lighting the fire....with style<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-FiuHEVqoe8-Yj_16HH_elqVU0dcVVnALJVElh8PawHcjvoKyZePUyp80pArQjFCi-xoyxZS8CsNZ3SkxdHKdGl8T7fEEn48zTlgSRRkFzo8pb1ZXH6jZJN74z3nzVomda9Y541ut84/s1600/DSC_0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-FiuHEVqoe8-Yj_16HH_elqVU0dcVVnALJVElh8PawHcjvoKyZePUyp80pArQjFCi-xoyxZS8CsNZ3SkxdHKdGl8T7fEEn48zTlgSRRkFzo8pb1ZXH6jZJN74z3nzVomda9Y541ut84/s1600/DSC_0228.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Light the fire!<br />
<i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com0Mount Whitney Trail, CA, USA36.5737214 -118.2531731000000336.548218399999996 -118.29351360000003 36.5992244 -118.21283260000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-87770212899045991392013-12-18T16:18:00.000-08:002014-02-07T08:16:22.189-08:00As it turns out, the Grand Canyon doesn't suck (Part Deux).<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Recently, I posted about an article I had read that claimed the Grand Canyon was over-rated as a tourist attraction. I felt that the article really missed the mark and decided to compare it to my experiences there. This is part two to that post and covers the second of two day hikes. If you missed part one you can read it <a href="http://www.expeditiondan.com/2013/12/as-it-turns-out-grand-canyon-doesnt-suck.html">here.</a><br />
<br />
<span id="goog_1674777172"></span><span id="goog_1674777173"></span>For our second day hike, we decided to try out the Bright Angel Trail. This trail leaves directly from the South Rim Village hotels. I was told it was the most common hike taken by unprepared tourists; owing to its proximity to the bus stops as well as the deceptively gradual down slope at the beginning. The day was slightly warmer than the previous day, but there were still threatening rain clouds and quite a bit of wind blowing. However, once we descended below the rim, the wind was completely absent and the temperature quite, nice.<br />
<br />
After the initial few switchbacks, the amount of tourist strollers dropped off considerably. The trail began to make a series of steep cuts back into a narrow box canyon which made for a considerably more claustrophobic experience compared to the wide open views we had been having up to this point.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZraGt0HUf8Pyxnf4k0b1C9k_1YeX7Unef1Ywdee5VrKtw9OBhCq-TxZZxTJ_dk30aWvBNfaSXqR8hGvuyOUADZxy64qYq1qSR7u-rLKStlFroyWFSwp2nO4avYAoMQffgyekaY7wtV0/s1600/DSC_0540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZraGt0HUf8Pyxnf4k0b1C9k_1YeX7Unef1Ywdee5VrKtw9OBhCq-TxZZxTJ_dk30aWvBNfaSXqR8hGvuyOUADZxy64qYq1qSR7u-rLKStlFroyWFSwp2nO4avYAoMQffgyekaY7wtV0/s1600/DSC_0540.JPG" height="640" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View up the throat of the canyon.<br />
<i> Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5YyqDyzZMls9qQnypT9yI41ecmFe6O_7QQ7BHyrLEV3kKQee1DrXoDBfnABVj35R8v7RzlZrQUS7VycL3735RPcY9NNXf3Kp86lg9Qd4uYWYz8YvaBGpONklV5PjcXa5GsXeEWa8FuQ/s1600/DSC_0541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5YyqDyzZMls9qQnypT9yI41ecmFe6O_7QQ7BHyrLEV3kKQee1DrXoDBfnABVj35R8v7RzlZrQUS7VycL3735RPcY9NNXf3Kp86lg9Qd4uYWYz8YvaBGpONklV5PjcXa5GsXeEWa8FuQ/s1600/DSC_0541.JPG" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View out of the narrow canyon as the trail descends.<br />
<i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The initial switchbacks were pretty short; at times only 100 meters or so before it switched again. As we continued to descend, the canyon gradually widened and wound all the way out to the canyon walls at times. The climber in me couldn't help but inspect some rather impressive looking cracks.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeO-9QOtBLSaz1Q8ILEI91Gjif_tWLRB8dG8Tejsfbje0TnRfCyPx4VySpwZ5kWYx2sdllTGaft9XUzfa58Z6UJxGi76HH1ZyGcP_6oZvAN0Lk1jGcHAWnNalQKcJKgXoYWkGcnbO2esw/s1600/DSC_0281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeO-9QOtBLSaz1Q8ILEI91Gjif_tWLRB8dG8Tejsfbje0TnRfCyPx4VySpwZ5kWYx2sdllTGaft9XUzfa58Z6UJxGi76HH1ZyGcP_6oZvAN0Lk1jGcHAWnNalQKcJKgXoYWkGcnbO2esw/s1600/DSC_0281.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Body width crack? No big deal.<br />
<i>Photo: Robyn Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The switchbacks continued on for nearly 2 more miles until we reached the rest house situated above the final shelf below the valley floor. We had decided earlier that this would be our turn around for the day and so decided to have some lunch and enjoy the views. The rest house was a squat open sided structure that looked like it had been around for quite some time. I would have hated to be the one to haul the timber down for the roof!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lj5tFNOs3T9dfH1UPDB-20yJgcjYx8jYJ-wFP6cLl1urWhG95k4eSbRzRY-5c61MFnoInh4vqvs9zP77iaiiMhcS3V4VVo_-yv7j5wpU1X7BSZ7OTJ4C911ximnKxkH_E1h1JYfzFoM/s1600/DSC_0580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lj5tFNOs3T9dfH1UPDB-20yJgcjYx8jYJ-wFP6cLl1urWhG95k4eSbRzRY-5c61MFnoInh4vqvs9zP77iaiiMhcS3V4VVo_-yv7j5wpU1X7BSZ7OTJ4C911ximnKxkH_E1h1JYfzFoM/s1600/DSC_0580.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rest House...Probably a lot more needed when its hot.<br />
<i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We sat down on a small overlook near the shack and were treated to some stormy views of the canyon. Once again, the off season visit paid off since most people only see bright sunny days. We were joined by some small critters who seemed to be all too familiar with humans.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahTNW_toDOjAXpGzRG8wOzQnjtyy2Rjfft_9vBE7QWZbH-HgiSMRMi_OKW8DVwT562c_Wc59fBG3UuoPPe3RVnrd90tdE_XLjk4zkfVp5xxuzH72fjOI61pB6sgNmANWrHPY7kQDI_v4/s1600/DSC_0346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahTNW_toDOjAXpGzRG8wOzQnjtyy2Rjfft_9vBE7QWZbH-HgiSMRMi_OKW8DVwT562c_Wc59fBG3UuoPPe3RVnrd90tdE_XLjk4zkfVp5xxuzH72fjOI61pB6sgNmANWrHPY7kQDI_v4/s1600/DSC_0346.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cooler weather brought out some fearless wildlife to join us for lunch.<br />
<i>Photo: Robyn Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We couldn't have asked for a nicer view to eat lunch. Too bad most people never see this. The silence was quite impressive.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-3AoOZqRxIxVo4hyhVBVVAI5t0BnRUjkQw4bNslhPDuxiS5mpFvXo8udVTByoUvru0Yx28ZfDeY0kyidjhNvtzFnMQuPdUjDs6F7BBsseX2N3y5SyzmAK3_DxDoRegPuL6Y8B1rNJKA/s1600/DSC_0565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-3AoOZqRxIxVo4hyhVBVVAI5t0BnRUjkQw4bNslhPDuxiS5mpFvXo8udVTByoUvru0Yx28ZfDeY0kyidjhNvtzFnMQuPdUjDs6F7BBsseX2N3y5SyzmAK3_DxDoRegPuL6Y8B1rNJKA/s1600/DSC_0565.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch with a view<br />
<i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8a6eW8sNcD_tfMD0BIL6j9TC1r-l96WChZtGR5N0pw5KjZJUTWBpIofnsf59arYZbMKPITC5w5-S4ffl9a_amaaupWRydstiksZ1Lrwx8s1sb6I_k0Y_mLXoYtjxP-jBUK1ip_2awggc/s1600/DSC_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8a6eW8sNcD_tfMD0BIL6j9TC1r-l96WChZtGR5N0pw5KjZJUTWBpIofnsf59arYZbMKPITC5w5-S4ffl9a_amaaupWRydstiksZ1Lrwx8s1sb6I_k0Y_mLXoYtjxP-jBUK1ip_2awggc/s1600/DSC_0304.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rain finally broke. We took this as a sign to head out.<br />
<i>Photo: Robyn Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3MVBsLpHJspDqsz7Yt_dziH_6aEMkcryvE4NroZ6IhtqmYEau__bJtIWVB9QxJhQ8wvIoFpfSOAdV72CUDthbwWDMLAOR-wVbqd-HjKvOy7pWeg-bqu7FrAjyf-zMoycaOS-IUkjmg8/s1600/DSC_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3MVBsLpHJspDqsz7Yt_dziH_6aEMkcryvE4NroZ6IhtqmYEau__bJtIWVB9QxJhQ8wvIoFpfSOAdV72CUDthbwWDMLAOR-wVbqd-HjKvOy7pWeg-bqu7FrAjyf-zMoycaOS-IUkjmg8/s1600/DSC_0315.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to go.<br />
<i>Photo: Robyn Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6K99OyzN6-8d0NHRGO8YdP0X5rd3mwxkyfN9L2F34E6kepD2l2Rw7MjpMOA9IJqXkaXhyRN2PRYAgCFzv3duu1EbJ7l43trJ4POCTJa4Q3u-YK4ZS21WVNJ699nI__46YxqKRwIAJfc/s1600/DSC_0343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6K99OyzN6-8d0NHRGO8YdP0X5rd3mwxkyfN9L2F34E6kepD2l2Rw7MjpMOA9IJqXkaXhyRN2PRYAgCFzv3duu1EbJ7l43trJ4POCTJa4Q3u-YK4ZS21WVNJ699nI__46YxqKRwIAJfc/s1600/DSC_0343.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It didn't seem that far coming down, did it?<br />
<i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Once again, the inevitable 'mountaineering in reverse' effect hit us on the way up. Unfortunately, this climb was tougher as we were still tired from the day before. About the time we were nearing the rim again, the sun broke out. The colors in the afternoon were just stunning. Mix it in with the occasional rain storm and it was spectacular indeed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipf8QrTyOZHTdZiX4Q3XkBO8OxZQuic62MtQitxav2mRapksb2nXfA5XOMxSzeJ9xYAcrkPn06NtWcJLWLAy1eSB004llfOvhBSj6xqWVu8fCp1sPpN9CivDpb9t6w3frh0VRSDmfBPfQ/s1600/DSC_0355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1mduqGWaUdrqvVQfmgt04R0DgnkmUUW11k6d0qXDWtBUvFV2fGbMMyQ0YCClCUj40jAoW-W0AehHM4PSzMSgc-xG1hDZM5bk9vfnA8b-VI16MnDgMCR7rmDoPxD3HAA0GqvePqdi7TU/s1600/DSC_0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1mduqGWaUdrqvVQfmgt04R0DgnkmUUW11k6d0qXDWtBUvFV2fGbMMyQ0YCClCUj40jAoW-W0AehHM4PSzMSgc-xG1hDZM5bk9vfnA8b-VI16MnDgMCR7rmDoPxD3HAA0GqvePqdi7TU/s1600/DSC_0367.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Afternoon color. A nice change from the gray.<br />
<i>Photo: Robyn Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASVW9dBHWbXGSkNcf_jRYDz-KowOAbp7uG_-bOXfKJkstqqgzd14EbF__0jKnCF7fnd8N-pfCAcRbDj_GF4URg0fsEDSU98_jzoD_-XPQlhaiHrWWo9KTlebzZF8mjV9edC4Qywj37-I/s1600/DSC_0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASVW9dBHWbXGSkNcf_jRYDz-KowOAbp7uG_-bOXfKJkstqqgzd14EbF__0jKnCF7fnd8N-pfCAcRbDj_GF4URg0fsEDSU98_jzoD_-XPQlhaiHrWWo9KTlebzZF8mjV9edC4Qywj37-I/s1600/DSC_0375.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More clouds coming...<br />
<i>Photo: Robyn Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgn5Fdp0N_a03Cot8zUxEkEC2DXA4XL7XRZ_SS5j3QLMqfG6W2f_Q6ZlV3TNQOUDA__yXAnkjpve0NTW4D2R_Q5P98o1NKw_N7pBqD-PFYJr4SUXuPHTHbGnPs1IEWiCGHQnNFpVtbPTY/s1600/DSC_0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgn5Fdp0N_a03Cot8zUxEkEC2DXA4XL7XRZ_SS5j3QLMqfG6W2f_Q6ZlV3TNQOUDA__yXAnkjpve0NTW4D2R_Q5P98o1NKw_N7pBqD-PFYJr4SUXuPHTHbGnPs1IEWiCGHQnNFpVtbPTY/s1600/DSC_0379.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parting views of the canyon.<br />
<i>Photo: Robyn Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUVUNziRtjtFj1EcLPsl4x4PUPY-H0fLFGUph1oEGb4VfyVwBFSreL3_1Fr1vEDK84PjwBprUH9k3wpJosmaBHCKccMbyxWlCuwhknLFysSUicwYHjQ7FWTksogCoJzru9EBN7gAyB-U/s1600/DSC_0637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUVUNziRtjtFj1EcLPsl4x4PUPY-H0fLFGUph1oEGb4VfyVwBFSreL3_1Fr1vEDK84PjwBprUH9k3wpJosmaBHCKccMbyxWlCuwhknLFysSUicwYHjQ7FWTksogCoJzru9EBN7gAyB-U/s1600/DSC_0637.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robyn surveying the abyss<br />
<i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Grand Canyon is truly an amazing place to visit. I can imagine in the heat of summer it can be a somewhat different experience, but in the cooler months it is excellent. I always enjoy getting out in places like this to see the less taken trails where the average tourist never ventures. This treats you to views you will never see on a post card, and can only really experience for yourself. If you are looking for a great adventure, I highly recommend visiting the Grand Canyon (when its cool)...it definitely doesn't suck!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-49306773255944573882013-12-06T23:16:00.000-08:002014-01-07T21:32:27.510-08:00Mt. Whitney<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo: Dan Norgan" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSrix0h5p5X2csVWGQoSU0Oxi3AcDYcNpkcqYoepmNkORTC3iw590CoowH3tSEGrRQrSww0zKVUZt1fPUlxWl5ok8x3SVfhRcrp0nu0yV4ZGslmF4IA-4PcRxtEhjLG3hKsEZZeQX5-8/s1600/DSC_0210.JPG" height="426" title="Sunset beinh Mt. Whitney" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset behind Mt. Whitney<br />
<i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-58500519696364177322013-12-05T20:50:00.002-08:002014-02-04T14:12:31.373-08:00An Ideal Loadout for Long Day HikesI've been asked by several people recently what my go-to setup is for day hiking. My standard response to that type of question is, "It depends". <br />
<br />
All irony aside, it <i>really </i>does depend on a number of factors including: weather, trail profile, location and whether I'm running solo or with someone else.<br />
<br />
Over the years, I have found that my preferred load has evolved from a spartan one to a much more prepared and versatile gear load out. The benefit of this is that it allows me to hike solo with more comfort but also with the piece of mind of being ready to tackle anything I run into. I generally try and take enough that i could spend 24 hours on trail if required. If the weather is particularly threatening I will usually bring some shelter to bivouac if required. <br />
<br />
The most recent addition to my gear is the Deuter Futura 32 pack. I chose this pack to replace an aging Solomon adventure racing pack that has seen 10+ years of use and has more holes than it has memories at this point. I chose the Futura 32 based on its tall, slender design which gives me lots of options for balancing heavy and light gear to obtain a comfortable load. I really don't care for the larger single compartment packs that end up with 1 bulbous clump of gear...they are just too hard to set up comfortably.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6mcQVLavNES58Arf6qlaJZQhKHB9xDXxZsR-2bLCjJ5ONGHRICde_qZBzP8V7VxJMw7yp9uSjgF9Lj4yVwcd5i3xlGGlo3Y_hCRcV_Pzz99PuJN1MqV-rjiq1zfq0AJdfgHWfuSjIdQ/s1600/DSC_0813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6mcQVLavNES58Arf6qlaJZQhKHB9xDXxZsR-2bLCjJ5ONGHRICde_qZBzP8V7VxJMw7yp9uSjgF9Lj4yVwcd5i3xlGGlo3Y_hCRcV_Pzz99PuJN1MqV-rjiq1zfq0AJdfgHWfuSjIdQ/s1600/DSC_0813.JPG" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deuter Futura 32 loaded up for a long hike.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
With the new pack out of the way, the essential day hike gear usually includes:<br />
<ul>
<li>1/2 Liter of water per hour of hike +1 for safety. (1L per hour if its hot)</li>
<li>200 calories of food per hour. This is usually a mix of carbs and fats with some chocolate thrown in for variety. Also great for survival in a pinch.</li>
<li>2 lights</li>
<li>Knife</li>
<li>First aid kit (with blister pads)</li>
<li>Map</li>
<li>Compass</li>
<li>extra socks</li>
<li>Rain gear (weather dependent)</li>
<li>50ft Paracord</li>
<li>Trekking poles</li>
<li>Hat</li>
<li>Sunscreen</li>
<li>Long sleeve shirt</li>
<li>sunglasses</li>
<li>fire starter +lighter</li>
<li>TP </li>
<li>2x large plastic bag</li>
<li>camera (pics or it didnt happen)</li>
<li>Money (bribery solves everything)</li>
<li>ID</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfRa8RQfGHP5D7TxZYrbjP-LvIePlXOMnh00a2ySxWslQSC2ZdeJ9Q6Svewy2bPT_Df5qk0AL6Qyjpyjo5tNkazY5BswjM6GNXekT_bn0fCRAJ8erF-M-aR-1-Avwlkmlkxrz-ZsJLgM/s1600/DSC_0814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfRa8RQfGHP5D7TxZYrbjP-LvIePlXOMnh00a2ySxWslQSC2ZdeJ9Q6Svewy2bPT_Df5qk0AL6Qyjpyjo5tNkazY5BswjM6GNXekT_bn0fCRAJ8erF-M-aR-1-Avwlkmlkxrz-ZsJLgM/s1600/DSC_0814.JPG" height="640" width="423" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trekking poles complete the load out and save energy and the knees!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Beyond this basic load out I tend to add things here and there as the situation requires. One thing I no longer leave home without is trekking poles. I used to think they weren't really necessary but have since found them essential for saving energy and my knees on long hikes...especially when there is significant climbing.<br />
<br />
With a set up like this there are very few adventures you cant handle. Hopefully this will give you a good starting point to building your own preferred load out. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-30099322472204893652013-12-04T20:42:00.002-08:002014-02-07T08:16:40.737-08:00As it turns out, the Grand Canyon doesn't suck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d-QnNsyWiAfWnHOAR0bFqH0ubCtyncdhZgrPv80q0ir52AJTZirRTEruW0RTwvR68lIFuD8JeAD2q-iaMOcRFiTkehTPxwN7qEdQ0SJD_c32daHjGsWTI0D3o6eLvsexOBQgt5RxJuo/s1600/DSC_0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
Today my wife sent me <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/21/overrated-places_n_4283402.html">this article</a> from the Huffington Post boldly proclaiming that the Grand Canyon is one of the 25 most over-rated locations on Earth. For reference here is the section specifically about the canyon...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTiOYPOB8YniPvoiQF4r7iRvB4bxZnYjha301qE7YUbmlxdY0i8wbRFcU0AKwrY-jqYOqzQ2zRu1m8gukug0ldeNjM1e9-0WgvG-iYGWiW7dLRtiwx6QE-y83WWtWM6gMa9ypF0j-Z4o/s1600/G-canyon+article.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTiOYPOB8YniPvoiQF4r7iRvB4bxZnYjha301qE7YUbmlxdY0i8wbRFcU0AKwrY-jqYOqzQ2zRu1m8gukug0ldeNjM1e9-0WgvG-iYGWiW7dLRtiwx6QE-y83WWtWM6gMa9ypF0j-Z4o/s1600/G-canyon+article.PNG" height="335" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>How do you miss it? Its rather...<i>large.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
From the sound of it the reviewer never actually left their car or at the very least walked the 50 feet or so from the parking lot to the South Rim where some of the most popular overlook sites are. Only in America would it be considered impossible to actually <i>walk</i> down into the canyon. No, you instead can only ride down on the back of some poor overworked mule.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_aZhjW3-j64YfIeA-vm-3TolDTMDgj6KlZE8pQoIWPUE9d3XuzbDzoyxAicm-JP0FycjgyIuIynDUPl9WQD67uSAFD_uYtqN-AOr6SjzqmlKacooamEpZfkbx0QWAs43kQjcW9y8DZ0/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_aZhjW3-j64YfIeA-vm-3TolDTMDgj6KlZE8pQoIWPUE9d3XuzbDzoyxAicm-JP0FycjgyIuIynDUPl9WQD67uSAFD_uYtqN-AOr6SjzqmlKacooamEpZfkbx0QWAs43kQjcW9y8DZ0/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The express route to the canyon floor</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I, however know for a fact that Canyon is <i>not</i> over-rated and is likely one of the greatest places on Earth. Granted, it has its touristy elements; the cliche rim hotels and wheelchair (or mobility scooter) accessible viewing decks are not exactly a national treasure. But if you take the time to descend even a mile or so into the Canyon, by mule or preferably on foot, you will find one of the most spectacular places on Earth.<br />
<br />
<br />
How much hiking you will be able (or want) to do depends heavily on the time of year you visit. Late spring through fall is notoriously hot and will make hiking much more physically demanding and require a much higher level of preparedness. My wife was wise enough to plan a trip for us in May, which is right on the edge of when it starts to warm up. We were lucky enough to get cool weather and a somewhat significant amount of rain. This allowed us to make 2 long (10+ mile) descents into the Canyon that were overall quite pleasant.<br />
<br />
<b>DAY 1: South Kaibab Trail</b><br />
<br />
The first day, we chose to hike the harder South Kaibab trail. The morning dawned with a light drizzle falling and generally cool, windy conditions. We headed off with the plan to turn around at Skeleton Point, which overlooks the deepest portion of the canyon and the Colorado River.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzzkelxqWTtlk1qTy-Ie8oMwFYlMLyQsmka8RWnfrvWQgcY4ChXO7We9jgnFhy0pL2iTVphAvBYTg1GfbgO8U-LzT2J60971CTkbsmgFbeNPgTkihpRZiLuFp4phdtcpPt2iRNADm3p8/s1600/DSC_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzzkelxqWTtlk1qTy-Ie8oMwFYlMLyQsmka8RWnfrvWQgcY4ChXO7We9jgnFhy0pL2iTVphAvBYTg1GfbgO8U-LzT2J60971CTkbsmgFbeNPgTkihpRZiLuFp4phdtcpPt2iRNADm3p8/s1600/DSC_0073.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I quickly discovered evidence of the aforementioned mules.</b><br />
<i>Photo: Robyn Norgan</i><b> </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We got hit a few times with rain showers on the way down but were at the turn around by early afternoon. The clouds made for a generally moody and beautiful desert vista. Its not often you get to take photos of rain clouds in the desert.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPUBgjxrIHmccTv7mx9hdpShd2CUwJTnpgUqiGNwQrfLaju7y5NerZCRyu2xQGals0dyylsDnX_zM_k94dF5-O-LF2fcul7v7jNqzNL9T6BS92-XMG6VXE-A1DGNlCQIKkHR503eM2Ww/s1600/DSC_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPUBgjxrIHmccTv7mx9hdpShd2CUwJTnpgUqiGNwQrfLaju7y5NerZCRyu2xQGals0dyylsDnX_zM_k94dF5-O-LF2fcul7v7jNqzNL9T6BS92-XMG6VXE-A1DGNlCQIKkHR503eM2Ww/s1600/DSC_0122.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rain clouds threatening</b><br />
<i>Photo: Robyn Norgan</i><b><i> </i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By the time we made the turn around at Skeleton point, it was early afternoon. Now the funny thing about hiking in the Grand Canyon is that is basically mountaineering in reverse. You feel great for the first half but then you are faced with the harsh reality of the leg crushing climb you just sprinted down.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWRAYtUheP8GgSfwo5FnBb_YohSt2OunFNWTbnuNHvD_HjucHM0lnWIuLJ7ycsm1fNf4qMBkSuk-6gcMvWU3kOkuK3XUF9t2SThRjvQZuVjzBSiL1S4h4Jwtnv0FUSZPb110C7oqL3ac/s1600/DSC_0150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWRAYtUheP8GgSfwo5FnBb_YohSt2OunFNWTbnuNHvD_HjucHM0lnWIuLJ7ycsm1fNf4qMBkSuk-6gcMvWU3kOkuK3XUF9t2SThRjvQZuVjzBSiL1S4h4Jwtnv0FUSZPb110C7oqL3ac/s1600/DSC_0150.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pushing on to Skeleton Point</b><br />
<i>Photo: Robyn Norgan</i><b> </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We stopped for a bit to to admire the Colorado river below. We briefly
entertained the thought of going all the way but we decided otherwise
and began our climb back to the rim.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ewTaNwx0zQUAjvtMLc8zQ3l9XVNypvkpZXbejSUD6ajkQZNgmAv7nPyVYQoMniXqTCEyf6VR4xxx3YzdmTF4u6ERNWPtlPgkWACPxyg1KTlCwtEQMee3D5bnaKLOpS0Ao0nR0MEhGAw/s1600/DSC_0435.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d-QnNsyWiAfWnHOAR0bFqH0ubCtyncdhZgrPv80q0ir52AJTZirRTEruW0RTwvR68lIFuD8JeAD2q-iaMOcRFiTkehTPxwN7qEdQ0SJD_c32daHjGsWTI0D3o6eLvsexOBQgt5RxJuo/s1600/DSC_0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d-QnNsyWiAfWnHOAR0bFqH0ubCtyncdhZgrPv80q0ir52AJTZirRTEruW0RTwvR68lIFuD8JeAD2q-iaMOcRFiTkehTPxwN7qEdQ0SJD_c32daHjGsWTI0D3o6eLvsexOBQgt5RxJuo/s1600/DSC_0435.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Colorado River far below</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72OP9LCuHXFVJycXMxk2O2hSO1B-Hs9dRlnIr2Vwd6ypJEMHIdoiF2-TDg_zXCp9-azmS4o13iwVhTsGSEsqcRVZv8MUnDmtgIedqh1KegPpxBw_R1pfgq9AHBMlYhHNAVbvDegSsM9E/s1600/DSC_0165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
As the trail got steeper, the punishment increased. Our quick pace from early in the day quickly dwindled to an outright slog. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsYzw6wKSGniwoFANNoMgGOVFZRENEpyXArIvBtfBQjhpsevrFX1Mno9M1UkF6od5wYT96Qc3EvG3n4zF3rydtuK5J32M0MpFTM1FOo5s3OGWzf9r_48YHNST7gIPHvk-aCY6CH41o4I/s1600/DSC_0176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsYzw6wKSGniwoFANNoMgGOVFZRENEpyXArIvBtfBQjhpsevrFX1Mno9M1UkF6od5wYT96Qc3EvG3n4zF3rydtuK5J32M0MpFTM1FOo5s3OGWzf9r_48YHNST7gIPHvk-aCY6CH41o4I/s1600/DSC_0176.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I've made a huge mistake!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Somehow, on the way up we managed to look away from our feet and grab a few photos. The late afternoon haze made for some amazing filter effects.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcUYcWpCsx91Mzh1s1mTuiKvdwlyL0f9Zs2bX12x7r5krypjJphSaFl9txnk1ShG1Bu5y6CZUd2IL2NkatvYdoLDy4wRsb4AlSM4k5aYi8NWenTqk-HT1DLuq7NKtiBkULFGsDgRXhZY/s1600/DSC_0236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3jn9keDkMnzqzmXdh9kva1jNuuUF0IEAxHzQTRLFAQbz527O0z7VlpMV-3lt-AymS2uVtUR3RBEoDUdSI_2peXAWHwuB5CfxZf3jBi5w3-I0_RxfJfp489-sSCj-91pAY4ekervhkmE/s1600/DSC_0241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3jn9keDkMnzqzmXdh9kva1jNuuUF0IEAxHzQTRLFAQbz527O0z7VlpMV-3lt-AymS2uVtUR3RBEoDUdSI_2peXAWHwuB5CfxZf3jBi5w3-I0_RxfJfp489-sSCj-91pAY4ekervhkmE/s1600/DSC_0241.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>West Along the Canyon</b><i> </i><br />
<i>Photo: Robyn Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The last 2 miles out are by far the steepest and consist of endless trail steps either carved into the rock or meticulously laid by the trail builders. As any hiker knows, you will soon come to curse the foul individuals who laid these steps. Steps intended only to cause you extra torment as you slog along.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WsQyv65KQSV42gCKv8T8XsCJ_vUCkrvg40Jrusay7Gfx9A2wv6QJI1UyjC0lE-jc8IOxB-BWz3PRtjJ1c5CZpczUiRQv4yfPj9he9rlwP-_wKk1t1f00Sv3SlmjvQ3lXhH2hqmepugU/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfH-No7CjbyVUmkZvTFBMxbTCT21CnO-jau45iv6fQl2wXpk-NUAx8TuvfVf9bMhUiawwDTAu3VYWQ33b8opa6Ri3Shvfoq8TpsfTRa_mwkLeXbdDPpuKKgBO9zk8x5MRIPQNf_qe3ln8/s1600/DSC_0237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfH-No7CjbyVUmkZvTFBMxbTCT21CnO-jau45iv6fQl2wXpk-NUAx8TuvfVf9bMhUiawwDTAu3VYWQ33b8opa6Ri3Shvfoq8TpsfTRa_mwkLeXbdDPpuKKgBO9zk8x5MRIPQNf_qe3ln8/s1600/DSC_0237.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Sun Poking out</b><i> </i><br />
<i>Photo: Robyn Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We finally made the rim. The round trip took around 10 hours and was one of the greatest hikes of my life. This first day hike showed just how beautiful, and savage the Canyon can be. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUPEsziAtNsogGM835_keFpKSAXKkuymFMcNoECOXJjvnW11W9fOzJH_9wunGEJm1NIHi-BdC3JPb7pCgSB346_7yCUIsONn_bTtarYKID1QL3cmLoHMzlESlv7YazhT71LMc_MnQsEo/s1600/DSC_0241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwW12hHPk8SI8dPydFdrRrrFbGcFrwGEyxgGR4NJnFKiCiQn42kbL4xuJmcpOPFhF4mrO5ai8q4vggT91Y71LIoRrU-ilPUt1jkRyHbSKssV39IXI7h2m0dOi-ipjxEdbUd5hjg_d_QW0/s1600/DSC_0252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwW12hHPk8SI8dPydFdrRrrFbGcFrwGEyxgGR4NJnFKiCiQn42kbL4xuJmcpOPFhF4mrO5ai8q4vggT91Y71LIoRrU-ilPUt1jkRyHbSKssV39IXI7h2m0dOi-ipjxEdbUd5hjg_d_QW0/s1600/DSC_0252.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Finished!</b><br />
<i>Photo: Robyn Norgan</i><b> </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfo4uM1O1Rt3UL8eetb5TlfvBQ48i8oTb3xAGdn9XH9P0GiUCVTo297vlud2UvvpRdcupAs7wkS8KKBKzbhnp7SRFau__Nqu1IaVRwQjLxrmCtbJoR4yvzWrDUhmVHwEHuTPKrA6fu3kY/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I will cover the second day in an upcoming located <a href="http://www.expeditiondan.com/2013/12/as-it-turns-out-grand-canyon-doesnt.html">Here</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com1Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA36.2317194 -113.0309111999999934.5898179 -115.6126982 37.873620900000006 -110.44912419999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-1229723052948988042013-11-26T22:24:00.003-08:002014-02-04T14:12:55.847-08:00Big Basin Waterfall<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvLxuS3VcPURYYXONdpyDxJkALV-1yVfoa3tHVaMGpYvK630uIPXBGO286vzSCPvItwc7Sy1E1rGR8KCydeWwUacud60DCFGMeFJQZWUjsDT2z6F5F2vGVsGebCV_uUdrH2KHMGsBHH0/s1600/DSC_0467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvLxuS3VcPURYYXONdpyDxJkALV-1yVfoa3tHVaMGpYvK630uIPXBGO286vzSCPvItwc7Sy1E1rGR8KCydeWwUacud60DCFGMeFJQZWUjsDT2z6F5F2vGVsGebCV_uUdrH2KHMGsBHH0/s1600/DSC_0467.JPG" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Berry Creek falls in Big Basin State Park<br />
<i>Photo: Dan Norgan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297532597454371967.post-41666161880322912502013-11-26T22:06:00.000-08:002014-01-07T21:29:48.961-08:00Misadventures on the top of nowhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0jnZLDRGDe1qpTSplbhf-9b591faxe_AYxoucoPgqy4i_g_Rf2ycoATjGhOg9VNTwGJHuk-rKCpR-YnUg3N0LrRXw3-f30kcdNHRAhEvadPM2X924YLgF14wPUbZc6V_Y7Xf7yUl810/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
In a fit of late summer ambition, i decided to attempt to climb Mt Tom Ross (Elev. 13,253ft.). Mt. Tom Ross is an often overlooked lesser summit of the Evolution Ridge line below Mt Darwin. The climb requires quite a bit of scrambling and i was quite looking forward to making a last summit of the season.<br />
<br />
On short notice, and crucially no altitude acclimatization, i headed off to the eastern Sierra to attempt to conquer the mountain with my cousin Joe as a climbing partner.<br />
<br />
We got a somewhat late 8am start to the climb, but were in high spirits as the weather looked great and we were both feeling good.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdCmrmEVSXkiUu_V8AxRlHN5ZRCreg7kcGFT637ceMinv6RWs4Ybl0ToGB-RFn7DlWpjtBFHQ2sxsUaGn5Q7YJPE_6VEyu6os11Jv9XyCaDIL-_jxICHp0ggWRQ7J2ab5b3SJNiXZKMM/s1600/DSC_0837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdCmrmEVSXkiUu_V8AxRlHN5ZRCreg7kcGFT637ceMinv6RWs4Ybl0ToGB-RFn7DlWpjtBFHQ2sxsUaGn5Q7YJPE_6VEyu6os11Jv9XyCaDIL-_jxICHp0ggWRQ7J2ab5b3SJNiXZKMM/s1600/DSC_0837.JPG" height="420" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Morning view of the Ridge line below Mt Emerson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By 9:30, we had made it to Lower Lamarck lake and stopped for a quick breakfast. It was at this point that we began to notice some ominous clouds starting to build over the Southeastern ridge lines. We hoped for the best and planned our route up the ridge line switchbacks and were back on trail by 10.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD97_w9fjNaI3REqhgITkJqCFRWbjFQECuAJRyPgmdTz3Jc-YMGM7tz0S7RIVkgptn8ra43orwIKdLCiIzNoJsGa1cZCiBbQNRsuWo6I5U189SYpA1nOpiDjseyKbQwDH6Poy239MA0qY/s1600/DSC_0844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD97_w9fjNaI3REqhgITkJqCFRWbjFQECuAJRyPgmdTz3Jc-YMGM7tz0S7RIVkgptn8ra43orwIKdLCiIzNoJsGa1cZCiBbQNRsuWo6I5U189SYpA1nOpiDjseyKbQwDH6Poy239MA0qY/s1600/DSC_0844.JPG" height="420" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lower Lamarck Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By the time we passed Upper Lamarck lake the clouds were starting to build and we decided to pick up our pace in a (foolish) attempt to beat the weather. This soon proved to be a rather poor decision as the switchback leading up the ridge above Upper Lamarck lake are savage indeed. I made the saddle a few minutes ahead of Joe, who was beginning to feel the onset of AMS (better known as altitude sickness). He took a few aspirin and we continued on up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVhELLQyk0IrcZE4cy6O6h-XRDd42KrtL5K7PFxjDorqCJ5-VxWGEqhMYiCTLxYKdf9BGPKu5Yz6nitLefdi5YcgwjtT7QjfSLbpJmzAGL7MbhjfL7OyKozxzz8_iSKzvVz_ZmTbqf7M/s1600/DSC_0856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVhELLQyk0IrcZE4cy6O6h-XRDd42KrtL5K7PFxjDorqCJ5-VxWGEqhMYiCTLxYKdf9BGPKu5Yz6nitLefdi5YcgwjtT7QjfSLbpJmzAGL7MbhjfL7OyKozxzz8_iSKzvVz_ZmTbqf7M/s1600/DSC_0856.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
As we made our way up into the wide, flat canyon below Lamarck Col we both began to lament our lack of altitude conditioning. As the altitude piled on we felt worse and worse and it soon became apparent to us both that this summit was not to be. We found ourselves at the base of the North Spur of un-named Peak 13,172. In an attempt to at least summit something, we scrambled up to the ridgeline at a max altitude of 12,003ft.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCVAZczPcTYbNR1Y44k4r45kMG3hBa-rJFYbR0ZruClp6nOlJ-AcUazcOI1aiEH6WReQ1pQ2T7FYNolRI2gS3VZUd6OWfsPbFDJCXZ1FmSTCHoI1H58EZ7osYcJjNd6BTEQMqLXOFc00/s1600/DSC_0867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCVAZczPcTYbNR1Y44k4r45kMG3hBa-rJFYbR0ZruClp6nOlJ-AcUazcOI1aiEH6WReQ1pQ2T7FYNolRI2gS3VZUd6OWfsPbFDJCXZ1FmSTCHoI1H58EZ7osYcJjNd6BTEQMqLXOFc00/s1600/DSC_0867.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ridge below Peak 13,172</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once on the ridge crest, we were treated to a lovely, though stormy view of Peak 13,172. Sadly we never did see Mt. Tom Ross as it was obscured by the nearby peak. With the weather closing in fast, we beat a retreat back to the trail head and several ice chest loads of beer.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJ0k-uhdxZdSgH-khWb_a8sIQrf6f03uy9hkSCAY_kRa9P6wd1zq-VamqsRKGSd69HUKxJc9S8CQa_HXcu_U5otnBueimaIYO4z9ziD_k2rH7_A5N1k09ngBrGTk4_x2tQWM33cBmRak/s1600/DSC_0872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJ0k-uhdxZdSgH-khWb_a8sIQrf6f03uy9hkSCAY_kRa9P6wd1zq-VamqsRKGSd69HUKxJc9S8CQa_HXcu_U5otnBueimaIYO4z9ziD_k2rH7_A5N1k09ngBrGTk4_x2tQWM33cBmRak/s1600/DSC_0872.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peak 13,172</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This last minute trip was a stark and somewhat painful reminder of the importance of acclimatization when mountaineering above 10,000 ft. In hindsight, an additional day of altitude was probably required to take my sea level loving body and toss it up to 13,000+ feet.<br />
<br />
This peak is definitely going to be on my 2014 bag list.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00320670379234199966noreply@blogger.com0