Advice From the Experts

Question:

Going on a Hike up Mt. Mitchell next month in N.C. Pretty warm that time of year and just curious how you feel about hiking shoes vs. boots. This trail is steep, 11.4 miles and up to just shy of 3700′ of Elev gain. I’ve hiked it before but it was cold and wet.

I have Vasque hiking boots and wondering if a hike in the summer is better w/a trail shoe, like the Salomon XT Wings.

Hello Lee,

Thanks so much for your question, glad to hear you are going to be able to enjoy the wonderful hike that Mt. Mitchell has to offer. We had an opportunity just last year to hike to the top of Mt. Mitchell ourselves. Hopefully the observation tower on the summit will be reopened for you, it was unfortunately under construction when we reached the summit. To answer your question concerning boots versus shoes we must first say that we truly believe that Happy Feet directly leads to Happy Hiking and what makes our feet happy might not necessairly be what makes your feet happy. A lot of factors go into making the correct footwear choices and we always suggest that you find a sock and shoe combination that work well together because simply changing your socks can have an enormous impact on the comfort and fit of your shoes and boots. Our advice as to whether a shoe or a boot will work best for you comes down to the amount of support your hiking will require of you. Support in your shoe will come from the thickness of the sole, the flex of the midsole and the cut and the material of the upper. That being said, it’s important to consider the amount of weight you will be carrying and the trail conditions you may encounter and allow those factors to guide your decision as to whether or not your ankles will benefit from the additional support of the high cut upper in your boot. We have covered many trail miles in both boots and trail shoes and have come to prefer carrying a lighter overall pack weight and therefore have found trail shoes like the Montrail Hard Rock we are both currently hiking in to be our personal preference. Hopefully this information will be useful to you, just remember there’s not one right answer, find a system that makes your feet happy and stick with it. Happy Trails!

Question:

I so much enjoyed your presentation at The Bivouac in Ann Arbor yesterday (May 3). I guess my question is this: how does one work up the courage to do what you did? Currently, I am 56, single (no kids), and unemployed with no job prospects at the moment and what I most feel like doing is unloading my current life stuff, loading up my backpack and doing a long-distance hike to hopefully get a handle on what I want to do with the rest of my life, and perhaps find the answer to the question “What is the meaning of life? What is the point?” Would greatly appreciate any directions, ideas or advice you could give. Thanks so much! Also, I really like the Leki Pathfinder Trekking poles I won yesterday; though t! hey are kids’ poles, because I am short, they fit me perfectly! Thanks again. Pax, Kathy Handyside

Answer:

We first would like to say thank you for attending our tour stop at The Bivouac in Ann Arbor , and we hope you continue to enjoy the LEKI poles that you won. When it comes to addressing your other questions, we should start by saying that while we were living those moments, the moments when we were deciding to sell our home and leave our jobs, it really didn’t feel courageous. Rather than Courage, we would say we were overwhelmed with Passion! Everything felt right, like we were doing exactly what we were supposed to be doing, no matter how unorthodox it seemed to everyone else. As far as determining the meaning of life, or “the point”, we would never for a minute pretend that we have any of that figured out. We can say, though, that in following our passion we have been able to search out a slower pace, one less cluttered by material objects and unnecessary distractions. Our backpacking adventures have enabled us to take a good look at the way others live their lives, at the opportunities that exist in this country, at the choices we all have and at the consequences of those choices that forever affect the ever-changing “path” that leads us to our next set of choices. We know first hand that backpacking is a great test, a test that will offer you an opportunity to spend quality time with yourself and an opportunity to meet quality people you otherwise would never be exposed to, a test that you can’t fail, but rather a test that allows you to get an honest evaluation of where you are and where you want to go. One step at a time!

We wish you good luck, happy trails, and lots of getting out more!

Question: Do you use a tent footprint or just skip that to save weight?
Submitted by: Rick

Answer: When it comes to a footprint for our tent, we do usually justify the extra 8oz. and bring the footprint with us. The choice to carry a footprint will greatly depend on your individual goals. We have complete confidence in the durability of the Cordura Brand fabric that makes up the floor of our tent and therefore use the footprint primarily as an additional protective barrier between our tent floor and the ground, adding a significant amount of longevity to the life of our tent, a wise move in our opinion, considering the cost of the investment in a tent. Read the rest of this entry »

Question:  What is your first choice for water purification or do you not purify your water?
Submitted by: Rick

Answer:  We can tell you that we ALWAYS treat our water!  Back in 1999 during our thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail Randy became severely ill due to the affects of Giardia, he lost thirteen pounds in three days, was very weak, dehydrated, and unable to hike for ten days.  While we are not certain of the exact source of the parasite, we do know that we never want to go through that type of experience again and therefore we never take the risk of drinking untreated water.  Read the rest of this entry »

Question:  I’m from West Virginia. Why are you not coming to Charleston??? We lost our independent trail store several years ago. Would be nice if someone in the trail industry would remember us in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.
Submitted by: Sally Hamrick, WV

Answer: Dear Sally,
Thanks so much for your interest in Backpacker’s Get Out More Tour.  We wish we could make it to all 50 States each year, but it’s a feat just to make it to 30!  However, in 2009 we will seriously consider scheduling stops in the States we missed this year.  West Virginia is no doubt a beautiful State with a rich abundance of outdoor opportunities!  Thanks for thinking of us and we will keep the great State of West Virginia top of mind for 09!  

Question: How Can I Get My Spouse to Go Hiking With Me?

Pretty pictures and promises of a trade might get unenthusiastic spouses out the door. First, never utter these phrases: 23-mile day, ramen stroganoff, experimental tarp system. Then, after a glass of wine, pull out the map and photos (touting moderate trails, waterfalls, romantic views), and a weather forecast that promises a good highlight-to-hardship ratio. Finally, offer to spend a weekend enjoying your partner’s favorite activity. That’s the advice after polling hikers at the 50 backpacking clinics they’ve conducted since March.

Question: I’m buying a new tent and I’m not sure whether I need a 3 or 4 season tent. I occasionally camp in the winter, but most of my trips happen in the summer. Submitted by Allison, Colorado

Anwswer: Most people really only need a 3 season tent unless you are planning on doing expedition type adventures where you will be encountering high winds, heavy snow or extreme weather. 4 season tents also typically weigh more as well – something to think about. Sheri and I recommend that you go for the 3 season tent!

Q. I’m interested in purchasing cold weather sleeping bags for my wife and myself. We’ll be using them for backcountry snowshoe and cross-country ski camping excursions. What is your advice regarding proper winter bag sizing?
Submitted by: Jacob

A. For winter camping, keep this in mind: when you wake up in the morning, everything that was wet at bedtime will be frozen solid when the sun comes up. So, I recommend going with a winter bag that has an extra 8-10 inches of room at the bottom. You’ll want to stow water bottles, boot liners, socks, and any other clothing that is damp down there. As for the girth, look for a bag that has a bit of wiggle room for any extra clothes that you might want to wear to bed. If the fit is too tight, you’ll be constricted and cold. A key feature in a winter bag is a good draft collar-an insulated tube or yoke around the neck that will prevent cold air from sneaking in and warm air from escaping. Also look for a draft tube that runs the length of the zipper-to keep cold air from sneaking in that way. When I’m winter camping, I always snuggle up with a hot water bottle. It quickly jump starts your internal heater at the end of a frigid day, plus you’ll have tepid water to guzzle first thing in the morning.