Taking Names

Ace and I are going to Glacier National Park in Montana next week, for 6 days of backcountry camping.  I haven't been "real" camping in forever and I am super excited. 

A couple weeks ago I bought us some Serious Backpacks and water bottles; this past weekend we filled in with a water filtration system, hiking socks and some safety equipment.  I went through a few online checklists, and most of them mentioned what may be obvious to you: hiking boots.

I had planned to just walk around in sneakers.  But I looked into it, and boots are designed to have good traction, to be waterproof, and to provide structural support for when you're carrying a heavy bag.  They also have a thick, stiff sole, so that your feet don't bend and wilt when you're walking over sharp rocks and branches.  Boots started to seem pretty smart.

But - I'm leaving on Saturday.  If I'm going to wear boots, I had better get them, stat, so I can start breaking them in!  I called Ace at work yesterday to say I was planning to skip Run Club in order to hit REI or the Sports Basement so I could get new boots in time to wear them all week (ingenious!).  He said he was wearing his as we spoke. 

I was sorry to miss Run Club, because I ran the PG&E trail Sunday, and huffed and puffed and walked a lot of it.  I'm not exactly in endurance hiking shape.  I need to find other opportunities to climb hills this week, and Run Club (the Monday route is the Stanford Dish) would have been a good one.  After my excuse for a run Sunday, I resolved to do something every day this week to build up my legs...I knew I'd have at least two opportunities to hit the gym.  My friend Aston responded to my plea of a couple of weeks ago for motivation, and we've now got a standing gym appointment on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  (I haven't forgotten you cyber-responders, I'm developing an exciting scheme we can do as a group!)  So that's at least two opportunities to beef up. 

Anyway, I went to REI first because it's near my house and time was a factor.  I tried on half a dozen shoes.  The guy in the shoe department was a little harried because there were about four different girls trying on hiking boots.  Hiking boots are a lot more expensive than I expected.  I thought, maybe $80 if they weren't on sale.  Try $180!  But I sucked it up and imagined prorating the cost over ten years and felt better.

I tried on soft ones and hard ones.  Hard seemed more sensible and durable, but because they're hard, they kind of dig into the front of my shin when I'm going uphill - I got a bruise from my stiff snow boot during my family's minimal hiking around in Yosemite at Christmas - that would really put a damper on a five day trip.  The soft ones are more comfortable, but I wondered about "ankle support."  The store guy said that "ankle support" is kind of a myth...the important thing is good traction.  If your footing is sure, that's what will keep you from twisting an ankle or falling over.  So I said, "if ankle support is overrated, why would I get these $180 soft hiking boots?  Why wouldn't I just wear my sneakers?"  He shrugged, and said, "that's what I do."

Nevertheless, I went through almost the entire selection, and was frustrated by many boots that didn't quite both fit and feel secure.  I read the REI flyer on how to select boots (very informative!) and it explained the difference between trail shoes, hiking boots, backpacking boots and mountaineering boots.  There actually are functional distinctions.  The last shoe on the display was this one. 

It looked super serious, almost like a ski boot, and I felt a little embarrassed to ask for them.  They were $199!  They weigh three and a half pounds.  They are, to quote Ace, "ass kicking boots."  The REI guy looked at me out of the corner of his eye and said, carefully, "Are you the person who's preparing for a four mile hike?"   

I said I was going to be backcountry camping in Glacier for a week and he softened.  "Oh!  Then these boots are very appropriate.  I get confused, there are so many people here." 

I tried 'em on - and they were...great!  They had everything I wanted.  They're leather, they're stiff, but they're comfortable - even the tongue is angled so I don't expect any shin bruising.  They even have arch support.  I bought 'em!  Them and an egg carrier.  I also joined REI, so that's like getting $20 off right there (membership also provides an excellent return policy) ...and generally had a great shopping experience.  The lady in front of me in the checkout line was very interested in my camping trip (said I'd love it), as was my checker.

But I got home and re-read the "All About Boots" flyer, and it said that backpacking boots generally require a break-in period...and leather boots in particular are likely to need breaking in.  I panicked - I leave in less than a week!

I decided wearing them to work would be insufficient, so you know what I did? 

I wore them throughout my workout with Aston this morning.  I ran around the track, I wore them on the stair climber, I set the treadmill to an incline of 14 and hiked away, I did lunges and box jumps and deadlifts.  And my boots were comfy the whole way through!  I am really pleased. 

Oh, you know what else I need to remember to pack?  Sports bras. 

Comments

[Wickedly Scarlett]

I think if Demi had been allowed a super cute purple backpack and water bottle, her life would have been much happier.

[Vaguely Urban]

I just ordered SIGG bottle today! I went for badass Swiss Army motif. I myself am only camping for four days and only have to pack my stuff 1/2 a mile. But will be equally grubby! Can't wait!

[africankelli]

Dude. You are hard core. How was the trip? Your gear is rad.