Montana Jones

Shoes

Ever have one of those self awareness moments where you suddenly realized you were doing something you did not know you were doing? I recently caught myself stumbling over this pile of crap in my living room. I have to laugh at myself for stumbling over some crap again and again and not doing anything about it. I'm going to file that one under 'things a bachelor can get away with.' The part that really caught me off guard was that this pile of crap was all shoes.

Who the hell lives here? Imelda Marcos?

The reason that all these shoes are in a pile in my living room is because I have worn them all recently. It's not like I have a closet full of high heel, open toe fashion accessories waiting to be worn once and put aside. I freakin' use all these. Is that weird? Is it unmanly? Are there people that can get by with only a couple pairs of shoes? I dunno.

1. The new running shoes. Not too many miles on them yet. Used most recently for playing racquetball.
2. The old hiking boots. The sole is worn, the waterproofing is shot, the stitching is breaking apart, the lining is torn and ratty. But much loved and have carried me many a weary mile. I am now trying to figure out where old boots go when they die.
3. The new Christmas gift shoes. Comfy and easy to slip in and out of. An easy shoe for wintry weather.
4. Converse all stars. Cool, hip, fashionable, and fairly new. Perhaps these should be in the closet. I probably won't be wearing them again until the weather warms up and dries out.
5. The old running shoes. These dudes carried me through the Seattle Marathon several years ago. They are now my everyday sneaker.
6. I pulled these sneakers out of the closet to make some winter skydives. Boots with hooks for the laces are a poor safety choice and I needed something heavier and warmer than a running shoe for landing in the snow.
7. The new boots. Brand spanking new hikers. I just spent the better part of a week waterproofing them and sealing the seams. They went for the first walk across town the other day. I can only hope they will carry me as far as the old hiking boots did.

I just made a cursory glance at my closet, only five more pairs of shoes in there. Dress shoes, sandals, field cleats, worn out trail runners and some sneakers that never did fit right.

Ladies, for the record, if you have in your closet a pair of high heel, black leather, calf high boots that you almost never wear but they go oh-so-well with that one skirt… That is okay with me. I understand. I was window shopping the other day and saw a pair of cowboy boots and thought to myself "Oooh!" Is that bad?

Labels: boots, closet, crap, hiking, photo, running, shoes

Pre Hike Checklist

Clothing to wear:

• Base layer socks
• Sturdy hiking socks
• Underpants
• Shorts
• Synthetic, wicking fabric shirt
• Denim or flannel shirt
• Boots
• Bandana
• Hat

Clothing to pack:

• Long pants
• Cotton tee shirt (or two)
• Fleece or warm jacket
• Waterproof jacket
• Extra socks
• Extra underpants on multiple night adventures.
• Gloves. (Type dependant on season and work to be done.)
• Spare bandana

Gear to pack:

• First aid kit
• Sports tape
• Flashlight
• Bug dope
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss
• Water bottles
• Food

Utility Belt:

• Bear spray
• Camera
• Binoculars
• Spare battery
• Leatherman

Tools:
(depending on the work to be done)

• N100 dust mask. (Hantavirus protection)
• Keys
• Phone
• Radio
• Screwdrivers
• Voltmeter
• Notebook & pencil

Labels: boots, camera, checklist, clothes, gear, hike, hiking, list, lists, pack, tools, trail, work

Holy crap do my feet hurt

Makes me wonder if my boots are really all that good.

Makes me wonder if it is the mileage or the elevation gain.

Makes me wonder if I am getting too old for this long dusty trail shit.

Makes me wonder what all of this summers hikes will do to me.

Reminds me that I get to do a heckuvalota hiking in the summer.

Makes me grateful for my blessings and eager for the next time my feet hurt.

Labels: age, boots, grateful, hike, hiking, hurt, summer