Dinosaur Valley part…more

So in my last post I managed to skip the main attraction of the whole park. Dinosaurs!!! Who doesn’t love to see dinosaur foot prints? The foot prints are conveniently marked throughout the park. Now I have to admit, half of the footprints didn’t look like footprints at all. They looked more like a hole in the ground. However, the other half where pretty cool looking.

On the way into the park, you can stop in and see some information on how the tracks were formed and what kind of dinosaurs roamed this area of Texas. They also have a few photo ops as well, such as…

(This guy was nice enough to stop killing and pose for me)

(I think this guy was in time out)

This was the first time I had ever seen real dinosaur tracks and it was kind of fun trying to find them down along the river. Until next time…

REI Spirit III Hiking Boots

I’ve been wearing the same pair of Scarpa Cadore hiking boots since 1996. They were the first pair of “real” hiking boots I could afford and were absolutely amazing. This past December the Gore-Tex lining finally gave up the ghost, and now they leak profusely. I would probably try to make them work, but in the last 10+ years, my feet have gotten larger and I’ve outgrown them. So sad. Unfortunately Scarpa no longer makes the Cadore, and their lasts have changed… Why Scarpa, why?

My first order of business in shopping for news boots was to find a pair that fit my size 13 Wide feet… easier said than done. Secondary to that I wanted a full-leather upper, Vibram Outsole, and a Gor-Tex (or equivalent) liner. I spend a lot of time hiking in and around creeks, so for me, waterproofing is a must. People that spend less time in the water can usually get by with a few treatments of Nikwax Aqueous Wax instead of a waterproof liner, but in my case I need maximum waterproofing. I’m personally willing to sacrifice a little bit of breath-ability for leak-proof boots.

Most of my local retailers don’t carry many options in my size, so I hit the web and was able to try out several different brands – Scarpa, Lowa, Asolo, Montrail, and Vasque before eventually settling on a pair of REI Spirit III Boots. Thanks to Zappos, REI, and Backcountry.com for their large inventories and fantastic return policies.

The REI Spirit III’s are actually made by Raichle, a Swiss company that has been making hiking boots since 1924. The Spirit III fits fairly wide through the ball or the foot, and about average in the heal area. They have a mild amount of arch built into the last, and include a typical thin insole. The toe box tapers slightly at the front, which is where I’m experiencing a small amount of toe rub. This hasn’t been a problem on shorter hikes, but longer hikes with a heavy pack could be a problem. We’ll see. With the addition of a supportive insole, and tight lacing I don’t get any heal slip, which is often an issue for me because of my wide forefoot and narrow heal. Here’s the specs: Full Leather Upper, Gore-Tex Liner, Rubber Toe Guards, Padded Ankle Collars, Vibram Sole, weight 3lbs. 10 oz.

These boots are comfortable right out of the box, with break in time being very quick on both of the pairs I’ve owned. Both pairs? Yes, that’s right, I’m on my second pair in only four months. The first pair lasted three hikes before one of the lace hooks snapped off the boot. Not cool. Fortunately REI has a phenomenal warranty on all their products, and the boots were replaced with no questions. The second pair has been problem free so far, but I’m keeping a close eye on the hooks. I’ve subjected these boots to several miles of rocky terrain, hours submerged in cold creek water, and general abuse that all hiking boots should be able to withstand. So far pair #2 has exceeded my expectations. While these boots aren’t a perfect fit for my foot, they are very close. I’ll report back on their long-term durability after I have more miles on them.

Here are a few good articles on finding the right boots.

Boot Fitting

Buying Guide

Is Green Gear Better?

I like outdoor gear… a lot. I like to research it, compare it, test it, talk about it… you get the idea. Right now there are countless new and innovative outdoor products, and it’s exciting to see that many of these new options weigh less, work better, and are more eco-friendly than previous versions.

I’m really excited to see outdoor gear companies researching and producing green alternatives that actually work. I embrace eco-friendly products and the companies that make them, but here’s the caveat, I’m not going to spend my hard earned money on a piece of gear if it isn’t completely functional and durable.

Last week I returned a brand new Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 tent that arrived at my house with three small holes in it. This particular tent is made with new DAC poles (eco-friendly anodizing process) and has an awesome list of features, not to mention it’s a 2008 Backpacker Magazine Editors’ Choice winner. I was drawn to the tent based on great specs, and the fact that Big Agnes is focusing on environmentally responsible products. I’m sure the faulty tent I received was a fluke, and despite being a bit apprehensive I’ll probably give Big Agnes another chance.

My point is this, with all the “green” marketing hype I hope that companies aren’t sacrificing quality for the sake of “going green”. The green concept is still very controversial, and many people see it as just another trend. For green products to be viewed as truly viable options, they need to be as good or better than their traditional counterparts.

Outside Magazine recently published a list of outdoor gear companies that are eco-friendly. You can read about them here.

Recycle Your Empty Fuel Canisters

 

Do you have hordes of empty fuel canisters taking up space in your garage or basement?  Are you wondering how to responsibly dispose of them?

 

 

I recently came across this short but very useful article in the February edition of Backpacker Magazine.  Check it out, it’s well worth the read.  Thanks Backpacker.