Hiking

[Pax]

That looks like a fantastic hike, so glad you managed to make it all the way. We did a poorly mapped hike in NM one time, it was supposed to be a 3 mile loop... that went on for 7. Adventure!

I had leg and foot cramps after walking for hours at a convention last summer, guess it's our bodies way of telling us we overdid it?

[Catrin]

3-7 miles is rather worse than 10-11! Yikes!

The cramping thing is quite new - at least to that degree. I had something similar a week ago after a 3 mile hike. As fatigued as my legs are today and the level of feet-tenderness it may well be more over-doing things than anything. I've been doing 6ish mile walks/hikes, that's rather different than 11...

[rebeccaC]

catrin....if thrombosis was mentioned you need to be really proactive and get help if a feeling of cramping continues to come up....
and yes...hoping it's the latter

saying this in a caring way!!!

[Pax]

Catrin - hope it's the simple issue. And I get "expensive", if I end up needing to replace my old boots in the spring, I'm looking at $150 easy. Miss the days of youth when I could (and did) hike in the Alps in adidas tennies since that was all we could afford (one shoe for anything remotely athletic).

[Catrin]

catrin....if thrombosis was mentioned you need to be really proactive and get help if a feeling of often cramping continues to happen.
and yes...hoping it's the latter

He didn't mention his specific concern and I didn't push because I didn't want to stress myself out before the test. I did spend 5 minutes on Dr. Google-Mayo to see what sort of things that test is used for and shut the browser down quickly...

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[Pax]

He didn't mention his specific concern and I didn't push because I didn't want to stress myself out before the test. I did spend 5 minutes on Dr. Google-Mayo to see what sort of things that test is used for and shut the browser down quickly...

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Very wise move. I would really enjoy some blissful ignorance with regard to my new knee joint.

[Catrin]

Very wise move. I would really enjoy some blissful ignorance with regard to my new knee joint.

Well, I've been there before Pax, most recently with my neck and shoulders. It did not do me any good at all, what I learned in those first 5-10 minutes was really all I NEEDED to know. The rest just gives hooks for anxiety to play with. This HAS gone on, rarely, but periodically for years so I'm hoping for the simple answer. Either it's something, or it's not. Hopefully nothing that a new pair of hiking boots won't help

It was a fun hike though. Fortunately

[Catrin]

Glad there were no dogs! Sadly it's much too wet around here for hiking right now. Crossing my fingers for this weekend.

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[emily_in_nc]

We have been taking some gorgeous hikes in the national forests in the south (Alabama, Mississippi...). Unfortunately, it seems to be a terrible year for ticks and chiggers. I did a very short blog post today on our hikes:

http://travelingtwosome.weebly.com/t...ing-the-trails

Longest has been 9 miles, and that was a doozy since it was quite hilly, but gorgeous! Others have been in the 3-7 mile range. It's been fun getting back to hiking, but with the bugs, we probably won't do too much more until fall. It's been quite cool, even for the south, but the heat and humidity are supposed to fire up this week; and I suspect, after this, summer will be here with a vengeance. It's certainly taken it's time arriving!

[Catrin]

Sounds wonderful Emily! Sadly we've had rain for 16 of the last 19 days. While that may be good for the flowers it isn't good for hiking on dirt trails. Crossing my fingers I can finally hike next weekend! I am finding other opportunities for walking such as parking a mile or 2 from work and walking but it just isn't the same.

My longest dirt hike this year has been 5 miles and I've a goal of 150 miles this year, feet and knee allowing.

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[emily_in_nc]

Bummer, Catrin, that's a lot of rain!

We have been really lucky in the past month we've been traveling (from NC to SC and across GA, AL, MS, and now Arkansas): we seem to be dodging nearly all the rain that's been sweeping across the south here and there. Other than one soggy overnight, we've only had a few isolated showers in the past month that I can recall, and none at all while driving! So that's been nice. I hate hiking when it's muddy out.

We did another beautiful nine-miler today because it's actually been cooler and lower humidity than usual, and this trail was much better for bugs than what we encountered in Alabama and Mississippi; it was more of a mountain-type trail with lots of rocks and roots. No flies! And we got a cooler, gray day with temp only 71 at 1pm, when we got back. Sweet! That just doesn't happen in May in the south.

Looks like we may not be so lucky with the rain later in the week, but we can't complain. Oh -- I have gotten out on the Jamis a couple of times lately, and she's still a blast to ride! Hoping to take her out again on an unpaved forest road we found near our current campground in the next couple of days.

[Catrin]

Updating my review of the Merrell Moab Ventilator hiking shoes I purchased for very light hiking + pavement walking. I am VERY happy that I bought them from REI because they go back as soon as my foot heals.

I've been wearing them for pavement walking - and on my earlier post I mentioned that they were a larger size than usual for me. My normal athletic shoes are 10, these were 10.5. Apparently they are still too small, or at least the heel is too narrow on my larger foot (I've a wide toe-box + narrow heels.) The Salomon's I was considering at the same time was an 8.5 though I might go for a size 9 - but their sizes do run large.

It's really my own fault. I noticed a new callus on the side of my foot last night below my ankle, and without thinking I got my little electric tool and sanded that puppy right off. I then parked about 1.25 miles away from work this morning and walked to work. Now, that area WAS already sore, but I didn't notice anything when removing the callus. Today when I got to the office? HUGE blister right where the callus had been. Could hardly walk around the office and I called UBER to get me to my car after work. I've since tried to pop the blister but don't think I was successful.

So the Moabs go back to REI and I will exchange for something else, probably the Salomon's if they fit properly. I'm never sure if light hikers should have room for some movement in the heel or if they should be snug (low profile), obviously these were TOO snug. I suppose I could try on the size 11.... Anyway, the Moabs felt really good at first so if you do buy a pair do pay close attention to the heel. Either they were just too small for me, which is possible, or their heels are just very narrow. I've quite narrow heels so that says something.

[Crankin]

I also have a narrow heel and wide toe box, plus tiny feet. My light hikers (Merrells) were purchased in 2002 in Boulder, when my son was going on college visits. They don't fit right, but I can't say what exactly it is. I can't bring myself to wear my big Lowa hiking boots when I am doing the local trails, especially in warmer weather, but I am not inclined to start a search for new light hikers. I know they are 15+ years old, but they have not been worn that often until recently.The trail runners I bought last fall aren't that great, either. They feel tight. Only my regular running shoes and hiking boots feel perfect.
I think that you could make a job out of finding shoes that fit.

[Catrin]

I also have a narrow heel and wide toe box, plus tiny feet. My light hikers (Merrells) were purchased in 2002 in Boulder, when my son was going on college visits. They don't fit right, but I can't say what exactly it is. I can't bring myself to wear my big Lowa hiking boots when I am doing the local trails, especially in warmer weather, but I am not inclined to start a search for new light hikers. I know they are 15+ years old, but they have not been worn that often until recently.The trail runners I bought last fall aren't that great, either. They feel tight. Only my regular running shoes and hiking boots feel perfect.
I think that you could make a job out of finding shoes that fit.

Yep! I just spent close to a month shopping for work/church shoes and only succeeded at the Walking Company. I love my Solomon's backpacking boots for dirt trails, but they are far too much for gravel and pavement and I certainly cannot drive in them. It was a very close call between the Merrills and Solomon's light hikers, so I will give the latter another try. If I think they will work, or something else, at least I will just have to pay the (small) difference. I wear anything from an 8.5-11 depending on who makes the shoe! I had originally kicked myself a bit for paying a little more at REI but I am now very thankful that I did!

With my other broken bits, from my neck on down, I really need a perfect fit for shoes. I'm thankful I can save up for them, can't imagine what it would be like to try and be active without proper fitting tech footwear <shiver>

[OakLeaf]

I think that you could make a job out of finding shoes that fit.

I was at my chiropractor's the other day talking about my shoe fit issues, and the personal trainer whose studio is across the hall overheard and handed me her daughter's card, who does just that.

Don't know anything else about her business or credentials, but I might contact her just on the off chance she's seen shoes I haven't (doubtful).