Hiking The Appalachian Trail, or parts of it

<p>Sounds like you practically already live in the wilderness, Idad. You have a very ambitious summer planned.</p>

<p>cosmicfish, I know it all comes down to conditioning, or at least I suspect it does, and I am not anywhere near ready for the Idad life, or for the stuff you guys are talking about. I don’t plan to do anything overly ambitious until next spring. By then, I’ll either be in good enough condition, or I will have had some really nice day hikes and [maybe] camping trips.</p>

<p>I love hearing what everyone is doing, though. You guys are very inspirational.</p>

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<p>I started out in North Face trail running shoes, but I was just tearing them to shreds on the rocky trails around here – and coming home with bruises on my ankles from banging them against rocks and stuff. I think trail runner shoes would be fine for most hiking terrain, but around here I’ve gone to more heavy duty stuff. I have a pair of [low-cut</a> hikers](<a href=“http://cdni.llbean.com/is/image/wim/241608_31089_41]low-cut”>http://cdni.llbean.com/is/image/wim/241608_31089_41), but substantial like hiking boots, just low cut. Then, I’ve got a pair of [old-school</a> leather mid-height hiking boots](<a href=“http://cdni.llbean.com/is/image/wim/156660_1_41]old-school”>http://cdni.llbean.com/is/image/wim/156660_1_41) that I wear most often. They are totally scraped top to bottom from banging along the rocks. Surprisingly, they were comfortable from the first outing.</p>

<p>Around here, the [url=<a href=“http://i.stpost.com/keen-targhee-ii-hiking-shoes-waterproof-for-women-in-olive~p~1690n_44~1500.3.jpg]Keens[/url”>http://i.stpost.com/keen-targhee-ii-hiking-shoes-waterproof-for-women-in-olive~p~1690n_44~1500.3.jpg]Keens[/url</a>] and Merrill style shoes seem really popular. They are basically built like trail runners, but just a bit more rugged. They are also available in [url=<a href=“http://www.rei.com/media/uu/ba6e7757-c081-4c6a-ab46-8a551a47ea01.jpg]mid-height[/url”>http://www.rei.com/media/uu/ba6e7757-c081-4c6a-ab46-8a551a47ea01.jpg]mid-height[/url</a>].</p>

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<p>Hah. Not hardly. I’m barely a “hiker” by NH standards. Weather permitting, I try to get out for a day hike once every week or ten days. But, I’m a fair weather hiker and I’m slow, slow, slow. I went on my first hike in the mountains in 40 years last July. I picked a hike that was touted as an easy “family hike” with good views for “modest” effort. I was completely gobsmacked by how hard it was. The “mountain” part was a real shock compared to the casual walks I’d been doing for a year or so around relatively flat state parks.</p>

<p>I think it’s really fantastic for geezer fitness. Challenging physically, pretty low injury potential, and terrific to get outdoors.</p>

<p>interesteddad - another option is to use the Cog Railway one direction. I would hike up to Lakes on day 1, day 2 - hike to the summit & take Cog down. I prefer this direction, as I’m a scrambler going up and an old woman coming down the mountain. Some people have a preference. </p>

<p>Greenleaf is an easy hut to get to using the Old Bridal Trail. From memory, it’s 3.5 miles from the parking lot/trail head and a fairly gentle trail by White Mountain standards - all below the tree line. Book it for 2 nights and spend the full day you are there hiking up to the ridge and as far along the ridge you want, then back to the hut. </p>

<p>As I mentioned earlier, I believe the Greenlead to Galehead traverse is the hardest. I’ve met seasoned hikers that spend 12 hours making the trip. Some might argue Lakes to Madison is worse. Both are on exposed ridges the entire trip, so weather is a big consideration. A few years ago I was caught in a bad thunderstorm heading from Galehead to Zealand. Luckily we were just below the tree line and were able to crouch under very small trees until it passed. </p>

<p>Happy Hiking. The Huts are great and well worth the money.</p>

<p>PS - do you use hiking poles? once you hit 40, they are a necessity to ease the pressure on the knees.</p>

<p>Ah, the names of the huts bring back memories of hiking in the White Mts back in my college days. When I was young & stupid, some friends & I started climbing Mt Washington at 9pm. It was a full moon & we made it from Pinkham Notch up to the base of Tuckerman Ravine by midnight, where we stopped at a shelter for the night. The next morning we continued up the ravine in a dense fog, lost our bearings & detoured close to Lake of the Clouds before correcting our error. We finally made it to the summit, sat down in the restaurant to a cup of hot chocolate, and watched the mountain rescue crews bring in a couple of hypothermic hikers that they had plucked off the mountain. It suddenly occurred to me that the rescued hikers could just as easily have been my friends & me. It was 40 degrees with poor visibility & rain at the summit while it was 70 degrees in the valley.</p>

<p>I have climbed Mt. Washington several times since then, but always with a healthy respect for the weather & the moods of the mountain.</p>

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<p>I’m not sure I can even make it up the Ammo Ravine Trail to the Lakes of the Clouds Hut. I’ve only hiked one 4000 footer so far. I’m planning day hikes up to Mt. Jackson and Mt. Pierce. If those go well, I’ll do a day hike up to Lake of the Clouds/Monroe and back. I’m trying to build up my agility and endurance slowly and not end up biting off more than I can chew and getting in trouble. I’d rather be cautious. Even after one summer (and winter) of hiking, I feel a lot more confident on the steeper terrain. I’ve also learned some of the tricks for pacing.</p>

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<p>My next step in that area is to make it to the summit of Little Haystack at the south end of that ridge up the Falling Waters Trail. I made it about two-thirds of the way, but had spent so much time enjoying the succession of breathtaking falls on that trail that I hit my “turn around” time. I like to be back to the car with a couple of hours of cushion before nightfall on those trails. That’s probably my next challenge once the snow and ice melts.</p>

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<p>Yes. Some grizzled ol’ geezer hiker I talked to on my very first hike pointed out that I was fool to be hiking without them. I corrected that oversight right away. I also got a backpack with a water bladder to constantly drink. And, real hiking boots. The poles make a HUGE difference, especially on the downhill.</p>

<p>“Heard there was a teleportation portal somewhere on the Appalachian Trail that takes you to Buenos Aires, Argentina.”</p>

<p>hahahaha I was mad at him for giving hikers a bad name. What a loser. Looks like he’s forgiven tho…</p>

<p>I’ve done Falling Waters to & from Greenleaf and it’s a MUCH tougher trail than the Old Bridle Trail. You should be able to do Old Bridle to Greenleaf in 5-6 hours, then spend the night in the hut. Day 2, hike to Mt Lafayette for amazing view of Pemigewasett Wilderness. Hike along ridge to your turnaround time, then back to the hut. </p>

<p>I’ve spent several night in Greenleaf and there are many kids, so you can do it!</p>

<p>Don’t underestimate how difficult a day hike to Lakes then Monroe and back. That is a very challenging hike. </p>

<p>re: hiking the Whites in the dark. Always amazed the Hut Croos carry out their raids at night and run between the huts. (supposedly full moons with good weather are guaranteed nights for raids).</p>

<p>See, 12, those are the kinds of things I “just know” my oldest daughter does. We are on a don’t ask don’t tell until you get home policy these days when it comes to her adventures. :eek:</p>

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<p>I actually think I could do round trip to Greenleaf hut in 6 hours. It’s 2.9 miles and 2450 feet of elevation gain. I might do that as a day hike sometime soon.</p>

<p>Falling Waters trail all the way to the ridge is 3.2 miles and 3050 feet of elevation. Doing that as a round trip day hike is probably right at my limits right now and would be a very long day. On the other hand, it’s my best bang for the buck in terms of actually reaching the ridge on a day hike. Going the other direction requires a stay in the Greenleaf hut as it’s over 4 miles to the top of Lafayette.</p>

<p>Ammonusic Ravine Trail is just over 3 miles and 2500 feet of elevation gain to the Lake of the Clouds Hut, but it sounds like the lions share of the elevation is in a steep second half. </p>

<p>The thing about all of these hikes for me is that I can set a turn around time, throw in the towel, and still have enjoyed some spectacular hiking. I didn’t feel cheated in the least turning around on the Falling Waters Trail after seeing all the falls.</p>

<p>I’ve section hiked about 200 miles of it. I had the ambition to do the whole trail but life, work, family and such kept me from doing it. As I’ve gotten older (now 54) I’m not sure I want to put my body through that for 5 months or so. I still have climbing Mt. Rainier, and biking the Natchez Trace Scenic Roadway on my bucket list. Good luck.</p>

<p>If anyone is looking for a great deal on hiking boots, LL BEAN is having a 20% off sale on LLBEAN brand camping and hiking gear this weekend. Their LLBEAN branded packs, tents, sleeping bags, and so forth are fine quality, but you can buy other brands at comparable prices.</p>

<p>The same is not true for a couple of models of their hiking boots that are made by an Italian boot company, [AKU[/url</a>].</p>

<p>Unlike the ubiquitous Chinese footwear from most of the outdoor brands, these are European made hiking boots – some made in Italy, some in Romania.</p>

<p>The [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.llbean.com/llb/search/?freeText=goretex+hiking+boots&init=1&sort_field=Relevance#/llb/search/?freeText=goretex+cresta+hiker&init=1&sort_field=Relevance]Cresta”&gt;Search results for "goretex hiking boots" | L.L.Bean]Cresta</a> Hikers](<a href=“http://www.aku.it/us/prodotti.html]AKU[/url”>http://www.aku.it/us/prodotti.html) are made for day hiking and light trekking over rugged terrain. They aren’t super stiff like mountaineering or backpacking boots. Soft leather. Pretty much the ol’ school hiking boots of old. Comparable boots from Asola and Scarpa are typically $250 to $300. GoreTex with Vibram soles. Completely water proof. I’ve dunked them in a bucket of water and nothing gets inside. These things are awesome. At $152 for the leather/fabric version and $160 for the full leather version, this is a steal. And, they are available in wide widths, which is not easy to find. this is my standard hiking boot for NH trails and I see people wearing them all the time.</p>

<p>The [Mountain</a> Treads](<a href=“http://www.llbean.com/llb/search/?freeText=goretex+hiking+boots&init=1&sort_field=Relevance#/llb/search/?freeText=mountain+tread&init=1&sort_field=Relevance]Mountain”>http://www.llbean.com/llb/search/?freeText=goretex+hiking+boots&init=1&sort_field=Relevance#/llb/search/?freeText=mountain+tread&init=1&sort_field=Relevance) are low cut Italian made suede and fabric hikers intended for less rugged terrain or general all-purpose outdoor activity. These are a definite step up from trail running shoes, but great for walking on trails with roots and rocks and stuff, or as an all-purpose waterproof shoe for slushy nasty weather days. I wear these if I’m not going to be scrambling up crazy rocky trails. Non-intuitively, they seem to take a little more breaking in than the leather Cresta Hikers. At the sale price, they aren’t that much more expensive than the Chinese low cut hikers from Timberland and North Face and Keen and Merrill – but way more heavy duty.</p>

<p>Question about hiking boots, walking shoes and trail-running shoes: I was just looking at a site that said to fit your trail running shoes by putting them on, walking up stairs two at a time, and seeing if your heel moves in the shoe. If it does, the shoes don’t fit and you should try another pair.</p>

<p>I have never had any pair of shoes where my heel doesn’t move. This may explain why I will get blisters if I walk a quarter of a mile in new shoes, and after a couple of miles my feet will be raw and bleeding. But where would I find these magic shoes that don’t move on my feet? Suggested brands?</p>

<p>I always used to get blisters in new shoes. But then one year my youngest got a blister from some kangaroo cleats she was wearing during a stretch of two a days, and the trainer put this blister bandage on it and I had an aha moment. I use the blister bandages with new shoes before I blister. All shoes move on my heels because I walk heel to toe.</p>

<p><a href=“http://about.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php/topcat_id=16/form_keyword=2nd%2Bskin%2Bblister%2Bpad/rd=1/rd_type=P[/url]”>http://about.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php/topcat_id=16/form_keyword=2nd%2Bskin%2Bblister%2Bpad/rd=1/rd_type=P&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Great deals, I dad, thanks for the heads up.</p>

<p>I like your style, especially your attitude with the day hikes and the turnaround times. Makes so much sense. Just relax, enjoy the ride and turn around at the right time. no stress.</p>

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<p>I don’t usually have a heel slipping problem, but I have trouble finding shoes/boots wide enough. I think I have size 10 feet with size 8 toes. Even in EE width, I’ve usually got to go up a size (too long) to get enough width that I’m not getting crushed across the forefoot. I finally got a Brooks 4E width that is perfect and I’ve pretty much stopped even looking at shoes/boots that don’t come in a Wide width.</p>

<p>I use SuperFeet insoles. They tend to lock the heel into place pretty well.</p>

<p>The bigger concern with hiking boots/shoes is to not get them too small. First, they often get worn with thick socks and often with a wicking sock liner (to prevent blisters). Second, feet swell after a long day hiking. And, third, too small means your toes will get destroyed slamming into the front of the shoe going downhill.</p>

<p>The thing I really like about the Bean Cresta Hikers (and other similar boots) is that they lock the laces at the hinge point. So you can independently tightened the laces across the forefoot and the laces around the ankle.</p>

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<p>Well, I wouldn’t say no stress. The trails where turning around becomes an issue are a real physical workout. But, you know when it gets dark and you know when you started, so it’s pretty easy to figure out when you need to turn around to get back to the car – plus or minus. The closest I’ve come was arriving back at the car right at sunset on a December hike on Mt. Monadnock, when sunset was at 5 pm. The return loop on that hike was pretty easy hiking and it was still light after sunset on a clear day, but that’s as close as I want to cut it. I would want to allow more cushion on hikes in the White Mountains.</p>

<p>Honestly, taking up hiking at my age, what’s the hurry? I’m only doing it to get some exercise and enjoy some pretty outdoor scenery. It would be kind of stupid to hike according to my capabilities. If I get home and say, “gee, that hike was too easy”, I can always pencil in a harder one for next time. Plus, not every hike needs to be for a world record!</p>