California Desert Panorama

I took this shot after hiking south of Mission Creek in section C of the Pacific Crest Trail.  I love the desert areas of southern California, and was enamored by the great views of San Gorgonio Peak and Mt. San Jacinto.  Have a great weekend out there everyone, and take pictures!

Desert Panorama - Click Image for Larger View

Video of Miller Fire on CDT in New Mexico

The Forest Service shot this video from a helicopter of the Miller Fire that is burning near the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico.  Apparently, the fire has been going on for a few weeks, and now over 300 personnel are fighting the fire.  A new fire, called the Sheep Fire also broke out north of Silver City, but appears to be small.  Northbound CDT hikers are being directed to go around the fire.

Gear Review: La Sportiva Wildcat Mountain Running Shoe

La Sportiva Wildcat Shoe

I walked into the Nantahala Outdoor Center’s (NOC) Outfitter on March 16th just after closing time.  My 2007 Montrail Hardrocks were falling apart after a mere 70-miles of hiking on the Appalachian Trail, and I needed another pair of shoes to continue hiking north.  The salesman, a previous Appalachian thru-hiker named Alpine, told me that he’d take care of me.  Thank God.

My hiking partner, Found (PCT ‘06, CDT ‘10) had a pair of green La Sportiva Wildcat mountain running shoes, which he highly recommended, saying that they are now the new standard for long-distance backpacking.  I noticed that Alpine also had a yellow pair.  The gear shop sold a red-colored pair of Wildcats for $99, so I asked to try them on.
  

I tried on my usual size 9, which Alpine thought was a half size too small for my foot - I agreed.  Then I tried on a shoe a half size larger, which allowed for more room in the toe box. After ambling up and down a small, portable ramp, I found the right fit, and bought them.  I thanked Alpine for staying 15-minutes after closing time, and walked out with my new shoes.

The Wildcats were super comfortable.  Unlike the rigid Hardrocks, which have a rock plate in the sole, the Wildcat’s Frixion soles had give to them, and felt gummy.  My feet liked this feeling.

Out on the trail, the soles gripped the AT’s tread of angled rocks and wood steps.  I felt confident with each step, and rarely did I ever slip on these surfaces, even when it was wet outside.  Muddy conditions were the “achilles heel” of this shoe, as I slipped and slid on ascents and descents.  However, I  think mud on the AT would cause most trail running shoes to do the same thing.

650-Miles of Wear on these Shoes!

I also found the Wildcats to be very breathable.  For the uppers, the shoe uses a lightweight mesh and thin inner liner, and in wet conditions, the shoe drained well, and dried out quickly.  I hiked a 350-mile stretch through the driest parts of the Pacific Crest Trail, and my feet never felt stifled by heat in the Wildcats.  They were perfect for the PCT!

I liked the lace harness on the Wildcats.  The shoes I purchased were roomy for my feet, but I felt that my feet were locked down in place due to the lacing.  Finally, I don’t know what La Sportiva did with the laces, but they never came undone on me on the trail.

Mesh Tearing from Sole

Alpine told me that I’d get about 450-miles out of the Wildcats, and he was right.  After hiking from Walker Pass to Highway 58 on the PCT in California, I noticed that the mesh was tearing apart from the sole on the right foot.  Then after hiking another 50-miles into the Antelope Valley, the mesh and inner lining on the Wildcats continued to tear away.   However, the soles had so much life to them that I continued to hike in them anyway, and I added another 200-miles to Alpine’s 450-mile prediction.

I highly recommend La Sportiva’s Wildcats for long-distance backpacking, especially if one is going ultralight.  The soles are grippy and durable, the uppers are breathable, and the shoe is designed for the comfort of feet.  Even though they started to wear out after 450-miles, one can get extra miles out of them.  I believe in these shoes so much that I’ve already purchased another pair.  This time they are green!

Fire on the PCT - Alcohol Stove Safety

I shot this video last Thanksgiving at the Mosley Manor up in Milwaukie, Oregon.  I focused on being careful with fire on the Pacific Crest Trail, especially in light of the fact that there have been three fires in the last five years started by hikers who mishandled their alcohol stoves.  I presented this video at the ADZPCTKO Video Shorts Festival.  So, this is for all you hikers out there who missed the Kickoff.  Enjoy!

FIve Questions With Uncle Johnny

Back in March, I had the opportunity to sit down, and have a conversation with Uncle Johnny about his hostel right off the Appalachian Trail near Erwin, Tennessee.  I stayed at his hostel back in the early days when I used to attend the National Storytelling Festival, and I remember a time when he had plenty of room to pitch a tent on the lawn.  That lawn is now covered with cabins, as he has expanded his operations significantly.  I am happy for his prosperity.

I thought it would be great to get him on video, talking about the past, and his interaction with hikers.  Say what you want about Uncle Johnny and his strong personality, but he is an icon of the trail, and many hikers have been grateful for his services.  I know I have.

Well... here's the video, "Five Questions With Uncle Johnny."  Enjoy!

ADZPCTKO Presentations Over the Years

I love the Kickoff.  For seven years I have been involved with it as the Presentation Coordinator, and this recent event was my last in that position.  Yep, it's time to move on, and let someone else take over the reins.  I believe that one way for organizations to experience healthy growth is that they experience change, and thus my stepping down.

As the Presentation Coordinator, I have introduced many presenters to hikers in the Lake Morena pavilion, and I thought I'd list my favorite presentations from over the years.  So here it goes.

Winston Vickers

1. Mountain Lions and Their Safety - Usually when I announced the presentation, everyone asked, "What about my safety?"  Wilderness veterinarian Winston Vickers has traveled to the Kickoff from UC-Davis three times to talk to hikers about mountain lions and the habitat that we hikers enter every time we explore the wilderness.  The reality is that humans continue to encroach on their habitat, and thus endanger these beautiful cats.  True, we also are risk entering their habitat, but attending Winston's presentation always helped me better understand mountain lions, and how to deal with them should I encounter one.  Finally, if there is one thing that was apparent from Winston's presentations, it is his passion.  He loves these animals, and he wants us hikers to have a better knowledge and appreciations for them.  I hope Winston comes back in the future.



Paul Hacker and Greg Hummel

2. Geology of the PCT - Greg "Strider" Hummel and Paul "Nohawk" Hacker both hiked the PCT in 1977, and are professional Geologists.  Their presentation on geology always fascinated me, so I attended everyone that they did just to see if I could scrape another nugget of information on the subject.  The Pacific Crest Trail runs across and along some of the world's most vibrant geological areas.  Consider that it crosses the San Andreas (and other faults!) several times, and it contours the Cascades' volcanos from northern California up to the Washington-Canadian border.  As Strider always says in his presentation, "Every rock is on a journey," and many of us hikers interact intimately with their journey as we traipse along the PCT.



1959 Thru-Ride

3. Pioneering Women of the PCT - Barney "Scout" and Sandy "Frodo" Mann led this presentation in 2010, and it featured June Mulford, who along with her husband Don, thru-rode the PCT on horseback in 1959.  The presentation also had Teddy Boston, the first woman to thru-hike the PCT in 1976, and Carolyn Burkhart, who finished the same year as Teddy.  June Mulford's story was unearthed that year, so many of us there were eager to hear more about her ride on the trail.  Teddy, of course, is at the Kickoff every year, and is always entertaining.  Carolyn talked about her hike and how it helped her deal with personal struggles in her life.   It was a most memorable presentation. 



Ken Murray

4. Mountaineering Skills - On a heavy snow year, this is perhaps the most important presentation at the Kickoff.  Ken Murray has done this presentation every year that I have been involved with the Kickoff, and he balances the serious nature of hiking the Sierras along with making it an enjoyable experience.  Ken has also demonstrated how to ford river crossings, using an ice axe, and how to make a self arrest - all in the rugged conditions of the pavilion!  Ned Tibbits of Mountain Education has also helped Ken over the years, lending his rich mountaineering experience to the discussion.  

5. Class of 2004 Photo Presentation - This is the class video that started a tradition that has endured to this day (Class of 2009 is the only one that has not been shown).  In 2005, Weathercarrot put together a photo presentation that set the bar high, and is now the standard by which all photo presentations are judged.  Panning in on dramatic images while mystical, ethereal music played in the background, he created the genre of video pleasure for eyes longing or eager to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Thank you Weathercarrot!

Those are my favorite presentations at the Kickoff from over the years.  I am sure that the Kickoff will continue to flourish by bringing in knowledgable, talented, and entertaining speakers for years to come.  In the future, I look forward to enjoying those presentations as a participant, and not as a coordinator.