still fuckin with climb cuz climb pays: the ILX hiking thread

Heel, always heel. I bought my last pair online (from a recommendation). I do have a half-decent shop nearby with a good fitting set-up; I'll go down there.

Thanks for the link, Andy - I should have said that I'm in the UK (hence walking in bogs and sludge half the year).

I have nothing but positive things to say about both my Salomon hiking shoes and winter boots. Been using only their products since about 2015, won't ever go back.

After trying a few brands I was a Salomon guy. But then I ordered a replacement pair of the X Ultras and had this sharp pain on the top of my foot. Felt like a piece of metal pressing against that big winding nerve that goes across top of foot. By chance I had another pair mistakenly sent to me, and those also had the same problem! Both pairs just the right foot.
So I've been going with other brands since. But saw a pair of Salomon on sale this black Friday and figured I'd give the brand another try. These are super comfy right out of the box. I'm going to give them a field test right now.

Have fun!

I have the X Ultra 3 boots for winter, and I must say, I've never had a boot take more long hikes to really break in. But I wore them during some backpacking in the Catskills in early October, and they were just a fucking dream— warm, dry, and very grippy.

I like the 90's Asolo 520 so much that I hunt down NOS pairs on eBay... but alas my feet have somehow gotten larger recently (settling with age?) and I have to use stretchers to make them fit... itself a cool process.

I've got my eye on either a pair of Lowa Renegades or Inov8 Roclite 345s but I'm not entirely sure...

I have a pair of Lowa Renegade GTXs that I like quite a bit. Caveat is that they are the only serious hiking boots I've purchased so I don't have experience with other brands to compare. That being said, they are quite comfortable and, despite the bulky appearance, are deceptively light. I had no blisters (I wear Darn Tough socks). Re: waterproofing - last year I hiked in 2-3 hours of absolute downpour through plenty of puddles and small streams they got slightly damp, but afaict, that was more water getting through the top as my pants became soaked rather than water getting through the sole/seams.

Waterproofing of all my shoes wears off before the shoes themselves need to be replaced. And I go thru a pair about every 6 months due to hiking 400ish miles in rough terrain.

I've done a bunch more reading and it's down to the Lowa Renegades and the Salomon GTXs - the ringing endorsements of both on here are just what I needed. I'll go try both on and see.

God, I need a long walk.

went for a real nice hike this weekend. camped up in an alpine meadow with a pal and then tagged north truchas, which has been on my list for a few years now. feels good man

good to see you coming up for air here on ilx!

thanks! hadn't realized that it'd been so long

been a long 1.5 years

I walked myself into the ground during August. Highlight was a two day walk up in the Brecon Beacons. The second day was lit by the most beautiful sunshine. I'm still feeding off it.

And the Lowa Renegades are by far the best boots I've ever had. Magnificent.

Excellent!

Only a few hikes this summer— some shorter bits in May in the southern Appalachians of Pennsylvania, and then I spent a week on an island in Maine, much of which was spent hiking around, looking at views of the ocean, and gathering mushrooms.

Did my 1st 14er last month. Handies Peak. Felt really low energy at the start, told myself I'll just make it to 12000 ft and turn back. But once I got further along I had more energy. Was pretty clear weather until I got near the top. Was nervous about lightning but didn't see any in the distance so kept going. Was greeted with a snow flurry at the peak! Didn't spend much time up there due to the wind and cold, but literally as soon as I got off the highest bit it cleared back up. Anyway, so glad I didn't give up!

nice! those altitudes are no joke. n truchas is juuuuuuust barely a 13er and whenever i get above, like 10k, i can start to hear the 'beeeeoooooooooooop' power down sound playing

When I said 'up' in the Beacons, these are barely hills compared to the heights you guys are talking about! Envious.

Indulgent, but a couple of photos - first is back towards Cribyn from Pen y Fan; second from Table Mountain:

https://i.imgur.com/5KYinld.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/NjttXSB.jpg

Aww they're chillin

https://imgur.com/a/jAhVImo

This dude had no fear! Approached me rather than vice versa.

Confident little fella! Is he a groundhog?

marmot! (from the looks of things)

Yep

I've seen marmots literally every time I've been above treeline in Colorado
There was a similar creature up there but smaller. Like a prairie dog but I don't think they go up that high.

This guy
https://imgur.com/a/X2XVEWb

mmm pika? not quite chubby/cute enough

Right exactly. I'd feel dumb if it's just a young marmot but the face doesn't seem marmoty. I'm going with alpinist antisocial prairie dog.

This guy

I've seen those in alpine meadows by the double handful. I think they are classified as a kind of ground squirrel.

Interesting, thanks A!

https://i.imgur.com/jeLWPGi.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/KbxTG6D.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qYp7ffw.jpg

met a guy

Beautiful. Where is that?

new mexico

Nice. That's Truchas?
Going to Santa Fe in 3 weeks but with my gf so if there's any hiking it will be minimal :(

Yeah, that cairn marks the top of truchas.

check out atalaya when you're in SF! basically right in town, doesn't go up super high, nice views of the area. bit steep

Cool thanks, I'll see if I can make that happen. I'm thinking tram ride up to Sandia Crest by ABQ may be more her speed. Have you done that?

Tram is good for sure

thinking about hiking down bright angel and back up kaibab in one day at the grand canyon. anyone have experience doing that? they have signs telling you not to do it but a lot of people do anyway. im currently in moderate shape and am a little worried about it tbh. we're kinda tagging along with a group of friends. i really want to do it but would MUCH rather spend a night or two at the bottom before coming back up, wondering if its worth the day trip or if i should wait to do it the way i want.

I've hiked in GC many times but have yet to make it to the bottom, let alone back up in same day.
With that caveat, I'm confident I could go down one of those trails and back up same day, but it'd be a tough climb back up. (I hike around 800 miles per year, mostly in AZ. I'd say I'm in better than moderate shape, hiking wise) But making that loop adds a significant amount of miles. Hiking Project lists the loop at 21.6 miles. That's 5 miles longer than the longest day hike I've ever done. And that didn't involve a 5000 ft relatively steep, unrelenting climb up.
If you do it, do it in the Fall or early Spring.

I would wait to do it how you want. Doing that loop as a day hike is more a test of masochistic will than a fun adventure.

I agree with GD. That's well past the scope of "moderate shape" and deep into the realm of heroic exertions.

yah thats where im leaning. appreciate it.

Agreed with others on this thread— I've done some hiking in those types of conditions, and it is brutal.

spottie, i did that hike in the opposite direction (down south kaibab, up bright angel) in october a few years ago, but we took a pretty leisurely one day down and a day and a half up with a side hike to plateau point on the second evening. a lot of south kaibab is effectively stairs, and my knees didn't feel great after all those steps down with a heavy pack, so i was glad i didn't have to immediately go back up. there were plenty of people who looked like they were making the kaibab round trip in a day, but it didn't seem like my idea of fun.

thanks, circles. lol soooo... i didnt end up listening and ended up doing the hike last weekend with my 12 year old son! we ended up going down south kaibab and up bright angel like you, circles. camped outside the park friday night under the stars, got up at 430 am and started down kaibab at 530 am in the dark. 4 hours to the bottom and 6.5 hours back up. i felt great honestly but the last three miles, and in partic the last 1.5 miles, were extremely hard. my kid had no issues at all. the weather could not have been better. 35 degrees at start, 73 at the bottom and like 55 when we finished. lots of cloud cover too. whole thing was a life changing experience really. i dont have to tell you how beautiful the gc is, here's an image dump anyway.
https://i.imgur.com/IsIdPMX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Bn7Udyf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fsnaMnb.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XBQeCR1.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ZCibn6P.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/V43GXuL.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XBQeCR1.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WBeDhs8.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/PG74DXH.jpg

Sounds like a great time and the photos are amazing.

That looks like an epic and excellent day. Kudos to you both. The GC is the best. Got to raft the upper half a few years ago and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

nice! glad it went well for you and your son. it was basically cloudless when i went, but with similarly good temperatures.

amazing pics. bucket list for sure

Nicely done, Spottie!
Was just realizing this is 1st year since I moved to AZ that I haven't been to GC. Might take a day off in Nov and do a hike there.