50 Hot Spots and Free 411 Search

Check out a preview of the 50 best adventures towns to live in the September issue of National Geographic! Some may surprise you..particularly the top spot.....

On another note - check out 1-800-GOOG-411. Google is now giving you local business phone search and free connectivity (where many services charge - particularly my cell phone carrier). They'll even send you the details in a text message! Goodbye 411 fees.....I hope.

Bears and snakes.....in New Jersey????

So we have been training for our Kalalau trip for some time now and since we are based in New Jersey, there isn't much opportunity for alot of "total ascent" in your day unless you get really creative.

We have found that the Delaware Water Gap park off of Route 80 affords us New Jerseyans the best chance at having a decent training day. So, every Saturday we set out on the Tammany Trail for an 11 mile loop that takes us by Sunfish Pond (a nice glacial lake) through some of the most "remote wilderness" New Jersey has. Total ascent over this loop is about 2000' in what usually takes around 6 hours (including lunch and breaks) so it does afford a decent workout.

One of the things that strikes us most about this hike is how much danger can be present on such a seemingly innocuous trail. Many people day hiking seem to be lulled into a false sense of security; many hiking with children and pets with no regard for the wildlife that surely surrounds them. Case in point:

Now we knew there were bears around the woods in these parts, however 2 weeks ago we happened upon a 400 lb black bear meandering right along the trail. We saw two teenagers down the trail closer to the bear than we were and they were not performing any type of the recommended bear avoidance tactics. They were quiet and watching him, instead of making some noise and backing up the trail and away. They were within 50 yards..to us this was frighteningly close. We called down to them(we were about 100 yards from bear central) and suggested they back up on the trail and make some noise in the process. They chose to not heed our advise and instead headed DOWN the trail once the bear moved a few yards into the woods. They were lucky..we waited for the still docile bruin to move further down towards the water. Once he dropped to the ground and started rolling around to scratch his back, we made a hasty retreat down the trail. People 1, Bear 0.

This past weekends hike brought with it a different breed of danger. If you keep your eyes open and make some noise then bears will probably avoid you or you'll see them before you run into trouble. However, we were not prepared for the Timber Rattlesnake (Yellow Variation) we encountered as we cruised around a sharp bend in the trail. If it were not for a signal from the guy coming towards us, we would have been on top of the well camouflaged snake before we saw it. It was about 4 feet long and was stretched end to end across the trail..happily making it's way to a partially shaded rock. Luckily instead of a medical emergency, this siting resulted in a nice opportunity to take some pictures of a rarely seen endangered species .

What close encounters have you all had and how did you get out of your predicament? Maybe your story will help others whether it's a week long trek through the Cascades or a day hike through the local forest.

That's all for now..the Peru report is still slow in coming. Kalalau is coming up in a few weeks and it would seem like we are all set. Final packing list to come!

Product Review: Asolo Men's TPS 520 GTX Boot

So for our little 4 day excursion into Peru's Lares Valley, I decided to get myself a serious pair of hiking boots. Even though we would only be carrying daypacks, I needed a boot that could support my weak ankles, propel me up steep trails to 14,000 feet and withstand some extreme scree surfing. After months of research I decided on the Asolo TPS 520 GTX.

At first glance these boots are as attractive as they are formidable. Full-grain leather uppers with superior ankle supports, Vibram insoles and dual density soles at a total weight of almost 3.5 lbs. Putting them on felt like slipping into a pair of old sneakers.

Break-in was done along the Appalachian Trail at High Point, NJ and Delaware Water Gap trails. While not always the steepest of trails, they are known to be rocky and can put some serious wear on the best of boots. There is a stiffness in the shank of these boots that does not go away with break-in. Which is great with highly technical trails with heavy loads but makes for less comfort on the typical backpacking route. I would also recommend that, if you plan on wearing thick socks or have anything but the narrowest of feed, to get the wide cut version. Asolo by design seems to cut their boots narrow with a low volume toe box so the extra width will add to your comfort. All told, between training with a heavy pack through the trip I logged about 200 miles in these boots. To date it the mileage is approaching 350.

After continuing to use these boots throughout training and the trip, I can say that these boot performed superbly. They stood up to harsh Andean conditions and showed little signs of wear after 40 hard fought miles. My feet stayed dry in stream crossings (no gaiters, but the streams did not come over the boots). Minor point but if you bang your toes on alot of things like I do, then it would ahve been nice to have a higher toe guard as the leather takes a beating on rocks.

Overall, I would highly recommend for advanced hikes with medium to heavy pack loads. However, I would go with a boot with a bit more forgiveness in the mid-sole for less challenging hikes or treks where you are only required to carry a daypack.


Pros

- Top quality construction
- Excellent ankle support
- Rugged dual density soles hold up on rocks
- Effective waterproofing
- Seriously stiff mid-sole

Cons

- Price (Retail $215)
- Stiff midsole may not be to everyones liking
- Difficult to size due to narrow cut (particularly when your local store does not carry them)

Final Thought: World class boot for advanced hikes with moderate to heavy packs