Showing posts with label Hiking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hiking. Show all posts

TIPS AND TRICKS: FOOT CARE FOR ADVENTURERS

Photo Courtesy: takealonghike.com

Take Care of Your Feet

There is no tool or equipment more essential to an adventurer than their feet. If your feet are not healthy, it rips the fun out of any adventure.

No matter the sport, if you hike, ski, swim, bike, surf, or anything else, your feet are essential to achieving your goals. 

When I was going through Army basic training at Ft. Benning GA and the first 20 mile road march was coming up, the Drill Sergeants gave us all plenty of good advice about preventing and managing blisters. They suggested keeping our feet clean and dry, wearing two pairs of socks, using mole skin on the hot spots, changing socks during the march, and finally (believe it or not) wear pantie hose. Yes, pantie hose.
Naturally, a bunch of testosterone-filled, infantry trainees were going to have no part of wearing pantie hose... till the second road march came along. As it turned out, pantie hose help considerably in preventing blisters and also improve circulation to the legs.

These days however, technology has much improved socks, boots, and other things that will help prevent blisters on your feet, but certain needs still must be addressed... like proper fitting footwear and keeping your feet clean and dry.

BMC out of the UK has a great article on their website about help with foot care on the trail. 

Their article explains some of the painful details about friction blisters, risk factors, prevention, treatment, complications, and more...

Check it out at the link HERE... Warning: Graphic pics ahead

Take care of your feet adventurers... they are an essential resource!


VIDEO: "LIFE RECLAIMED" Trailer 1

Here it is! The first trailer from the HSA Documentary "Life Reclaimed". "Life Reclaimed" is an inspirational adventure documentary based on the premise that "Nature is Greater than Therapy". It covers the story of a man who lost everything he worked a lifetime to aquire and his fight to reclaim his life from depression, devestation, and lonliness by getting back to his roots in adventure sports.






 
HSA Trailer1B from Sirfur Productions on Vimeo.



DESTINATION: ADVENTURE - Recap

Photo: HSA

HSA Expedition Recap


Our adventure to the Oklahoma outback was exciting, fun, beautiful, and at times, quite grueling.
We started off leaving our home in Corpus Christi at about 2:00PM on Friday June 14 and drove straight on through to our destination in the Arbuckle Mountains.

We arrived at approximately 1:00AM and slept for a few hours in the jeep waiting for first light to set up our camp. As the first signs of light began to glow, just before the yellow ball peeked it's head above the horizon, we sat up our base camp and prepared for a long hike to the waterfall.

After several hours of hiking we reached our destination. There we found a beautiful 77' waterfall with an inviting natural swimming hole. As it was extremely hot out, I took a dip in the hole while 2 of my companions waded in the shallow stream created by the overflow.

After the swim, we ate lunch and began the trek back to base camp... all the while capturing footage for the HSA documentary. The hike back to camp was equally grueling. Once we were back, we sparked the fire and began cooking our dinner before laying our weary heads to rest.

The following morning, I sat out on an extreme hike to find the source of the creek that eventually lead to the waterfall. It was an arduous journey, full of rugged and steep cliffs, rocky ledges, and thick overgrowth that I had to climb and bushwhack my way through. The end result was worth the 3 day round trip as I was left with a sense of accomplishment, blessed with beautiful scenery, and the euphoria that can only come with being at one with nature.

On the 5th day, it was time to restock supplies and recharge the electronics. Shooting footage for a documentary deep in the middle of nowhere poses certain challenges, like hiking certain areas 2 or 3 times in order to place cameras, get the proper footage and angles. Afterward a break was much needed With my Dad living in Oklahoma, it was a natural choice to rest at his house before embarking upon the second part of the adventure.

READ MORE (and see photos) AFTER THE JUMP...

Phase 2 had us planning for boating, fishing, snorkeling, and various other water sports at Lake Eufaula. Lady Luck would only be with us up to a point however, as the recent heavy storm activity and rain run off filled the lake with Oklahoma's famous red clay.

There was no visibility for snorkeling and the runoff affected the fishing as well. We were still able to catch a couple of good blue cats and enjoy leisurely boat rides along the lake.

After 2 days at the lake, we returned to my dads house to rest up for the long drive back to Corpus.

It was a great adventure. One that left me craving more. As I drove down the highway Monday morning on my way to work in my coffin of glass and steel, I realized how much I miss being in the wild and at one with nature... it hasn't even been a week since my return... gotta get back out there... soon!


Base Camp - Photo: HSA


















My son and daughter at base camp - Photo: HSA



















Me at the falls - Photo: HSA























My Companions at the Falls - Photo: HSA






Base Camp at Nightfall - Photo HSA





























Chilling on the Boat - Photo: HSA

























Catch of the Week - Photo: HSA
























Another good fish - Photo: HSA

DESTINATION: ADVENTURE - Update

Photo: Human Spirit of Adventure
After 4 long days in the rugged backcountry, we are back to civilization for a day. We need to restock supplies and recharge all of the electronics... shooting footage for a documentary deep in the middle of nowhere poses certain challenges. It has been a great experience so far and looking forward to the rest of the journey.

Thus far we have hiked miles and miles of rugged terrain, done 4 river crossings, and been bitten by every bug known to mankind. Tomorrow we should reach our final destination and enjoy the serenity and watersport action of Lake Eufaula.
We will have a full journey update upon our return, so stay tuned...

DESTINATION: ADVENTURE... 5 DAYS AWAY

5 Days and Counting...

In five days, we here at HSA will set of on a week long adventure. An adventure that will encompass multiple adventure sports.

On the agenda is miles and miles of rugged backpacking,  hiking, climbing, cave exploration, and freshwater snorkeling... topped off with rivers, waterfalls and spectacular views.

This adventure will be filmed on GoPro cameras as part of HSA's upcoming documentary tentatively titled "Life: Reclaimed"

We are gearing up and beginning the final week of preparation for this adventure. We will try to post some photo's along the way on our Facebook page and have a full blown recap right here on the blog upon our return.

See you then!


Backpack Review - Gama 8.0 Internal Frame Pack


So I finally decided to retire my 25 year old Army issue ALICE pack and get myself a new bag for 1-to-3 day hikes. I was skeptical about buying a budget-pack from Wal-Mart, but so far, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with its performance. The Outdoor Products Gama 8.0 Internal Frame Pack is designed to provide a great pack for hiking or shorter backpacking trips. It has all of the modern conveniences that a good pack should have. For anyone who wants to use this pack as a street bag, you may not be happy with it. It has an over-sized waist belt and comes in 2 ugly colors… olive green (shown) and orange. I chose the olive green because I’m not thrilled about standing out on the trail… however I do live in Texas and the orange one might be better for protecting me from drunk, gun-toting rednecks (That was a joke so lighten up people). I took this 39.1L pack for a 2-day tryout and I must say that it met the test. I've not tried it on a longer trip or in overly rugged terrain, but for a low-budget pack I still feel pretty good about it.


For my overall assessment of this pack, READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...





This bag features a suspended mesh back panel for maximum airflow and deluxe back padding with molded texture for added comfort.
After 2 days of lugging it around carrying about 25 pounds worth of food and gear, I must say that it is quite comfortable. While it does sit closer to the back versus other packs like the Osprey, it still has good airflow... This Gama Pack is equipped with a lightweight aluminum internal stay to stabilize large loads and a padded, ergonomically designed waist belt that comfortably supports heavy loads...



It also features articulated yoke-style shoulder straps with sliding sternum adjusters to get the chest strap in the position that's best for you.

The shoulder straps come with top and bottom adjustment straps for your comfort and convenience. The ends of all adjustment and compression straps are doubled back on themselves which is helpful when wearing heavy gloves or mittens.
The shoulder straps also feature webbing to attach M.O.L.L.E type gear or to run your hydration hose through as seen in the photo...






The very roomy Internal Frame Pack has a large capacity main compartment with a sleeve for a 2 liter hydration bladder (not included). At the top, there is a small Velcro strap that attaches to the bladder to help hold it high and keep it from sinking into the sleeve.
On my trip, there was plenty of room in this compartment for a tent, extra clothing, food, heavy jacket, and a few other odds and ends...








The Pack has a front stash-pouch that stores quick-access gear...













On the outside of the stash-pouch is yet another pouch for carrying your shovel, rain gear, or whatever...













The top flap has yet another zippered pocket perfect for stuffing your rain-fly (not included)...










This pack has double side pockets. The inner pocket is great for storing you water bottles and the gusset pocket can hold your sun screen, snacks, or whatever you choose...












In addition to compression straps, the bottom has D-rings that are handy for attaching a sleeping bag or other bulky items...










Pros:
Suspended mesh back panel
Compression straps galore
Roomy
Budget friendly
Sturdy build and stitching

Cons:
No pockets on waist belt
Zippers could be higher quality
No rain-fly included

Overall Assessment:
This is an excellent pack for day hikes and shorter camping trips. It is very comfortable, breathable, and has lots of pockets. I would definitely recommend this pack for day-hikers and weekend warriors.


Manufacturers Specifications:

Outdoor Products Gama Internal Frame Pack:

• Lightweight aluminum internal stay to stabilize large loads
• Suspended mesh back panel for maximum airflow
• Deluxe back padding with molded texture for added comfort
• Extra padded, ergonomically designed waist belt comfortably supports heavy loads
• Articulated yoke- style shoulder straps with sliding sternum adjusters
• Backpacker organizer located in front pocket
• Left and right accessory pockets with zipper closure
• Fits most 2L reservoirs (hydration reservoir not included)
• Vertical and bottom compression straps
• Large capacity main compartment with zipper closure


EXPEDITION: Big Bend - Pt. 2 - Trail Fitness

Photo Courtesy of National Park Service
Trail Fitness... Before taking on an expedition such as Big Bend National Park, it would seem that trail fitness is a must.
Big Bend has such a wide variety of landscapes, from the mountains, to the rugged deserts, to the river canyons, it is obvious that this land can break you if you aren't ready for it.

About 2 months ago, when I decided that I wanted to take on a hiking expedition, I knew that I needed to ready myself for it. Even though I did not yet know my destination or the timeframe, as an experienced hiker, I knew it was best to start preparing myself early.
I had put on a couple of pounds from sitting behind the desk too long, so I began my fitness routine by putting myself on a diet and cardio training. As I knew that hiking would be by adventure, instead of running or jogging, I decided to train for the actual event. I began a regimen of Power-walking. At first I was doing a 2 mile flatland hike at a power-walk pace, gradually increasing the time as well as distance. I am now completing a 3 mile flatland hike/power-walk in 38 minutes, so now it is time to add a weighted pack into the mix. Since I live in a relatively flat coastal area, I will add dune-climbing and stair climbing to the regimen also.
I also began a series of stretching exercises to increase my flexibility as well as strength training focusing mainly on lower body, core, shoulder, and back strength.

The diet has been... fun? No, seriously it has been interesting. I gave up all fast-food sources and junk food. I have also given up red meat and cut the starches to a minimum. It has been basically chicken, fish, turkey, and whole fresh vegetables. every once in a while there is some white or brown rice and even more rare is pasta.

The fitness routine is working... I've lost almost 20 pounds of fat, added 5 pounds of muscle, and feel better than I have in a long time. Fitness is crucial for a back country expedition... I plan to be ready for whatever Big Bend can throw at me.




EXPEDITION: Big Bend - Pt. 1 - The Destination

Photo courtesy of: Texasexplorer.com
OK, for the last month or so I have been trying to decide the destination for my next expedition. I have known for awhile that I want a multi-themed adventure but not entirely sure what I wanted to do, nor where I've wanted to go.
The foremost thought on my mind has been a hiking expedition. I'm talking about a rugged, nasty hike that will sap the strength right out of you... maybe throw in a rock climb or two and viola... the perfect getaway.

I have finally chosen the destination and set the time frame for such an excursion. I have decided that Big Bend Natl. Park shall be the destination, and the week of March 10, 2013 will be the time.

The main reason that I have chosen Big Bend is because of diversity. Big Bend has a multitude of choices for hiking. From desert hikes, to mountain hikes, to river hikes, Big Bend has it all. According to research from the National Park Service's website, "Elevations range from 1,800 feet along the Rio Grande to 7,832 feet on Emory Peak in the Chisos Mountains. Elevation changes produce an exception variety of plants, animals, and scenic vistas. Generally, hikers can expect a 20°F temperature difference between low and high elevation hiking areas." There are more than 150 miles of trails in a large desert expanse, each filled with adventure, just waiting to challenge me..

Yes... I do believe this will be a most glorious adventure. I will provide regular updates on planning the trip, preparing for the trip, and much more. Stay tuned for EXPEDITION: Big Bend!

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