tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post1726850555664755799..comments2008-10-19T15:13:39.370-04:00Crabby McSlackerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12108791388350253344noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-23389687867298248192008-10-19T15:13:00.000-04:002008-10-19T15:13:00.000-04:00Leave the heavy boots at home. A good-fitting pair of cross-trainers or the like is all you need. <BR/><BR/>I believe it's a myth propagated by the boot companies that high top boots protect your ankles - apart from ski boots or plastic mountaineering boots...Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885853325398972511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-19765064092012123372008-10-18T22:46:00.000-04:002008-10-18T22:46:00.000-04:00100 calorie snacks is just a way for me to justify eating 3 or 4. if everything was in one giant bag or box, i would most definately eat less.<BR/><BR/>Kelly Turner<BR/>www.groundedfitness.comGroundedFitnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12263915889567957950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-18176958977097568292008-10-18T22:15:00.000-04:002008-10-18T22:15:00.000-04:00Ack, you exposed all my secrets! Taking lots of pictures, scribbling notes, my sudden interest in examining all plant life and telling the programmer interesting facts about it (and don't forget to take several pictures of all the pretty leaves, flowers, dirt, and small rodents), and taking lots of water breaks (though this can backfire if you're in an area with little squatting cover).<BR/><BR/>Awesome pictures!Anyahttp://theprogrammerwholovedme.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-27505718291323971412008-10-18T17:02:00.000-04:002008-10-18T17:02:00.000-04:00Loved this post! I'm an out-of-shape hiker who loves to hike, and you can bet that I'll use your handy tips. I've also found something else to help -- a dog. My 1 1/2 year old black lab has grundles of energy. I bought a harness for her that we use on bike rides together, but also discovered that it works great for hikes. Because it transfers the 'pull' from her neck to her chest, she can assist me as we go up the mountain together. (It helps a ton!) The bonus is that she gets nice and tuckered out and is docile the rest of the day.Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447684647722772526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-81373355607187744162008-10-18T00:40:00.000-04:002008-10-18T00:40:00.000-04:00Are you in Oregon, too? I can think of at lest 5 long hikes that will keep you smiling the whole way without too much elevation. MOst are near the Lewis River in the Gifford Pinchot but I did just do Cape Horn which is a little bit of a roller coaster at moments but has the BEST views of the gorge. Absolutely lovely.Recesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01676012570589401174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-80666683707889421072008-10-17T16:49:00.000-04:002008-10-17T16:49:00.000-04:00I live in Portland &amp; love this waterfall. The whole city is full of spur-of-the-moment hiking trails you can hop on anytime. Great tips!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-5846465306459252592008-10-17T10:20:00.000-04:002008-10-17T10:20:00.000-04:00I do a lot of hiking in CO at altitude. My advice:<BR/><BR/>If you are going more than a few miles be prepared with water, snacks, warm gear.<BR/><BR/>Hiking poles rock! Your knees will thank you, and your arms will help you get up those hills. If you don't have any try ski poles. A big, heavy stick will not do.<BR/><BR/>Hike at your own pace. Tell the faster hikers to wait for you at the top. If you try to keep up with someone faster, they will hike ahead, stop and rest while you catch up, then start up when you get there. They will be rested and chipper; you will be miserable and surly. If you must hike together, put the slowest hiker in the front.<BR/><BR/>A good pair of boots or trail shoes are a must. Leave extra room at the toes and you won't lose your toenails going down. Tighten your shoelaces before heading downhill. They will loosen going up.<BR/><BR/>If you hike in more than a few miles, you will see sights that 90% of humanity never will see. And you're burning 400+ calories/hr!<BR/><BR/>cammi99Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-6521638466636378302008-10-16T22:07:00.000-04:002008-10-16T22:07:00.000-04:00It's a sign that I'm still a Californian at heart, but I looked at all that water pouring down and I thought "All that water! Isn't someone going to turn that faucet off? Do they turn it off at night?"<BR/><BR/>One reason I love Oregon is that it doesn't get the severe droughts like Australia or to a lesser degree California.Merryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09660495393832517684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-84043256672977322052008-10-16T22:01:00.000-04:002008-10-16T22:01:00.000-04:00"But nobody is gonna haul a tripod while hiking that kind of trail, right?"<BR/><BR/>Wrong! My camera and tripod goes with me everywhere. I have a special carry sack for it that spreads the weight accross my back. <BR/><BR/>I'm a picture nerd I know, but I am studying photography so that's okay.<BR/><BR/>Those pictures are beatiful. The waterfall reminds me so much of Taronga Falls before global warming and the permi-droubt that it broke my heart. It's a nice reminder that some places in the world still have water a-pleanty.Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07611971818007057323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-16490422264589407812008-10-16T21:22:00.000-04:002008-10-16T21:22:00.000-04:00ooo, pretty waterfall!<BR/><BR/>i've used hiking around rocky mountain national park as a workout a few times. walking around on rugged terrain? counts as fitness to me!<BR/><BR/>i'm in okay shape with exercise-induced asthma, so i take my time, stop if i need be and stay hydrated. i have no problems pausing for breath, though, especially since a lot of the hikes i do are above 9000 feet in elevation.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03808070327493365276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-62222388889125148792008-10-16T21:13:00.000-04:002008-10-16T21:13:00.000-04:00(Dr. J, as the daughter of a south Alabamian, I believe Florida stole all that beach. What I don't understand is how Alabama failed to steal it back. My mother's hometown is the county seat because it stole the court records from another town.)<BR/><BR/>The pictures of the falls remind me of how many years it has been since I hiked at Natural Bridge. No water, just air, but very similar steepness. <BR/><BR/>Mary Anne in KentuckyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-3546243944678742932008-10-16T18:54:00.000-04:002008-10-16T18:54:00.000-04:00Sometimes, my shoe laces can't seem to stay tied and I have to stop often to retie them... ahem...Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425148037615520256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-26362911597001808332008-10-16T18:45:00.000-04:002008-10-16T18:45:00.000-04:00Actually, it makes more sense for the in-shape hiker to carry the camera. When I hike with my husband, my camera breaks allow him to catch up. Otherwise I'd just be standing around waiting for a bear to get me.bunnygirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04938134750150653386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-23939418249850470692008-10-16T17:24:00.000-04:002008-10-16T17:24:00.000-04:00Florida's got a hilly section near the Alabama border in the panhandle. Hard to imagine, I know! Really, that area should be Alabama. I have no idea how Florida managed to get all that beach front! We even have state caverns in that area also. It's not Mammoth cave, but it's still worth the visit!Dr. Jhttp://calorielab.com/news/categories/dr-j-will-see-you-now/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-51353593975942120992008-10-16T17:19:00.000-04:002008-10-16T17:19:00.000-04:00Love the post and the photos, Merry!<BR/><BR/>Love the string tripod too, excellent idea.<BR/><BR/>And my take is that it's not how long you take to get there, it's that you have the willingness to DO it and enjoy the hike at your own pace!<BR/><BR/>My usual advice to self: make sure shoes are decently soled and properly laced to prevent blisters and to provide solid footing. Take more water than you think you will need. Take pain relievers along (and one before starting helps reduce inflammation). Take chocolate or candy bars or glucose packs, but don't keep the chocolate next to your body! (It will be soup ;D). Sip and snack while taking panting/wheezing breaks. dehydration can make one dizzy, and "bonking" (sudden low glucose) can be miserable and feel scary. Be sure to pee before you start out, even if you think you don't have to go! It does take awhile to warm up and get a rhythm, so I try not to push too hard until I get to that point.<BR/><BR/>My last hike like that shown was in Yosemite up to the falls, a loooong switchback. I was pretty slow compared to usual; even my hubby who "tacks' up hills (like a sailboat, side to side) to lessen the incline had to go straight up the path and was still quicker, usually I am the one waiting for him. I was definitely under the weather, but the peer pressure was intense, there were 8 of us in our group, and I was one of the youngest (but also the most physically compromised from old injuries). I popped some Advil and kept climbing. I only made it halfway up, half of us went farther, but it was an hour and a half or so going up, maybe 30 minutes going down. The park's youth corp was training, they had long pants and packs and they went up at at a forced march or faster pace, and were coming back down at a trot from the top while we were resting halfway! Just watching them made my knees hurt!<BR/><BR/>I will say I was shocked at the number of foreign tourists wearing rubber flip flops. There was a group of Norwegian teens wearing them and they climbed better and faster than anyone else on the trail though, except the corp.TKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747390418220178858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-21766805149046720172008-10-16T17:16:00.000-04:002008-10-16T17:16:00.000-04:00Words of advice to share, ohhhhh sure!!! When the trail map reads that it's not an easy trail - BELIEVE IT! It wasn't supposed to be a long one, but let me tell ya, after CLIMBING OVER LOGS and some of the roughest "natural trail" - I'd never do it again. I couldn't even make it to the end of the trail. Geezz...<BR/><BR/>But.. those pictures make it worth it. Loved your commentary along the way! Nice to know I'm not the only one to feel that way and OMG - those SNAILS!Aletahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05605214202876973830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-3572526716237878712008-10-16T15:32:00.000-04:002008-10-16T15:32:00.000-04:00I did a 6 mile hike (without mountains but some small hills and no shade) recently. My advice...<BR/>The best shoes money can buy<BR/>Camera!!!<BR/>Water breaks but not too much at a time<BR/>A banana<BR/>lip balm<BR/>good music<BR/>a friend........I was alone :(new*mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05147814248509745599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-1810002397790057052008-10-16T15:14:00.001-04:002008-10-16T15:14:00.001-04:00You have no idea how happy I was to open this page and see beautiful Multnomah Falls glowing in front of me...One of my favorite favorite places in Oregon. And although I do hate the hike up MF, I love it too. Asthma kills me, but I do it, an sometimes I even remember to bring my inhaler. <BR/><BR/>Water is a must, I completely agree with that sentiment. I never go anywhere without my Nalgene in hand. Good shoes too, I've done MF in flip-flops (a whim climb on a bored summer afternoon in high school) and it sucked mucho mucho butt...<BR/><BR/>Hey, if you want to see more beautiful pics of our Oregon treasure, go type "Columbia River Gorge" into google, click on images and sit back in splendor...<BR/><BR/>I LOVE OREGON!!!Sambohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17019047318620880046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-9472304454411768142008-10-16T15:14:00.000-04:002008-10-16T15:14:00.000-04:00multnomah falls. oh man, I haven't been there since like 2004, when I moved away. Good choice for a place to go hiking. I love love love it up there. It's one of those places that my parents took me to a bajillion times and I have tons of great memories at.thattallgirlhttp://thattallgirl.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-4309357090108196652008-10-16T14:47:00.000-04:002008-10-16T14:47:00.000-04:00The one time I hiked up a trail that vertical, I was considerably younger and lighter. Asthma is a real kicker though when you exert yourself. Of course, our trail was just a goat track, no paving there. If I were to try such a thing again, I would have to have a walking stick and good shoes, snacks and lots of water. Don't forget something to keep the sun off your head.Rebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05318594769530526005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-39063841624584699842008-10-16T14:03:00.000-04:002008-10-16T14:03:00.000-04:00I remember hiking half way down into the grand canyon some years back, and of course back up again. Husband much fitter than me, party of much older people who were hiking all the way from the bottom overtook us, one woman was running the trail! But I did it, one step at a time, with plenty of water. My tip is to ignore the companions- or make sure they understand that you are doing this at your pace- they don't have to wait. Personally I find lots of stopping is counterproductive. I do better putting one foot in front of the other, over and over, without too many stops, but quite slowly.Janenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-79696432712126123482008-10-16T12:59:00.000-04:002008-10-16T12:59:00.000-04:00Multonah Falls! I was there in May, and went as far as the bridge. My friend was on crutches, though. Oh, she didn't go there, I went up with her daughters! <BR/><BR/>Two years ago our family went to Colorado Springs for vacation, and the four of us took an eight hour hike, up to about 12,000 feet, overlooking the Garden of the Gods. I ( who works out 4 days a week and strength trains) had to frequently stop to catch my breath. I didn't mind so much that my sons (14 and 19 at the time) practically ran up, but I was REALLY pissed that my non-working out husband appeared to do just fine. I've since read that women's lung capacity has a lot to do with that, but I still didn't like it. On the other hand, the next day I had NO muscle aches, and he was pretty hurting, so there's that. It was our favorite outing of the trip, even better than the rafting we did later in the week. <BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, I live in Central Illinois, so there's not much of that sort of thing around here. <BR/><BR/>~ PeggasusAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-45448052668282788252008-10-16T12:39:00.000-04:002008-10-16T12:39:00.000-04:00I LOVEOVELOVE hiking! Something about it can keep me going for hours. It's fantastic.<BR/><BR/>Such beautiful pictures!Saganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18285850895862247408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-65214266660378291882008-10-16T12:01:00.000-04:002008-10-16T12:01:00.000-04:00that's where I got married! I love that hike - although we usually keep going after getting to the top of the waterfall. (and once, I ran all the way up that hill - and then I died.)the gazellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06290343648184416057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-12644517054567978222008-10-16T11:11:00.000-04:002008-10-16T11:11:00.000-04:00and fit is such a relative thing huh?<BR/>you can be fit in one realm and completely SUCKITUP in another.<BR/><BR/>uh<BR/>not that I have any idea about THAT.<BR/>:)<BR/><BR/>M.MizFithttp://www.mizfitonline.comnoreply@blogger.com