Greenville Natural History Assocation Message Board

applebees

franspicer — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:58:51 GMT

attendance at Applebees, that is

Applebees

franspicer — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:57:10 GMT

attendance seems to have dwindled dramatically. Did anyone go this month; if so, how many were there? Anyone want to suggest a new restaurant for next month? If so, how about sending a suggestion thru Lynn to the e-mail, as more folks seem to see it there. Joyfully, Fran

Forum: Club Discussion

hello?

franspicer — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:51:29 GMT

is anyone out there? wonderingly, Fran

Forum: Moderator's Forum

Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Boots for Sale

CONLIV123 — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:07:01 GMT

For Sale: Hiking Boots, all terrain, Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Ls. Gore-Tex, Color taupe, Women's size 9, Men's size 7. WORN ONLY ONE TIME. Like new. Sell $150, Bought $200. e-mail Concetta @ livoti@charter.net or call 864-404-1813.

Forum: Want Ads

Protection from the Sun

ajheman — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:13:48 GMT

Good Advice from Appalachian Outfitters:

Say NO to the Scorching Sun

Now that we have returned from our surprisingly hot trip to high altitude in Colorado, we'd like to share some important summer travel advice: Please take steps to protect yourself from an ultraviolet (UV) scorching. The surest way to beat the burn is to not go outside at all (but for those of us that love the outdoors, that's "crazy talk;" it's just not an option). The next best thing is to block UV rays by employing a combination of wearing comfortable, UPF-rated protective clothing; applying sunscreen of at least SPF15 strength on your body and SPF30 on your face; wearing UPF-rated hats that effectively shade your face; and protecting your eyes by wearing UV-blocking sunglasses. An SPF or UPF rating is directly related to the length of time you can be exposed to the sun without burning, and clearly, the higher the UPF or SPF number, the better. Appalachian Outfitters stocks clothing and hats that have UPF ratings of between 15 and 50+ and are offered in great summer colors.

This summer we also partnered with Kinesys to bring you their superior sunscreen products. Kinesys sunscreen was recently featured in a story on the Early Show on CBS as a recommendation from the Enviromental Working Group. They looked at over 800 sunscreens on the market and called out Kinesys specifically during the program as combining good SPF UVB protection, UVA protection and a stable formula that doesn't break down on the skin. All these are important factors in choosing a good sunscreen. If you missed the telecast, you can watch the segment at http://www.kinesys.com.

And finally, please, please, PLEASE remember to wear UV protective eyewear for all of your outdoor pursuits (that includes even mundane tasks like gardening and mowing the lawn!). If your shades are getting a little old or if you're unsure about their protective capability, perhaps it's time to consider a new pair. Many ultra-cheap sunglasses (costing less than $45) do NOT offer UV-blocking, and can, in fact, cause your pupils to dilate, and therefore actually cause more damage than not wearing sunglasses at all! We have great looking shades from Suncloud, Native and Smith; all styles block at least 99.9% of UV rays. Hey, the "dog days" of summer are here, beat back harmful rays and enjoy them!

Forum: Club Discussion

Renewal

ajheman — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:26:17 GMT

Activity in the Discussion Forum has fallen off in recent months. I am renewing efforts to put items of special interest to our members in the Forum. I hope that each of you who read this message will use the Forum as a means to express your opinions and comments about GNHA programs and activities.

Forum: Moderator's Forum

July 23 Board Meeting Minutes

ajheman — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:14:55 GMT

Board Meeting Report - 7/23/2009

Items of interest to the General Membership:

? The Board authorized the purchase of a park bench to be presented to Paris Mountain State Park. It is 6-feet long and is made from recycled plastic. The bench will be installed by Park Staff in the vicinity of the dam at Reservoir #3 on North Lake Trail. This is a very scenic spot with a nice view of the lake and Paris Mountain. The bench was ordered on 7/24/09 and will be delivered in about 3 weeks. A plaque will be installed on the bench noting that it is a gift from the GNHA.

? The hike schedule for Sept, Oct, Nov and Dec was hashed over and finally completed. It will be polished up and E-mailed to most members by the middle of August. Members receiving hard copies should receive them before the end of August. When the schedules are received, hike leaders should go through the list and note the date(s) of the hikes they are leading.

? A Mentoring Program for prospective hike leaders was discussed. Detailed information on this topic will be sent to hike leaders shortly. In the mean time, any experienced GNHA hiker who would like to learn about being a hike leader should contact any Board Member.

? Car-pooling to trailheads can be a nerve-wracking and sometime dangerous experience, especially for drivers behind the lead car. Before leaving the staging area the Hike Leader should provide all drivers with directions to and from the trailhead - or see that each vehicle is occupied by one hiker who knows the route. This responsibility is among those listed in the Hike Leaders Material, referenced below.

? The CPR classes will continue. Priority will be given to Hike Leaders. The session coming up on August 3^rd will be the 6^th session. At that time 48 GNHA members will have been certified.

? A member has proposed that the GNHA conduct an UPSTATE HIKING, CAMPING & CONSERVATION EXHIBITION. This topic was briefly discussed during the meeting. The Board decided that it will conduct a Special Meeting to hear more about the proposal and then to consider if and how to proceed.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: GNHA has an excellent Web site with a wealth of information about hiking and the outdoors. The site contains our Constitution and Bylaws, beautiful professional photographs, Hikers Photo Albums, Hike reports, Hikers Guide and Hike Leaders Material and many interesting links. Members should take some time to browse the material. Find out what your responsibilities are as a Hiker and as a Hike Leader. The Web address is http://greenvillehiking.com . Andy Heman is the Webmaster and he is the one you should contact for information or questions about the Web page.

So, there you go. Enjoy the trails.

Ron & Sharon Blake, Co-Presidents

Forum: Club Discussion

Function & Selection of Hiking Boots

ajheman — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:17:48 GMT

Function and Selection of Hiking Boots

I. Basics: How Hiking Boots Work

Hiking boots are all based on something called a "last," which in footwear lingo is the solid plastic mold around which the boot is built. The last is an approximation of what the manufacturer assumes to be the average foot. (If you've ever had a pair of hiking boots that absolutely, positively did not fit, you know what happens when the manufacturer assumes).

Some high-end catalogs describe what type of foot their lasts are based on. Others simply leave it to you. If you find a boot manufacturer whose product just seems to fit like a glove or a better yet, a sock you are likely to be better off sticking with their products...at least until their lasts change.

Forming the Upper

A leather upper is formed around the last, and the segments are stitched together. These stitched areas are called seams. More seams allow a boot to fit more conclusively, they are also the weakest link and the first thing to blow out on the trail. As an example, the Danner Radical has multiple seams while the Danner Shasta has a minimal number of seams. Look for seams that are double-stitched. Triple or quadruple stitching is best, but naturally you'll pay for it. Single-stitching is usually the mark of a discount boot -- but not necessarily a bad boot -- that probably won't last as long. But keep in mind that if you pound a lot of trail miles and you're on a tight budget, the discount boot might be your best choice. But I digress.

The thickness of the leather used to make the upper is called the gauge. The leather will be either top-grain (formerly the outside skin of a cow) or "other." Virtually all mid-range to high quality boots use top-grain. The leather is either smooth-out or rough-out. Smooth-out is the skin side out; rough-out is "inside out" if you will. Smooth-out is more stylish but less resistant to abrasion. If you want to look really cool at the ski lodge and limit your hiking to gentle trails, get smooth-out. If you plan on hiking the rocky trails in the Adirondacks, get rough-out.

Welting

The upper is then attached to the sole. This is called "welting," and can be done in a variety of ways. The two basic styles of welting are "turned in" and "turned out." On cheaper boots, the welting is done by vulcanizing (heat). Moving up, the best price/performance is welting with cement (an impressive euphemism for glue). The top of the ladder is welting by stitching the upper to the insole, and some employ stitching and cementing.

European style welting is "turned out." The upper is -- you guessed it -- turned out, and stitched to the ledge of the sole. The Montrail Mazama is one such boot. You see the stitching on the ledge, or top of the sole.

The "Blake" or "Littleway" welt has the upper turned in, and the stitches are "inside" the boot. Stitching is done to the insole and midsole. The stitch is protected, and the boot is usually lighter by this design. Another advantage is that a turned in welt can be finished with a big smooth rand wraparound. This usually results in better weatherproofing and a longer lasting boot, although the darn things add a lot of weight.

Soles

The part of the sole that your foot touches is the insole. The part under that is the midsole, which today is often made of foam. The bottom is the outsole. The harder the outsole material, the better it is for dirt and grass. A softer outsole is better for rock...pick your poison based on your hiking preferences, or if you can afford it, own a pair for each.

Tread

When examining the treads, consider the ratio of rubber to open space. Deep lugs with lots of open space is best for mud. Minimal open space/maximum rubber is best for rock.

Other Factors

The tongue is usually one-piece in most hiking boots, although split designs allow boots to open wider and sometimes fit wider feet better. Lacing is usually through eyelets, speed hooks, or d-rings. Eyelets offer the sturdiest, best fit, but take longer to lace and are most prone to problems. Speed hooks offer convenience and seldom break but provide the least secure lacing. If you haven't guessed by now, d-rings are becoming more and more popular by providing the best of both worlds. Many boot designs use d-rings or eyelets on the foot and speed hooks on the ankle.

II. Design: Types of Hiking Boots

Boom, boom, boom, boom...

The old favorite is the stomper, or heavyweight boot. Trudge along, blast your way down the trail, secure in the knowledge that you are creating small seismic disturbances with each footfall. Heavyweight boots usually tip the scales at five pounds or more, and are downright exhausting. Remember that each pound on your foot is the same as carrying five on your back. For every extra pound your boots weigh, you lift the equivalent of one extra TON of weight per mile (one pound per step times 2,000 steps in the average mile...think about it).

The Heavyweight boot does have the advantage of versatility. You can strap crampons to them, and you can carry the heaviest loads knowing that your feet and ankles are secure, if not a bit tired. You can also soak your fellow hikers when you stomp through a puddle.

Middleweights

These are boots that weigh 2 pounds or more, usually all leather, decent weatherproofing, fairly deep tread. This is the average hiking boot, and suitable for most backpacking. Certainly suitable for slackpacking.

Light as a Feather

Boots under 2 pounds are known as lightweights. These usually look like hybrid running shoes/boots, and are generally constructed of suede, fabric, leather, nylon...in some combination thereof. Some lightweight hiking boots weigh in at barely more than a pound. The casual hiker will love these, while the backpacker will limp into camp. One of the best designs, the Reactor from HiTec, will set you back a few bucks.

III. Comparing Hiking Boots

Whether you shop at the trendy outdoors store or Walmart, your method should be the same.

Preparation is easy: Walk around for an hour in uncomfortable shoes...get your feet nice and swollen. (Yeah, I know) Then go into a store (yes, a real store with real people, not some online emporium) and try on the hiking shoes. Make sure you are wearing the heavy socks you hike in. Try on different sizes for the same boot. Try different style boots. Make sure the width is right.

IV. Keys to Comfort

Push your foot to the front of the boot. If you can fit one finger into the back of the boot, you've got a potential fit. Two fingers is too loose; a squeezed finger means the boots are too small.

Flex your foot up and down on the toe, and step up as if you are climbing something. If your heel moves noticeably, be ready for blisters.

Where are your toes? (Kick your boot gently to the floor if you can't tell). Your toes should NOT be pressing against the front of the boot; they need to move inside the toebox to maintain your balance on the trail.

Lace the boots tight. Have 1/4" to 1/2" between the eyelets (or d-rings, or whatever). More means the boot isn't wide enough; less means the boot is too wide.

V. Buying a Pair of Hiking Boots

When you're in the store, after you've tested, retested, and you feel good...buy the boots. If you positively must shop online, or if the sales clerk is so boorish that you can't envision spending your money at that store, memorize the boot brand, model, and serial number and...buy online. You can also buy online if you are really familiar with a certain manufacturer, and know for sure that their "lasts" for your size fit you.

Take good care of your feet, Pete...

I've often touted the myriad opportunities available through ebay. I purchase a lot of outdoor gear this way...usually used, usually cheap. I can't recommend this with hiking boots. If you are on a budget, you are better off buying junky boots with a good fit from a mass-merchandiser than buying high-end name brand boots that you aren't sure of...and don't ever, ever, purchase used boots that have been "broken in."

-- Rick Bolger

Forum: Hiking Gear

Legs

Meanderthals — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:04:00 GMT

Do we have any legless hikers out there? I found a pair of zip-off pants legs, dark khaki color, on a trail a few weeks ago. If you want to claim them, contact me at teepee50@bellsouth.net.

Don

Forum: Want Ads

Hiking Gear

Meanderthals — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:32:46 GMT

Day hiking is not an equipment-intensive sport. A comfortable pair of shoes and socks, clothing appropriate for the season, and a few items to protect you from the elements, i.e. hat, sunscreen, bug repellent, raincoat, etc. will suffice for most outings. Food and water for the most part are carried from home, however, a few people do collect and treat water from natural sources along the trail. My philosophy is that the less equipment you carry, the better off you are. Getting back to nature doesn't mean superimposing our artificial world on the wilderness. How are you going to get away from it all if you have to carry "it all" on your back?

DON

Forum: Hiking Gear

Welcome

ajheman — Thur, 20 Sep 2007 02:16:29 GMT

I'd like to personally welcome you to the Greenville Natural History Association's web community. This is simply the best place on the internet for our members to come together and share knowledge, experience, resources and some laughs, all in the interest of making our hiking experiences the best that they can be.

Please feel free to set up your own questions or threads or reply to any posts in these forums. These forums are for you, and the idea is to share common knowledge and experiences to make our club a little bit better for all of us. As always, please keep discussions open and aboveboard and on related topics. We want the highest standards for our community, and any undesirable posts will be removed immediately.

If you have any questions or comments on this discussion or on GNHA in general, we would like to hear from you. We will always listen to you and implement your suggestions whenever they will result in an improvement to this site. You can reply to this message directly or send notes to me at the "Contact" section of this site.

Again, thanks for visiting greenvillehiking.com and here's hoping that you'll return!

Happy Hiking,
Andy

Forum: Moderator's Forum