Before setting out on my JMT summer thru-hike, some of my gear needed replacing. I’d previously thought that my Merrell Continuum shoes would be fine, but upon closer inspection, the insole on one of the shoes had opened up where the uppers meet the sole. I think my last AT section put them through a thorough soaking, which contributed to them failing prematurely. Although I did like this pair of shoes, and most of Merrell’s stuff, I would probably not buy another pair that are similar to the Continuum line. They’re rather heavy shoes, especially after absorbing water. The leather uppers don’t allow these shoes to dry quickly.
What I opted for was a pair of Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2GTX. I really enjoyed hiking in these shoes, though our time together wasn’t long. These shoes are ultra light, and the textile fabric used on the upper portion allows them to dry quickly. Good thing, as we crossed a number of rivers on the JMT. They didn’t feel water-logged & heavy, as did the Merrell’s. At the end of the day, there was a noticeable difference in how my legs felt. They just weren’t as tired. This of course is the reason why so many hikers of today opt for trail-running shoes. Less weight on the feet means less strain on the legs, allowing you to do more miles & experience less tiredness.
Another thing I noticed on my shoes were the soles in the heel section. The midsole is comprised of what they call triple-density EVA. The support in these broke down rather quickly I think. After wearing the shoes for a couple weeks, I noticed a slight supination in my foot position. To a hiker & runner, the feet are everything, & I pride myself on taking care of my feet & how I walk. Because I’ve not seen this failure in any other shoes or boots I’ve owned, logic tells me that the foam material is simply not stiff enough to withstand pressure for a very long time. The terrain on the JMT was rocky, & no doubt tough on the shoes. Had I worn these on the Appalachian Trail, it’s possible they would’ve lasted for over 500 miles. Aside from any complaints, I should make a point that these shoes were picked up at an REI Garage Sale just a few weeks before leaving for the JMT. The price, $40. I feel that I got my $40 worth for sure!
This past summer, from Aug 15-31 2011, I had the opportunity to hike the entire 210+mile hike of the John Muir Trail with a couple of friends from Virginia. Even though I’m a Yankee to them, we all seemed to get along without much trouble. Our trip was filled with unbelievable scenery, new stories to tell & marked by fantastic memories! I’m grateful to have had the time to hike with Aboman & T2.
.Summers in New England leave you drenched in sweat as you hike, never having the chance to fully dry. On the JMT in CA, no matter how wet I was with sweat, whenever we stopped for a break, I was dry in about 10 minutes. The dry air was amazing. With this difference in the weather, I found that by wearing a cotton/poly blend material for a shirt was better than having something designed to be fully wicking. This allowed some moisture to stay on my body for a short time, keeping me cool & regulating body temperature.
Before we officially started our thru-hike of the JMT, we’d planned to spend a few days acclimating to the higher elevation. Abo & T are from VA, elevation 200 ft or so. I live at sea level, with the cold Atlantic ocean within a mile of my home. We wanted to give our bodies a chance to get accustomed to the higher peaks. We hiked over 30 miles in the 3 day acclimating hikes and, overall, each of us faired pretty well in the thinner air. To the right is a pic of the famed Half Dome, which we did take time to visit & top its majestic peak. It was one of the most memorable points of the hike for me. I still smell the steel cables as I pulled my way up the hill.
My return flight home from Reno, NV had me arrive at Logan Airport in Boston after 1 am on Sept. 2nd-my wedding day. Yep, you read that right. The day I returned from the JMT, I climbed another mountain in New Hampshire to the Lonesome Lake Hut on the Appalachian Trail to marry the woman of my dreams. I’m thankful that everything went as scheduled on my return trip. And so was a fitting end to the summer of 2011. What a blast!
