[pct-l] Stream Crossing Footwear

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

Now this brings up another question:

What is causing seams to break? This situation of Roleigh's caused him to leave the trail to get the shoes repaired. Now maybe he was headed out anyway, but what if this had happened after his last exit out, say 5 days earlier down by Cottonwood? He would have had to do a little trail repair and hope that he made it to Kearsarge and out.

Is this the durability of footwear we want to be using on a hike? Sounds like it is a common problem that requires repair or replacement. Is this true?


Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
South Lake Tahoe, Ca.
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Roleigh Martin 
  To: johnmuirtrail at yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 9:31 AM
  Subject: Re: [John Muir Trail] Re: Stream Crossing Footwear


    
  Good point Bronco, last year my Keen Mid-Height Targhee boots, the seam in one boot came undone for 1.5", at OnionValley Trailhead we took a day off and a boot repair store in Lone Pine sewed the seam back.  Would have been bad had the seam went totally while on the trail.  the shoe store replaced my Keen boots for free and I notice the new models have the seam reinforced with sealant as well as thread.  Perhaps others have had the same problem (I did have 3 years straight blewn seams in my boots and each time got new boots after the hike), so I bet others had the same problem.



  On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 11:17 AM, Bronco <dawgbronco at yahoo.com> wrote:

      
    One long trek into Glacier NP and into Canada my right Vasque Sundowner lost its sole (soul?). I slipped on my camp/creek sandals, Keen's closed-toe waterproof, kinda heavy at 14 oz. each. Walked another 15 miles w/30# on my back. Downhill was not something I wanted to get used to, though. I prefer to let my boot work rather than my feet and ankles. Can't imagine doing it in moccasins. I like the security of a good set of spares. 



    --- In johnmuirtrail at yahoogroups.com, John Ladd <johnladd at ...> wrote:
    >
    > Peter's comments prompt me to qualify my earlier thoughts on boots and we
    > stream crossings.
    > 
    > I'm in agreement with Ned that on a *hard* stream crossing, it is worth
    > getting your boots wet in exchange for a safer crossing.
    > 
    > But I'm also in agreement with Peter that dry footwear is a huge advantage,
    > especially if your are blister-prone. Adding a bit to his comments, there
    > is a very good discussion of blisters that reports (I think accurately) that
    > a blister wil not make any progress toward healing when it is wet - it has
    > to be dry to start healing.
    > 
    > http://www.wildmedcenter.com/pdf/Blisters.pdf
    > 
    > To put this in the context of the JMT: The trail itself has bridges over
    > most of the difficult crossings. The two more difficult crossings are often
    > Bear Creek (can be a deep crossing, but the bottom is fairly smooth and it's
    > not very wide) and Evolution Creek (wide, rocky but usually shallow enough
    > that you can see what you are going to step on). I think that in most
    > years, one could walk the entire JMT without the need for a boot-on crossing
    > - I wouldn't do it barefoot but velcro-strap Crocs or other streamcrossers
    > are fine.
    > 
    > FOR JMT hikers, I think Ned's suggestion of boots-on crossings are relevant
    > mostly in one of three situations most JMT thru-hikers don't encounter:
    > 
    > 1) Early season travel will have more snow-melt and harder crossings,
    > particularly if your schedule makes you cross hard streams in the afternoon.
    > 
    > 2) If you want to take side trips, you may have a harder crossing than those
    > on the JMT itself. For example, there is a wide, fast and rocky crossing to
    > get to the hot springs and Warm Lake near Muir Trail Ranch. And the side
    > trip downcanyon to Devil's Washbowl in the Northern part of Kings Canyon NP
    > requires a narrow but rocky and fast crossing if you can't find the log
    > crossing upstream (I couldn't).
    > 
    > 3) Anyone can run into unexpected conditions, e.g. need to take a bailout
    > route that includes an unexpected crossing; heavy rainstorm and you are on a
    > schedule that does not allow you to wait for the stream levels to fall.
    > 
    > In these *unusual) situations, I'd keep Ned's suggestion in mind. If it is
    > fast and the bottom is rocky, and you can't see (or can't control) where
    > your feet will go, and especially if you are alone, think of leaving your
    > Crocs or other streamcrossers in your pack and just cross in your boots.
    > You won't have to do it often (and therefore the blister problem is minimal)
    > and the boots will dry with a series of sock-swaps.
    > 
    > John Curran Ladd
    > 1616 Castro Street
    > San Francisco, CA 94114-3707
    > 415-648-9279
    >







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