[pct-l] foot ware

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

I'm embarrassed too. My lightweight hiking kit merely has me wearing  
a single pair of hiking shoes, shoes that drain water quickly and  
after a few minutes of walking feel dry enough to be somewhat  
comfortable, shoes that dry out overnight after a day of walking in  
creeks and snowmelt. Oh what I have been missing! I could have kept  
the water completely out with hip waders or thigh-high gaiters and  
heavy hiking boots. No need to walk with carefree abandon across a  
creek unconcerned with the water when I can slap on those babies and  
stay perfectly dry. Wow. I'm going to start adding pounds to my kit  
so that I can stagger around in comfort knowing that my feet will  
stay dry and I can kick steps in the snow at the top of Mather Pass.  
Lord knows the 10 minutes of kicking steps will be more than worth  
the weeks of hauling around heavy boots and hip waders. Or, I could  
just strap on a pair of instep crampons. But no fancy technology  
there and only a few low-tech ounces. Bummer.

On Oct 13, 2010, at 8:44 PM, CHUCK CHELIN wrote:
>
> Footwear that always remains dry under all conditions -- whether  
> from slop
> and wading or from perspiration – for weeks at a time is truly
> remarkable.  Further
> – and even more remarkable – is a pair of gaiters that keep shin- 
> deep water
> out of one’s boots.
>
>
>
> I am monumentally embarrassed that I’m so far behind that  
> technology curve.
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 13, 2010 at 11:58 AM, <ned at mountaineducation.org> wrote:
>
>> through the shallow creek crossings (water up to mid-shin), we
>> wore our heavy weight tall gaitors, which kept the water out