American Hiker

Swiss Gear Spring Hiker Boots Review

2011-01-17T20:32:00.000-08:00

Die hard hikers will scoff at the notion of buying an inexpensive pair of boots for the trail and normally I would agree, buy a great pair of boots and save your feet. Well my last pair of boots had worn out and I was in a hurry to hit the trail so I broke my own rule and went to Target to grab a "temporary" pair of boots, plus I had a gift card so why not.

So far I have about 12 miles of trail time in these boots and I'm impressed overall. First I'll get the only negative thing I have to say about them out of the way, the laces were slick and hard to keep tight. They actually ended up wearing out quickly on the right boot and I replaced them with laces from an old pair of Army boots I had laying around. I would recommend this to anyone buying these boots, believe it or not it made a world of difference. Ankle support is great and even with a heavy pack they absorbed the shock and saved my back.

I wore the boots for two days before my hike to break them in which actually seemed to be wholly unnecessary as they fit my feet and were comfortable from day one. The first day I hit the trail with them was an icy and cold day at Meramec State Park ( read about that hike here) . The trail consisted of rock covered in ice in many places and these boots made me feel like a mountain goat, I didn't slip once! For me the traction they provided was huge as I have already blown my left knee out several times and a misstep or slip can spell disaster. Long story short after 8 plus miles on the trail my feet felt fine when I got home.

So if your funds are limited and you are in need of a pair of boots for hiking I can recommend them highly. Will they last? Only time can tell but so far I'm impressed.

Below is a link to the Target website.

Swiss Gear Spring Hiker Boots

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

2011-01-09T22:35:00.000-08:00

After cutting my trip to Washington State Park short I had the opportunity to visit Rock Bridge Memorial State Park later that same day. Calling this visit a hike would be a stretch of epic proportions, it was a brief walk that paid dividends in beautiful scenery. The park itself is supposed to have about 25 miles of trails but the most interesting geology can be viewed after a quick walk from the parking lot. I'll have to visit the park again and hike the other trails to give a fair assessment.

The Rock Bridge is impressive from both sides which are easily accessible. Walk just a bit further and you will arrive at the Devil's Icebox. The name alone stirs the imagination and the view from the boardwalk is beautiful. Venture down some stairs and you can walk into the cave itself. According to the parks website guided tours are available for this cave system which stretches some seven miles.

This park is definitely on my list to revisit during the warmer months ahead.

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

Washington State Park, Missouri

2011-01-09T20:58:00.000-08:00

My visit to Washington State Park in Missouri was not a full fledged hike but more of a quick recon of the area. I had intended to wake up early for the hour and twenty minute drive and be on the trail at sunrise, but of course I overslept. What first attracted me to the park was that it has the second largest collection of petroglyphs in Missouri and I'm glad I went.

My first stop was to the petroglyph site which you can drive right up to. The odd part was I had trouble actually seeing them in the rock while there in person but later when I reviewed my photographs they were very clear to see.

Next my faithful canine hiking buddy Buckwheat and I proceeded to the trailhead for the Rockwoods Trail which is near the boat access. It was about 10AM when we got started and the views along the trail were amazing. Early on into the trail you are walking along bluffs that drop a considerable distance. About a mile into the trail I realized that the likelihood of me completing this 10 mile trail before sunset was somewhere between slim and none. Daylight was burning fast and the elevation changes were not going to make for quick travel so I let discretion be the better part of valor and turned back for the trailhead.

I really was not disappointed though because I had already made plans to come back to Rockywoods Trail with a hiking buddy that was recovering from surgery. Once we reached my truck again I dropped my pack and proceeded to the 1000 Steps Trail with only my hydration pack. Once again the views were amazing and I would highly recommend this quick trail to anyone.

At the high point of the 1000 Steps trail is an observation structure mad from cut stone which I believe was built in the 1930's by a CCC crew. I can't wait to get back to Washington State Park to tackle all 10 miles of the Rockywoods Trail. As it turned out I got to visit another State Park the same day with my Dad since I left early, I'll have another post about that visit soon.

GPS track and pertinent links are below.

Washington State Park

Trails in Washington State Park

Why I Hike

2011-01-07T19:52:00.000-08:00

I ended up asking myself a question, why do I enjoy hiking so much? After all its hard work and accounts for a large piece of your free time. So why exactly would a guy that enjoys his couch and tv time enjoy this so much?

Well I don't think I have answered the question fully but here are a few reasons.

Freedom. The feeling almost overwhelms me on the trail that while trudging along this is as free as I can ever hope to be. With this freedom comes responsibility of course. No one else is to blame if I don't have the equipment I need, and this balance of freedom and responsibility is a lesson everyone should experience on a regular basis.

Beauty. The natural wonders found in our many State and National Parks is beyond description. For me it almost like Christmas as a child every time I round a corner and see a natural wonder that so few will ever have the pleasure of experiencing. My faith in God is always strengthened on the trail by the works of art our Creator has left for us to enjoy.

No quitting allowed. I'm not sure how anyone else feels while hiking but I know personally that constant elevation changes and distance can wear you down. The true gift of that feeling is the realization that there is no quitting unless you intend to lay down and die or even worse call for help and admit defeat. The feeling of accomplishment when completing a difficult hike is an adrenaline rush that washes away any previous doubts about completing the hike.

I'm sure I'll add many more reasons to this list as I progress, but these may always be the core of why I hike.

Meramec State Park Revisited

2011-01-02T16:10:00.000-08:00

After spending far to long away from Meramec State Park I decided a winter visit with my trusty hiking companion Buckwheat would be a great idea.

So we set out on the 2nd of January 2011 to do just that. Having seen Meramec State Park many times when the park is full of thick green vegetation a winter hike offered the opportunity to see much more of the terrain.

I decided to take on the longer loop of the trail this time and explore areas I had not seen before. You can visit my archived posts to contrast the photos between the seasons.

Below is a GPS track of the trail which contrary to the sign ended up being 8.6 miles long.

Due to the limited daylight during the winter there was not much time for exploring areas

off the trail, but that only makes me want to visit again. Be prepared for many elevation changes on this hike, especially toward the end. There are several campsites along the trail for those who might want to make this a two or more day adventure. One word of warning, the campsites are in low lying areas which may be subject to flash flooding. In fact many parts of this trail look like they could be very hazardous during heavy rains. You can visit the American Hiker Facebook Page to see many more pictures, several of which show just how much force the water has inflicted upon the earth here.

The greatest visual reward for this hike came as I rounded a bend in the trail and heard the sound of running water. Amidst the dead brown colors of winter was a small pool with the most vibrant green vegetation I have ever seen due to the stark contrast. The pool is fed by a stream coming from a nearby cave which the park signs say is temporarily closed. This photo can never do justice to the beauty Nature offered at this location.

As I expected the terrain was much easier to appreciate in the winter and this hike has given me a new found respect for winter hiking.

Meramec State Park

2007-07-02T19:13:00.000-07:00

Sunday July 1st I made a trip to our nearby Meramec State Park. The chiggers and ticks were in full effect, but it was only about 80 degrees some the hiking was pleasant. Below you can see pictures from the two trails I tackled. One important lesson that was learned quickly is do not count on your GPS in these heavily wooded areas. It turned out to be a great opportunity to strengthen map reading skills though.

Meramec State Park Bluff View Trail

2007-07-02T18:52:00.000-07:00

I tackled this short trail after completing the South Loop of the Wilderness Trail. Fair warning to anyone attempting this trail, there are many elevation changes and more than one spot where you may slip off a cliff and end up in the Meramec River or on the rocks below.

When you first enter the trail from picnic area 3 you are greeted with this grand view of the bluffs. I startled another deer here who must have been part mountain goat.

Along the trail there are a few of these structures that offer great views.

Watch your step along the trail as the vegetation hides some slick rocks and sudden falls.

At a few points you will be down at river level, where it is swim at your own risk. I would suggest not swimming in this river.

Once you pass the dining lodge and some cabins the trail loops back through these woods.

Meramec State Park Wilderness Trail SL

2007-07-02T18:13:00.000-07:00

Well this is the trail head where it all began in beautiful Meramec State Park. I hiked the South Loop on Sunday, and took my time.

Most of the the South Loop follows stream beds like this one. I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination but I would avoid this trail if there is any chance of flash flooding.

Along the way you will find many places where the rock has been carved out by mother nature.

On this lazy Sunday afternoon a still haze floated across the forest floor.

Shorty before you reach the 185 spur, you will find taller cliffs like this one.

Not sure who takes up residence in this small cave, but it is near a water source so I am sure there is no vacancy.

If you have been in the near by Meramec Caverns a small pool like this makes you wonder just what might actually lie beneath this pool.

A bit north of the 185 spur the forest changes a bit and almost looks manicured.

You might be asking yourself, why a picture of a road. Well reaching this road was an accomplishment for my gravity challenged self. The contour lines on the map do not lie here, the incline gets a bit steeper. Once you hit the ridge road you are home free on a nice stroll back to the trail head.

Short Trip

2007-06-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

Well we ( Buckwheat and I ) went for a short walk yesterday. I was hoping for another good 5 to 6 mile trek down the wooded bike path, but thunderstorms and Buckwheat's aversion to rain cut that short. It was a good first trial of the Camel Back pack, which carries nicely. Loaded with my water and Buckwheat's water and bowl the pack was probably only 20 pounds or so. The weather this weekend should clear up by Sunday, so I am looking forward to a 10 mile hike in Meramec State Park.

The character in the picture is Buckwheat, my rain fearing dog.

Camel Back

2007-06-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

Well I got another piece of gear last night. I picked up a Camel Back pack with a 3 liter hydration reservoir. I packed it up last night, and hope to give it a test run tonight on our local walking trail with a short 5 mile walk.

Mark Twain Lake Text

2007-06-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

The first adventure was to Mark Twain Lake here in Missouri. It was more of a drive than a hike, just to test out the new GPS. Until I get all my gear together, real hikes will be on hold.

The lake photos are taken from the Buzzards Roost picnic area. The small home is Mark Twain's birth home.

This lake is absolutely beautiful, with many limestone cliffs surrounding it. I would recommend a trip to this lake to anyone wanting to enjoy the water without the huge crowds found elsewhere.

Pictures taken 24 June 2007.

Mark Twain Lake

2007-06-27T14:06:00.000-07:00

The Adventure Begins

2007-06-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

Well, hello folks! First things first, I'm not much of a hiker yet, so this blog will document my learning process and hopefully people can learn from my mistakes. The primary mission for this blog will be to share photos from my adventures and the lessons I learn along the way.

I have sort of stumbled upon hiking recently, and my interest in it is consuming me. Had you asked me a year ago to go camping or hiking I would have explain the Army had cured me of any interest in such activities. But a recent gift of a GPS lit the fire. Anyway I hope everyone enjoys the stories and photos.