I have a pair of Keen winter hiking boots that are 3-4 years old now but they are still great. Awesome traction and never any problem with cold or wet getting through. They look a lot like these - http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/...
I've got a lower version of those and also love them to death.
I am on my third pair of Lowa Tibet GTX boots.
They are great. I have hiked the souls off of two sets of them. Great boots.
Thanks all.
I might be way LTTP on this, but here's a great documentary of a through-hike of the John Muir trail. Can't recommend it strongly enough: Mile... Mile and a Half
Gonna be in Lenox, MA for the weekend starting tomorrow at 12 or so. Recommend any particular Berkshire trails?
Well I found some stuff 
Bash Bish Falls in Mt. Washington, MA:
Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary in Pittsfield, MA:
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Pittsfield, MA:
Lulu Cascade and nearby brook in Pittsfield, MA:
Middlesex Fells Reservation (3-4 miles outside Boston), did 8.2 miles on the Skyline and Resevoir Trail on Thursday because it was unseasonably warm. Almost 3500 feet in elevation gain total. Still sore -_-
Looks like some great places!
Hiked again today, 6.9 miles total and about 2400 feet in ascent total. Walked every bit of trail in Weir Hill Reservation, North Andover, MA. It's basically a couple large hills (barrens) overlooking a valley to the south and a lake to the north and east. Really enjoyed it. I should note I've been doing these hikes with ~30lbs on my back to condition for actual backpacking trips which I plan to start in April.
Not at all sure if these pictures will show up, trying new thing. I'll post tomorrow if they don't. Also apologies for spamming the thread a bit, but I'm really excited about hiking lately.
edit:
No apologies needed! I've had a ton of weekend work lately so it's nice to live vicariously through others who can get outside.
I've got a trip to Seattle coming up in May that I'm really looking forward to, I'm hoping to do some day hikes in the nearby national parks!
Double-posting for justice!
I've got a trip to Seattle coming up in May that I'm really looking forward to, I'm hoping to do some day hikes in the nearby national parks!
Ping me if you need trail recommendations. 
Man the weather took a huge turn for the good this week. Sadly I think it's going to rain this weekend but it's feeling like it's about time to bust out the gear.
Man the weather took a huge turn for the good this week. Sadly I think it's going to rain this weekend but it's feeling like it's about time to bust out the gear.
Yeah, I'm almost definitely going on my first overnight hike on Friday into Saturday morning. To test the new stuff!
Can't post pictures now, will later. I went on my first backpacking trip! Douglas State Forest in southern Massachusetts. It got colder than expected, down to 30 at the lowest on Friday night, but my gear worked as advertised and kept me comfy throughout. I started hiking Friday at 8am, took a lunchbreak from 11-12:30, walked again until 5. 13 miles total. My right knee was really killing me. Went to bed around 8 and slept mostly soundly until 6 the next morning. Broke camp around 8 and got back to my car by 9:15 or so.
Did this all solo, my first time sleeping outdoors alone. Wasn't creeped out or anything, but I kinda lacked things to do in camp once I set up. I need to take a class on starting fires or something, couldn't get it going.
Awesome pictures!
My secret weapon is an Altoids tin packed with cotton balls coated with Vasoline. Great fire starter.
Dryer lint was always my go-to as a scout.
I would pack dryer lint into a cardboard eggshell carton and keep it in place with melted wax. That made a dozen handy firestarters, and I would take one or two with me on trips in case I needed them. My girlfriend thought I was crazy when I told her I was saving dryer lint though.
Belly button lint is even better.
Belly button lint is even better.
"pre-oiled"
New hiking/camping transport vehicle!
(the dark grey 4Runner, not the loaded semi.)
... but I kinda lacked things to do in camp once I set up.
I always had a paperback with me when I was spending lots of time in the woods. Journaling, carving, fishing, practicing knots, and solving the worlds problems while watching the sun set are other ways I've filled "down" time in camp.
New hiking/camping transport vehicle!
(the dark grey 4Runner, not the loaded semi.)
I love my Highlander, but would really rather have a 4Runner.
Middlesex Fells Reservation (3-4 miles outside Boston), did 8.2 miles on the Skyline and Resevoir Trail on Thursday because it was unseasonably warm. Almost 3500 feet in elevation gain total. Still sore -_-
I used to live in Malden, and I was really pleasantly surprised when I discovered the Fells. For being smack in the middle of an urban area, it's surprisingly rugged, and the trails are not really kidding around, especially Skyline. It was always hilarious to go out there on a nice weekend and see City People who decided to go, and being completely unprepared. Lots of people in totally inappropriate footwear, carrying tote bags, and always at least one person glaring at someone else in the group, making it really easy to tell whose idea this was. I actually proposed to my wife somewhere along the Reservoir trail.
Water purification; I've seen some conflicting info as to what's sufficient, some sources say things like 'boil for 5 minutes' while others suggest that just bringing it to a boil is enough. Which is more accurate?
Further I would thinking boiling only helps for things that have an evaporation point at or below boiling temperature and for killing microbes, that still leaves a fair range of possible nastiness. Would you rate a filter as essential to your kit or merely nice to have?
Water purification; I've seen some conflicting info as to what's sufficient, some sources say things like 'boil for 5 minutes' while others suggest that just bringing it to a boil is enough. Which is more accurate?
Further I would thinking boiling only helps for things that have an evaporation point at or below boiling temperature and for killing microbes, that still leaves a fair range of possible nastiness. Would you rate a filter as essential to your kit or merely nice to have?
Having to boil water is a pain in the ass. A water filter is worth it for me purely in that regard.
As to whether it's necessary, it depends on how you hike. If a crippling case of the shits isn't dangerous for how you hike, then sure, take a pass on it.
The Sawyer Mini is small enough and cheap enough that I think it's in "might as well" range.
Water purification; I've seen some conflicting info as to what's sufficient, some sources say things like 'boil for 5 minutes' while others suggest that just bringing it to a boil is enough. Which is more accurate?
Further I would thinking boiling only helps for things that have an evaporation point at or below boiling temperature and for killing microbes, that still leaves a fair range of possible nastiness. Would you rate a filter as essential to your kit or merely nice to have?
That's not how boiling works at all. Boiling outright kills pathogens by creating a hostile environment, which is why it's the only real fully effective method.
That said, it can indeed be a pain, and unless you have reason to worry about virii, whatever filtration system fits your use case best should be fine.
It only involves camping if you really prefer sleeping outside, but if anyone gets a chance to hike the Camino de Santiago, take it. But try to avoid just doing the last 100km.
If you haven't seen it, The Way, directed by Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen, is a good movie based on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Available for streaming on Amazon and/or Netflix.
I love my Highlander, but would really rather have a 4Runner.
This is my first new vehicle, and ironically the one that'll be abused the most. It'll be interesting to see how the "expensive shiny new toy, must baby it!" side struggles with the "backcountry exploration vehicle, RAAAWR!" side.
Pages