What did you do barefoot or in VFF today?

[JustinB]

After years of wearing regular shoes I realized something yesterday in my VFF's...  how much I LOVED doing things barefoot but never could.  My feet never had the toughness to walk outside barefoot, now I can.  I always loved driving barefoot, but it's illegal, but now I can.  Over the last two days I drove well over 1000 miles barefoot (one day in VFF's the next bare).

So today in my VFF's i drove barefoot and it made me realize how much I wanted to be barefoot all these years.

[Shiraz-mataz]

...I always loved driving barefoot, but it's illegal, but now I can.

Justin, just so you know, it is NOT illegal to drive barefoot ANYWHERE in the U.S.!

[barefootin]

...I always loved driving barefoot, but it's illegal, but now I can.

Justin, just so you know, it is NOT illegal to drive barefoot ANYWHERE in the U.S.!
[/quote

Yup, not illegal to drive naked... well at least from the ankles down anyway.....   

[Stefanie]

I moved out of my b/f's house today in KSO Treks... moving sucks.. but breaking up sucks even more..



So is life..  I will survive

[pjgh]

You will, Stef! Bummer ...

[JustinB]

...I always loved driving barefoot, but it's illegal, but now I can.

Justin, just so you know, it is NOT illegal to drive barefoot ANYWHERE in the U.S.!

Apparently I was mistaken and fell victim to the urban legend.  I have ALWAYS enjoyed driving barefoot just never thought I was allowed

[delucio]

I moved out of my b/f's house today in KSO Treks... moving sucks.. but breaking up sucks even more..



So is life..  I will survive

Boo! Well I hope everything works out for you.

[Peter]

I got assaulted by a bee on my run this morning.   Like, really ... assaulted.  He attacked me out of nowhere and stung me on my forearm.  Thankfully it was the mildest sting I've ever had.  A couple hours later it was nothing but a tiny welt.

[The Yeti]

Just got back from my hike in the beautiful Kootenay National Park.  Hiked on the Rockwall trail, and it was one crazy grind. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, as were the insanely steep ascents over the passes. I went with a good friend of mine, and had a wonderful trip. Though I hate to say it, I had to retire my Treks half way through the second day, due to a knee problem. My friend was just bombing down the trail in his trail runners, and I was stepping a little more carefully in my treks to avoid the big rocks and the roots which covered the trail during the second ridiculously sloped descent we encountered that day. Due to the repetitive careful stepping, and the amount of force that was enacted on my knee from landing forefoot first and slowing myself down with a 40lb pack on, I developed a searing pain in my left knee. Thankfully it only hurt when I walked slowly downhill in that particular way.  For the rest of the hike I threw on my Nike Frees which I packed instead of my clunky hiking boots. I was able to pound down the trail with what I would describe as 'reckless abandon' for anything underfoot.  As much as I enjoyed trekking with my VFFs on my previous hike, I realised that there is a certain point in which some padding underfoot isn't the worst thing in the world. On my last hike, I had no problems with my VFF's, but then again the terrain was a lot less severe.

The Rockwall trail is listed as the most difficult hike in the Canadian Rockies out of two of the guidebooks I have. I know why know, due to the insane amount of elevation gain/loss. I liked going up a lot more than coming down. On day 1 we gained over 1000 meters of elevation, followed  immediately by an 800 meter descent in less than 5k. On day two we gained another 800 meters, then immediately lost another 600 meters and back up again for 400 meters. We levelled off for about 5k, then descended another 800 meters into camp. By that last downhill my knee had enough, and I threw on the Nikes and limped into camp. I think I could do it in VFF's at a later date, but I guess I need to work on my technique for going downhill with a pack on so I am not constantly braking. Until a time when I can do that, the Free's work great as a bad terrain hiking shoe. On the last day, we did a relatively flat 15k section with about 400 meters of drop, though it was all at once. I threw all of my barefoot experience out the window and started heel striking to keep my speed up so I wasn't braking, and my knee didn't bother me at all, except when I landed forefoot and slowed myself down. I brought my flows and they kept my feet pretty warm at camp, even though it was between 0-4 degrees celsius at night and in the mornings. They were fantastic for camp, and good to know I had them for river crossings just in case! A bridge crossing a fairly wide but shallow glacial river was just about to be closed for repairs but the guys working let us over. At least I was prepared! Otherwise we would have had to take a 10+ kilometer detour.

On a side note, there were 2 girls that started the trail at the same time that we did. The only difference was that they were running it. The whole 55 kilometers, plus the distance between trailheads, which put them in for a 70k run in one day, over the craziest terrain I've ever encountered. We ran into other hikers who were doing the trail in the opposite direction, and they all saw the girls running, even over the insanely steep ascents. Those girls were hardcore!!!

I'll have pictures up soon, but I would say it's another fantastic way to spend time in the rockies if you like backpacking and find yourself in southern Alberta/BC.

[JustinB]

Those are some CRAZY distances to run, let alone run them on hard terrain.  wow.

[The Yeti]

Both my friend and I thought the same thing. Wow. I wish I could have met them at the end of their run for a high five, because it was one crazy run.

I couldn't believe the number of couples nearing 60 years old doing that same trail. One couple we met said hello, turned off the trail and did a scramble to the top of a peak about 200 meters above one of the passes, with their packs on! It was awesome to see, and I really hope I have that much energy when I am that age. It was an inspiration!

We felt like we were pretty tough setting out to do this really difficult hike, and were definitely humbled by the other people on the trail. I am excited to go back, and most definitely will be!

[JustinB]

Nothing... cut my toe nails too short and it hurts to wear them today.. 

[Bushrod]

Nothing... cut my toe nails too short and it hurts to wear them today.. 

Nothing for me...dropped a paver on my big toe last weekend!

[Stefanie]

Nothing... cut my toe nails too short and it hurts to wear them today.. 

That is so ridiculous! Be more careful when you give yourself a pedicure! 


I ran 3 miles yesterday in my Bikila LS (treadmill running.. boring but keeps track of my distance for me +)
Today I only ran 1.75 miles and walked the rest up to 2. My foot felt uncomfortable and didn't want to push it.. always have in the back of my mind "TMTS, take it slow! Listen to your body!" Day off tomorrow, then back at it hopefully..

[JustinB]

Nothing... cut my toe nails too short and it hurts to wear them today.. 

That is so ridiculous! Be more careful when you give yourself a pedicure! 

Just means I'll wear my Mocs around the house intead of the KSO's.  Little more room for comfort.  :-)