Forced Weekly Inspiration

Nancy Norris, 59, is a mother of 4 and grandmother of 4. From Flint, MI, she attempted to be the oldest woman to summit Mt. Everest in Spring 2009. Illness forced her to turn back. The point is...she tried.




"We don't stop hiking because we grow old,
we grow old because we stop hiking."

-- Finis Mitchell

Mocking the Catalog Cliches

For those of you who feel the need to "Keep up with the Joneses", this will assist in breaking through the Pottery Barn "norm!" This site had me rolling!

Catalog Living

Hi Nancy, it's Elaine. I'm going to be a little late for lunch. I can't find my hat or my back-up hat.

Oh dear, our Q-Tip decanter is almost 1/5th depleted

Trekking Poles: When "Women Specific" Matters

Gear can be confusing and intimidating, particularly for women. It is always a pet peeve of mine when I arrive at an outdoor retailer and am ignored or talked down to because of my gender in the increasingly tech-laden realm that is the outdoors. But having quality equipment is important. Sure, you don't need to have top-of-the-line EVERYTHING...after all, being outside isn't about the accumulation of STUFF...but you want dependability and durability, particularly in the backcountry.

TREKKING POLES 101
There are hundred of options out there. You can now buy trekking poles anywhere from Walmart to Backwoods to COSTCO (COSTCO, people!) but how do you know which to buy? Here are a few things to consider before you buy.

FOR WHAT PURPOSE?: We are all mountaineers...in our minds. In reality, our lifestyles aren't always the year-long backpacking trips we'd love them to be. You need to consider the "whens" and "wheres" before buying a pair of trekking poles because they can be designed for specific activities. Are you hiking a paved trail and just need extra balance? Are you looking for stability on a hilly jaunt in the bluffs? Are you descending into the Grand Canyon? Hiking the Inca Trail? Be realistic...there's no reason to pay for more than you need.

WEIGHT: Carbon fiber poles are lighter but *slightly* less durable. Aluminum poles are heavier. It may seem silly, but on a 4 day hike, you may develop arm fatigue with heavy poles. No big deal if you plan for that in training. Keep in mind, contrary to common sense, smaller/lighter = more expensive in the gear world.

FIT: Generally, you're going to want your arm at a 90 degree angle for level hiking. Shorten your trekking poles for uphill travel to save the stretching and lengthen them when heading downhill for better bracing and shock absorption. Try a prospective pole at all lengths to see how comfortable it is.

ANTI-SHOCK: For steep up and down, I would ALWAYS advise to go for the anti-shock. Many a hiker has been saved from a fall or a knee-replacement by taking some of the strain off their joints using this tool. It is common for the youthful among us to skip this feature. If you're doing serious hiking, don't skimp here. Go for the anti-shock and gain a few more years of healthy hiking. Some companies put their shock mechanisms in the grip, others in the pole shaft. Make sure, if it has an on/off device, it is easy to work. Then, try it again with gloves on.

LOCKING MECHANISM: The shaft of a trekking pole is usually split into 2-3 pieces that telescope as needed. This is how you adjust your fit. You'll want to make sure you understand how to lock off the adjustment so your pole doesn't collapse on trail. Some will use a twist-lock system, which uses pressure to secure your pole. Others, utilize a flip-lock, which I have found to be much easier to use in cold/wet environments. If you go flip-lock, make sure you carry a little multi-tool with you as well as the locks will occasionally need tightening.

GRIP: The grip should be angled to support a natural wrist bend. A pole should never be straight up and down, tip to grip. Grips can be plastic, foam, cork or rubber. All have pros and cons. Plastic is generally found on the cheaper models and can lead to blistering more than other options. Foam and Cork will absorb sweat, allowing for better grip and are more likely to mold to your hand over time. Rubber offers a better grip under a glove, making it more ideal in cold weather.

WOMEN-SPECIFIC: When designated a "woman's" pole, it generally means it has all or a combination of the following:
*Lighter weight
*Smaller Hand Grip
*Shorter Telescoping Ability
*Fancy-Pants Floral Design
Most women can use a unisex pole. If you are petite or if weight/size is an issue for travelling, then it might be worthwhile to get women-specific poles.

You can get women's trekking poles from LEKI, REI, GARMONT, BLACK DIAMOND and KOMPERDELL...just to name a few. Of course, I have my favorites, but now YOU have the tools so you make the call.

I'd love to hear what you find....

HAPPY HIKING!

Hollie's Two Cents (one for each of her 'lil Chicks)

What does it mean to be a Real Chick?!?!



SO many thoughts come to mind!!! When I worked as substance abuse counselor with adolescents I was struck by so many young girls with no self esteem, unhealthy relationships, and of course the chemical abuse issues. So many of them were ready to give up on life because of a break up, a fight, or a bit of mean gossip in the high school hall. I Really think of this when I think of Real Chicks, specifically how much I longed to show those girls that THE WORLD IS BIGGER THAN THE GOSSIP IN THE HIGH SCHOOL HALL. (Or for us older girls the check-out line at HyVee {or Whole Foods-lol}, the laundry room, the TV, the 9 to 5 job, the errand running and house cleaning.) THE WORLD IS BIGGER! I think of those young girls often, and those that can see the world as BIG- not just the guy next to them in science class or the party Friday night; but as mountains and valleys, planes and road trips, rivers and oceans, trails and puddles, new food and new places and new friends, challenges, goals, practice, failure, second (third, fourth, fifth) tries, a spiritual journey, laughter, future, HOPE- those are the girls that have a fighting chance.



Especially now that I have two lil’ Chicks of my own- I want to show them this BIG world. And know that when they face those moments of fear, insecurity, and inevitable adolescent (and adulthood) difficulties they will know the world is bigger, the future is bigger, and they are not alone.




That is what Real Chicks epitomizes to me. Women having fun, being healthy, creating adventures and passing it on! In whatever way they love! (For me, it is running, lifting weights, hiking, cooking, eating, exploring, and enjoying true friendships-the list goes on and on!!) Embracing that exciting big world out there we are so blessed to live in!!! My youngest even got to hike with us a few times before she was born- nothing like hiking while almost eight months pregnant to make a gal feel like a Real Chick! I hope that all women- grandmas, CEO’s, seasoned tri-athletes, to waddling preggos and adolescent girls get to embrace their Real Chick- to have that moment when they decide to take a chance and expand their world, too.