Date: 2008-02-02
To: Gear: A Week in Review
Miles today: 0.0

This week was a very exciting gear week.I received my quilt and down jacket kits the week before, and I finally bought the other supplied I needed (thread and tape) this week. I have yet to actually cut and sew because I am a master procrastinator. Kelli and I have a Grand Canyon trip planned at the end of this month, so there is a firm deadline. I'll start soon. Really. Maybe even tomorrow.I also received my ULA Circuit pack. I've only used it once so far, but I like it. At some point I will do quite a bit of extraneous strap surgery; I've never had a pack with so many straps! Well, my first pack, a 7 lb (!) Arc'Teryx Bora 65 back in 2001, probably had as many straps, but I never really used the thing since I soon realized 7 lbs was ridiculous.Also this week, I received the Patagonia Wool 2 Zip Neck shirt that will be my long sleeve base layer (oooooh, Patagucci). I've been meaning to try wool ever since I went to New Zealand and saw the massive Icebreaker love. But, I'm not giving up my New Zealand purple stripy bottoms which are polypro. Yes, I will be making quite the fashion statement. Back to the shirt - preliminary testing reveals it's thinner than expected, but very warm, and not at all itchy. Go wool!I also ordered an AT buff and Companion guide from the ATC (Appalachian Trail Conservancy).The best buy of the week, which I can still hardly believe, was a pair of Chacos with the Terreno sole! Allow me to explain, then translate.I love Chaco sandals. I own two pairs, one with 7 years on 'em, that I wear every single day (even when I visited Ohio this Thanksgiving). I have occasionally used them for hiking in the past, but hadn't considered them for a thru-hike until discussing my footware woes with a friend. See, when hiking my feet are incredibly prone to blisters. On the PCT, after skipping 60 miles and hobbling pretty much until Agua Dulce (mile 454.4) due to blisters, I finally found a shoe that made my feet happy. New Balance of course ceased production of that very shoe. On the JMT, using a different shoe, my feet blistered so badly I had to get off the trail - I just couldn't keep up with my group. But, the astonishingly easy answer was provided by my friend: Hike in the Chacos.My Chacos rarely give me blisters, and certainly never to the extent shoes or boots have. I've been training for my AT hike since August by walking 5 miles to work several times a week, and occasionally day hiking on the weekends. I have gotten five blisters, most of them early on in the same place on one toe (which no longer blisters as the skin has toughened). Problem solved!Chaco offers different soles for their sandals, the best one for hiking being the Terreno. They of course discontinued that sole a few years ago. I've been looking off and on over the past year for a pair with Terreno soles for my hike, but have only occasionally seen them on Ebay in my size (the ever popular Women's 9). But, this week, as I was facing the loss of an Ebay auction for a pair I wasn't sure I wanted due to the price and condition, I spotted a brand new pair, in my size, in my color (green), with free next day shipping on Zappos.com!There was much rejoicing, then much fretting that perhaps the website was incorrect and I would receive a pair of Chacos sans Terreno sole. But, they arrived the next day in all their heavy, lugged sole glory! Seriously, what are the chances?!Pictures of my loot coming soon, along with entries on mental and physical preparation, monkeys, my hike contract, cell phones, and more.