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SPRING BREAK IN THE ARCTIC

February 16, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

 

When most people think of spring break they conjure up images of white sand beaches, suntan lotion and Mai Tai’s.

There there’s Paul Hubner, CEO of Baffin, Canada’s largest brand of polar boots and apparel.  In a few short weeks, Paul and his three sons, Mark, 24, Brent, 21, and Ryan, 16, will trek across Baffin Island for two weeks.  While these four hardy souls may indeed see white, it will be the white of snow, ice, glaciers, Arctic Fox and Polar Bears.

Baffin Island in the Winter

Baffin Island in the Winter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average annual temperatures in Baffin come in at 18 degrees F, reaching a high of 48 degrees F in July and a low of -27 degrees F in February.  While March is one of the driest months in Baffin, it’s also one of the coldest, not to mention a lack of sunlight suitable for tanning.  Trekking across Baffin Island in March, when temperatures can drop well below zero, offers a different challenge than Spring Break at Daytona Beach.

Arctic Comfort

Arctic Comfort

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I met Paul Hubner a few weeks ago at the Winter Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, Utah.  He’s a strong, made-for-the outdoors kind of guy, with a goal of making the best gear for extreme conditions.  While most of their current gear is designed for the extreme conditions in polar regions, Baffin is committed to making the best gear for all extreme conditions.

My company, Walking The World, operates small group adventures around the world for those 50 years of age and better.  While most of us won’t be trekking across the Arctic in wintertime, we can always use high quality cold weather gear.  Snowshoeing is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S., and there are plenty of times when I’ve been out in Colorado’s mountains in cold weather conditions.  The soft shell jacket and base layers, made by Baffin, I tried on at the Winter Outdoor Retailer Show in January, 2012, were not only of exceptionally high quality but the design and fit made me want to take the items home with me right then and there.  I’m looking forward to my own tests of Baffin’s polar gear.

Can’t seem to keep your feet warm in cold weather months?  Try a pair of Baffin footwear.  The layering system in their boots does a great job of wicking moisture from one’s feet outward to keep feet dry and warm.  Paul Hubner tests Baffin gear in the harshest conditions, probably a wee bit colder than what most of us will encounter in our adventures.  So you know their gear will do the job.

Okay, a few interesting facts about Baffin.

1.  Most of Baffin Island is above the Arctic Circle.
2. 11,000 people live on Baffin Island – based on 2007 figures.
3. Baffin is the world’s 5th largest island.
4. Highest point on Baffin is 7,044 feet.
5. If you like Base Jumping, spread your wings in Baffin.  One side of Baffin’s Mount Thor sports a vertical cliff face of 4,100 feet, one of the largest in the world. 
6. Baffin was named after the English explorer William Baffin

Now, you might be thinking that a winter trek across Baffin, with freezing temperatures and low light levels, might not offer much beyond a physical test.  Not so.  While doing some research on Baffin Island I came across the website of another polar explorer, famous in his own right, George Kourounis, and his photos taken during one expedition in March of 2009.  George is, in his own words, an “Explorer/Adventurer and Storm Chaser” and his TV series, ANGRY PLANET, airs worldwide.  If you visit his site, you’ll be as amazed as I was at the variety and magnitude of his adventures.  And his photos will make you want to head out the door today!

George Kourounis - Adventurer/Explorer

George Kourounis - Adventurer/Explorer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2009, during a ten-day polar expedition survival training program on Baffin Island, George captured in photos some of the unmatched raw beauty of the Arctic in winter.  George has graciously allowed me to include some of his photos in this story.  Interestingly, Paul Huber and his son Ryan, soon to trek across Baffin Island, were also on the same polar expedition survival training program.

Winter Beauty in the Arctic

Winter Beauty in the Arctic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While Paul Hubner and his three sons will be trekking across Baffin Island this March, 2012, George will be embarking on an epic journey he calls the “Coast to Coast to Coast Road Trip” across the breadth and width of Canada.  The goal:  document winter’s worst weather.  Sounds like a serious, challenging and rewarding adventure.

Just Another Day on the Trail

Just Another Day on the Trail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A very special thanks to George Kourounis for allowing me to use photos from his Arctic Adventures.  All photos in this blog are coutesy of George.  George is right now documenting some of the worst winter weather in Canada on his Coast to Coast to Coast Road Trip.

Me?  I’ll be doing a lot of walking trips by exploring the top day hikes in all 50 states in the U.S.  I can’t say I’ll encounter the same harsh conditions as these accomplished explorers, but I’m looking forward to discovering more magical corners of this great planet right here in the U.S.

Stay tuned.

In Adventure,

Ward Luthi
Walking The World
www.walkingtheworld.com

Filed Under: Adventure Travel, Outdoor Gear, Walking The World, walking trips, Ward Luthi, Winter Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Walking On a Snowy Day

February 3, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

It’s snowing here in Colorado and has been since last night.

For most of this winter, our snowfall has been light and our snowpack far below normal for this time of year.  Today though, the snow is swirling down in big flakes and sticking.  So – it’s time to go out for some winter fun.  While tomorrow I may head to the hills for some snowshoeing, today I’m heading out for a walk.

I love walking outside on snowy days.  When I headed out today, it was late afternoon, the snow was coming down in bunches and it was a bit cold.  However, there is a quietness when it’s snowing that one rarely experiences outside of rural or wilderness areas.  With the snow covering everything, sounds are dampened, muffled.  Everything has a soft, quiet feel to it.  There were a few birds singing out their greetings once in a while but other than that it was pure quiet.  Walking on snowy days is a kind of mediation.  A walk on a snowy day is certainly good for my soul.

A few thoughts if you like walking outside on cold, snowy days.

1.  Warm-up before heading out for your walk.  Do some easy warm-up exercises indoors first to get your blood flowing before heading out into the cold.  That way you can start moving as soon as you step out the door.

2. Drink plenty of water.  Staying hydrated is just is important in cold weather as it is in warm.  Every time you breathe in cold air, you have to heat it to body temperature and bring that cold air up to the moisture content of your body.  Don’t fall into the trap of thinking because it’s cold you don’t need to drink.  DRINK!  DRINK!  DRINK!

3. Frozen Lungs.  Won’t happen.  There’s a myth that if you breathe cold air, you can freeze your lungs.  By the time air gets to your lungs, it’s has to be heated to body temperature.  It may still FEEL like your lungs are freezing but you should live to breathe another day. So it’s not really necessary to wear a scarf unless it’s to protect your face.   Unlike your lungs, your skin can be affected by the cold.

4. Protect your extremities.  I love walking when it’s snowing outside. It’s fun.  It’s like a romantic adventure, like walking in the footsteps of polar explorers – except I can turn around and go back any time I want.  All that being said, I wear my lightweight hiking boots on days like today.  My New Balance running shoes are not waterproof and are heavy on the mesh so today my feet would be soaked in short order.  My lightweight hikers are waterproof and heavier so they keep my feet dry and warm as long as I continue moving.

5. Ok, here’s another myth – that we lose up to 40% of our body heat through our head. Not true. A number of studies show heat loss through any exposed skin on the human body is about the same as any other area of exposed skin.   From the scalp, heat loss tends to level off at about 7% except at the beginning of heavy exercise when the heat loss increases due to more blood flowing to your brain.  However, as you continue to exercise and start to sweat, blood flow to the brain decreases and so does heat loss from the scalp.  Still, wearing a hat and gloves, even lightweight models, helps reduce loss of body heat at all times.  On my walk today, there was a moderate wind and the snow was a wet snow.  In most cases I would recommend a waterproof and windproof lightweight glove for comfort.  Unless it’s really cold you should be fine.  Most importantly, always have a lightweight hat and gloves along during any exercise in the cold, just in case!

6. Sunglasses. Snow reflects light, so give your eyes some protection by taking sunglasses with you on a walk when snow is on the ground or in the air.  True, falling snow may be a problem (where are the windshield wipers for sunglasses?) but like hats and gloves, it’s always good to have your sunglasses available should you need them.

7. Protect your lips.  Cold days, whether it’s snowing or not, can be rough on the lips.  A good chapstick can help.  Apply liberally before heading out and keep applying as you walk.

8. Non-slip soles on your footwear.  If the surface you’re walking on is dry and clear of all ice, non-slip soles are not crucial.  However, if there’s even the hint of slick spots where you’re walking, make sure your footwear has soles that provide good traction.  In really icy terrain, try more robust non-slip soles like Kahtoola’s MICROspikes that I wrote about in an earlier post.

9. Always remember that life is to be lived fully.  So don’t limit your walking to days when the weather and temperatures are perfect.  Keep repeating the following mantra:  GO NOW, GO OFTEN AND HAVE FUN – TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE!

I’m off for a walk toward the North Pole – well, a short distance towards the North Pole at least!  I encourage you to head out on some walking trips of your own!   Talk to you soon!

Ward Luthi
Walking The World
www.walkingtheworld.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Walking, Walking The World, Ward Luthi, Winter Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Walking on Water with Kahtoola’s MTN Snowshoes!

January 7, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

Walking on Water with Kahtoola’s MTN Snowshoes!

When I stepped outside this morning, I could feel the warmth in the air.  Even though it’s January in Colorado, the temperatures were supposed to climb into the 60’s in my hometown of Ft. Collins, Colorado.  And with the forecast calling for relatively light winds, I figured it was a good day for an adventure in one of my favorite local destinations, Rocky Mountain National Park.

Of course, since it IS winter in Colorado, I’ll need to practice my techniques for walking on water – or as some call it – snowshoeing.  Now I know I’m taking a bit of liberty here with the definition of walking on water, but technically, since snow and ice are forms of water, I AM walking on water.  I suppose one could call my winter excursions “walking trips on water”.

Kahtoola, an innovative winter product company based in Flagstaff, Arizona, had earlier provided me with a pair of their MTN snowshoes to test.  You might also recognize some of Kahtoola’s other standout products:  MICROspikes, KTS crampons and the RNR Lightweight Running Snowshoe.

I figured this was a good day to see how the MTN Snowshoes performed on trails that were snow packed and in off-trail situations that were a mixture of windblown and loose snow.

And what a glorious day it was.  The temperature gage at the Bear Lake Ranger Station in RMNP showed 40 degrees.  With clear, sunny skies it was a great day to be cruising through the snow beneath stately pines.

Kahtoola's MTN Snowshoes

Kahtoola's MTN Snowshoes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kahtoola’s MTN snowshoes are an ingenuous two part design that combines an 8-point crampon with a lightweight snowshoe.  As a system, I can now carry “one integrated piece” rather than a separate set of full crampons as well as snowshoes.  So I save weight and space in my pack.

Kahtoola MTN Snowshoes

Kahtoola MTN Snowshoes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kahtoola’s MTN snowshoes have a patented width adjustment system that allows one pair of snowshoes to be worn comfortably by anyone from those with small feet, think a size six women’s running shoe, to a size14 insulated men’s boot.  As anyone who has worked with footwear can attest, developing a lightweight workable product that fits this wide a range of feet is remarkable in itself.

The Trail Crampon

The trail crampons are basically like the front-half of a full set of crampons, with 8 teeth that are longer and wider than the teeth found on Kahtoola’s MICROspikes but smaller than the spikes on most regular crampons.

The back two teeth of the trail crampon are serrated and the two teeth that lock into the spring system on the snowshoe are notched.

To step into the trail crampon with your boot, first adjust the width of the crampon to your boot.  The directions for doing this come with the MTN snowshoe and should be done at home rather than on the trail.  Because some of the parts needed to adjust the trail crampon are quite small and require a wee bit of dexterity, you should adjust the width at home.  Trying this on the trail in cold weather over loose snow is not a good option although it can be done.

Adjusting the strapping on the trail crampons is relatively easy to do and Kahtoola has provided a stretch band on the front of the crampon to lock down any excess strapping and a plastic clip on the back of the crampon for excess heel strapping.

The only part that is sometimes challenging on a cold day is making sure the rear strap that goes around your heel locks into the cleat on the metal buckle used to tighten the straps around your heel.

To click the trail crampon into the snowshoe deck, first make sure that the bars in the deck are visible.  If they are not, you won’t be able to click in.  This is simply a matter of remembering to reset the bars.  This can easily be done by pulling the “reset” tab.  Then it’s a simple matter of lining up the notched teeth in the trail crampon and clicking in to the snowshoe deck.  The first photo below shows no bars, the second photo shows the bars.

Kahtoola MTN Snowshoes

No bars showing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kahtoola MTN Snowshoes

Bars are showing here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To click your trail crampons out of the snowshoe deck, simply pull the “t-handle” and step out.  Voila!

In the photo below you can see the T-handle on the left, for releasing the trail crampon from the snowshoe deck.  The reset pull can be seen on the right of the photo just across from the T-handle.

Kahtoola MTN Snowshoes

T-handle and Reset pull

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts:

Having adjustable wings on the trail crampon allowed me to fairly precisely fit my boot into the trail crampon, making the crampon feel like it was built into my boots.  I liked the lightweight feel of the trail crampons and when clicked into the snowshoe deck, it was one of the most comfortable fits of any pair of snowshoes I’ve worn.

The lightweight and streamlined design of the snowshoes allowed me to walk quickly and easily on most surfaces, including the frozen lakes I crossed.

Clicking the trail crampons into the snowshoe deck was an easy process and made switching from trail crampon to snowshoe a breeze.

The MTN snowshoe does not include a heel lift bar for steep sections of trail or teeth along the bottom sides of the snowshoe for more secure travel on slopes.  However, overall the system worked well.  I had my ice axe so if I needed extra support on the slopes or going uphill I had it.

When using the Trail Crampon by itself, you’ll want to keep in mind that it’s basically only the front half of a regular crampon.  You’ll have no base and no teeth on the bottom back half of your boot.  Going downhill or traversing slopes will require more care than with a traditional crampon.  Overall, for most situations though, I felt secure.

I do a lot of walking whether it’s winter or not and I liked the ease of movement I had with the MSN Snowshoes.  Regardless of the terrain, I was able to move easily and quickly without feeling like my equipment was hindering me or without that “sluggish” feeling of some systems.

Being able to easily and quickly switch from trail crampon to snowshoe was a definite plus.

Conclusion:  An excellent system I would highly recommend.

Kahtoola MTN Snowshoes

Kahtoola MTN Snowshoes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snowshoeing is a great winter activity.  Buy or rent a pair of snowshoes and hit the trail.  Head out on your own or with friends or join a guided walking tour that includes trying out a variety of snowshoe brands.  You’ll love the beauty of winter and the quiet of a snow covered landscape.

Go now, Go Often, Have Fun and Take a Walk on the Wild Side!

GOOD WALKING!

Ward Luthi
Walking The World
www.walkingtheworld.com

Kahtoola, Inc.
431 River Run Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Toll-free: 866.330.8030
info@kahtoola.com
www.kahtoola.com

 

Filed Under: Adventure Travel, Outdoor Gear, Product Testing, Snowshoes, Uncategorized, Walking, Walking Tours, walking trips, Ward Luthi, Winter Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

WALKING ON ICE – KAHTOOLA TO THE RESCUE!

April 7, 2011 By admin 3 Comments

Winter is coming to an end and Spring is showing strong signs of taking over.  Still…areas of snow and ice remain, many that we’ll have to negotiate with our feet.

For years now, many of us have been looking for that product that will give us secure purchase on icy, snowy and slippery surfaces.  In just the past few years a number of companies have introduced products for the bottom of our shoes that supposedly will keep us upright and stable while navigating across slick surfaces.

Some products work fairly well, some do little to keep us secure, some slip off easily or come apart after only little use and some work well only on icy surfaces but not on hard surfaces, like concrete, asphalt or lakeside rocks, that we also have to cross to reach our destination.  There is one product though that I have to bring to your attention –Microspikes by Kahtoola.  www.kahtoola.com

This year, at the Winter Outdoor Retailer Show, the largest gathering of outdoor gear and clothing  manufacturers, retailers and specialty products in North America – www.outdoorretailer.com – I had the opportunity to test Kahtoola’s Microspikes.  Kahtoola had set up HUGE blocks of ice near their booth and had a variety of sizes of Microspikes for visitors to test.  My first image of someone testing the “spikes” was a gentleman dressed in a gorilla suit dancing to his own music…

Well, I figured if a gorilla could walk securely on ice using Microspikes, so could I!  I strapped on a pair ,  (Each Microspike has a ”front” label) and gingerly stepped up on the blocks of ice.  If you’ve ever been walking along only to have your feet slip out from under you because of an unseen slick spot, you know how hard the ground can feel when your body suddenly slams into it.

Walking on the ice in Microspikes was, to say the least, a delight.  Why?  Because the Microspikes dug into the ice, even when I tried some obviously uncoordinated dance and stretching moves.  There wasn’t even a hint of slippage whether I was moving forward or back or side to side.  They were bombproof on ice, slick surfaces and, yes, on hard surfaces like concrete or lakeside granite.

Fine you say, but what about in real world conditions?  How are they on real snow and ice and on hard surfaces?

I’m glad you asked.  To challenge my own perceptions, I and a friend hiked to Mills Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park to test the Microspikes on the frozen surface of Mills.  The granite runouts leading to the lake were free of snow, even though the lake was still frozen.

Wanting to see how effective Microspikes were on rock that was uneven and slick, I strapped my vivid red colored Microspikes on and headed toward the Lake.  Whether on rock or ice there was not even a hint of slippage.  After gallivanting around on the frozen lake for a bit I handed off the Microspikes to my friend Lexie, a yoga instructor.  Her goal was to see if the Kahtoola would hold her in a variety of poses –most that I couldn’t come close to doing.

 

 

While Lexie initially had a bit of trepidation when she was moving into a backbend pose, the Microspikes performed beautifully.  Her biggest concern became whether her gloves would hold her hands in place.

Packing Microspikes is easy since they’re made of a flexible rubber like material that folds easily into a pocket or a storage bag in your pack.

Conclusion:  Short of wearing full on crampons, which are too much for most applications, Kahtoola’s Microspikes are at the top of my list for footwear traction.  Priced at $59.95, Microspikes come in higher than many alternatives but are more than worth the added cost.  Think of what one quick fall could mean !

For more information on Microspikes, visit Kahtoola’s site at www.kahtoola.com.

HAPPY…SAFE…WINTER TRAVELS!

Ward Luthi
Walking The World
On the Loose at 50+

Filed Under: Adventure Travel, Outdoor Gear, Product Testing, Walking, Walking The World, Ward Luthi, Winter Travel Tagged With: , , , ,