Hurricane Ridge . . . Paradise In Our Own Backyard

God created many works of art in this world, and I know that if I were to live 10 lifetimes I would never see them all, but I can attempt to see the ones in my own backyard . . . so to speak. Washington State is home to rocky high desert, rolling fields of wheat, towering mountain ranges crowned with snow sparkling in the sun against a backdrop of crystal blue skies, lush rain forests, miles of coastline with waves crashing to shore with the tides, and even our own active volcano. It is my newfound opinion that one of the best ways to see these incredible sights is to plan hiking trips where this beauty can be absorbed and enjoyed completely. A drive into the country is nice, but the view whips by so quickly that you miss the little details that make up the entire panorama.


Our July trip took us to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains. I hadn't been there since I was really little girl, and my memories of the park consisted only of what I remember seeing in one photograph of me standing next to a snow bank. We packed our 30L daypacks with about 15 lbs of weight so I could get an idea of what it would feel like to hike with weight on my back, and away we went. As we climbed the hill to the park, each curve in the road gave us a new and even more stunning view than the one we just left behind. By the time we got to the parking lot I was so excited I could barely contain myself, and I wasn't disappointed in what awaited us.

We parked and walked to the lodge where the gift shop, cafe and restrooms were and browsed for a few moments. I was absolutely filled with joy to see 6 deer of various ages roaming around amongst the wildflowers, completely unafraid of the humans who paused to take pictures.
It is a worry though - the wrong people could show up someday and the moment they venture out of the park they are prime fodder for poachers. For the moment though, we wandered a couple short trails, and the deer wandered after us.
I wanted so badly to be able to reach out and pet them, but no matter how friendly and calm they are, they are still wild animals and it wouldn't do to get human scent on them, even if they did let me pet them. Hard to keep from reaching out to such a beautiful creature though. Especially when we saw a new baby - maybe 2 months old - with its mama. Oh my gosh! My heart just melted. She quickly urged him away from the humans, but we got enough of a look at them to truly appreciate that this was the definition of cute in motion!

With our packs loaded with water, snacks and bug spray, we took a look at the map of the trails in the park and we headed out. . . and up. The main paved trails had plenty of people on them, so we decided to head up to the unpaved trails, which was a good choice because the further we went the fewer people we encountered. Each
step brought us breathtaking views each better than a few steps before. At one point on the trail we were walking along the side of a hill, a steep incline to our left, and an equally steep drop to our right. The trail was not very wide, and if I'd taken an errant step or placed my trekking pole incorrectly I could have easily slipped down the hill. Surprisingly enough I wasn't afraid, even though heights are one of the things that make me a little shaky with fear. It was actually invigorating! A couple of times, because of the steep incline in the trail, I did get winded and have to stop for some water and to catch my breath, but recovery came quickly and each time I stopped and took a look around to see how far we'd climbed I marveled at the view and was completely thrilled and humbled by the fact that just a year ago I wouldn't have physically been able to do this with as much ease as I was doing it that day. It made me want to giggle and shed a few tears all at the same time.

Though we only hiked about 4 miles total, I definitely got a good taste of how it felt to be walking at a moderate rate of speed with a backpack. We stopped to rest a bit and I realized my back was soaked with sweat. I knew I was hot, but the
instant relief and immediate cooling I experienced when I took off the pack and the air hit my wet shirt - so it is my plan to save up and buy a pack that has special contoured back panels built into the pack so it allows air to flow between the pack and the back of the hiker, which will increase comfort and reduce overheating. I'll use the one I have for now - but it is definitely on my wish list. After letting my back cool off, and taking a break while just taking in the view, we loaded back up and headed down again. This was an incredible hike both going in, and coming back out.

I learned from this trip that we take our own area for granted, and many do not appreciate the natural resources we've been blessed with. I learned that I am SO
ready to hike in on an overnight trip - I know it'll be more difficult with my gear for sleeping out on my back, but I am very excited to try it. Now we just have to plan WHERE that will be! I also know that we have barely scratched the surface of what Hurricane Ridge has to offer, so we need to plan more trips to further enjoy the pristine beauty that the park has to offer. It is my hope that my first overnight trip with my gear on my back will happen in August, somewhere in the pristine beauty that is the Olympic Forest . . . right in our own backyard.

I'm Exhausted, I'm Muddy, I'm Sure I'll Be Sore Tomorrow . . . and I'm Ready To Go Again!!!

Sunday morning dawns misty and cool. Doesn't stop the mosquitoes though - nothing really seems to affect them - rain or shine there they are, ready to make a meal out of any exposed skin - and even some that isn't exposed. We heat up some water on our camp stove for coffee and oatmeal, pack up all of our gear, get it settled in the car, put what we need for our hike into our day packs, and away we go.

At the trail head we spray ourselves down with bug repellent, put on our boots, grab our packs and trekking poles and get started. The trail starts out mostly level, but it's been a wet season, so there were lots of mucky spots. The muck turned to straight up, thick, gooey mud. As the grade of the trail increased the mud made it more difficult. I learned as I went, through R's patient instruction, to carefully consider the placement of my next step; to trust my boots, keep my knees flexed and place my trekking pole so I have 2 points of contact at all time. That last one I learned the hard way. . . I was lifting my pole and my foot at the same time, and of course placing them at the same time. I was at a steep downward spot in the trail and the thing I'd been trying to avoid most happened, my feet slipped right out from under me and I was sliding, backside firmly in the mud, down the trail. Problem was the ground was wet and slick, so I couldn't get my feet OR my pole to set firmly so I could get up. R had to help me up, and explained once again how to set the pole BEFORE I lifted my foot. 3 points of contact before I took a step, carefully deciding where to step before I actually stepped there. Once I was covered with mud from my mid back to the backs of my feet, the fear of falling down was over (been there/done that).
I was only using 1 trekking pole, however I have a set of two and on the big overnight hike I hope to go on sometime soon I will use both of them. The extra support really comes in handy and raises both the confidence and safety level.

The trail got a little steep in places, but the beauty of it all was that I was doing it! I wasn't so out of breath I couldn't speak, and it washed over me that I was experiencing my body working hard for me without me hating every moment of it! I was caught between a moment of wanting to shout with joy, and tearing up a little.
I didn't do either one, I just kept on walking. I knew we were nearing the more highly traveled trails when we saw this incredible bridge/step set up. As we climbed the stairs we looked out at the ferns and other foliage growing amongst the trees. This little guy was just hanging out on his moss covered rock, happy to be in the cool shade. Had to stop and pay him a little visit along the way.

About half mile or so after the stair climb we broke out of the trees and made our way to the top end of the trail. The sign at the top said "Warning, Difficult and Some Hazardous Conditions May Apply". I'm awfully glad the trail at the bottom hadn't said that or I may have opted to pass on this hike, and it was worth every single step of the way.


We took a little while to rest at the top, and gaze out at the beauty before us. What an incredible day this has been! We ate a little snack, had a break at the rest area near the gift shop, and headed back down. I'd like to go back someday and do this hike again. No matter how many times I see this view, it'll never be enough.

Kicking Back and Absorbing the View . . .

With our morning hike accomplished, and an amazing lunch in our tummies, we decided to kick back and enjoy the view. The sun was out and warm on our backs and just listening to the symphony of nature all around us as the waves crashed onto the cliffs, the seabirds harmonizing as they swooped and dove. We don't sit for long though - there are too many things to see and do while at the beach. We climbed around on the driftwood out along the jetty for awhile, exploring the tidepools, and admiring the sparkle of the sand in the sun, and the strength of the wildflowers pushing their way through rock and driftwood barriers. After awhile of exploring the driftwood and enjoying the sun, we headed back to the beach near our campsite for some time walking in the sand and combing the beach.

There's a sense of awe I get while at the coast that is so hard to describe. The song of the surf is at once peaceful and awe inspiring. The power of God is manifested in physical form just by the very immensity of this creation, the endless flow of complexity of life He infused into the ebb and flow of the ocean. I could sit and absorb the sight and sound for days and never get enough.

Sadly enough as I watched children running and playing in the sand, I couldn't help but wonder if their little systems were taking in contamination from the Japanese nuclear catastrophe. I usually pick up shells and rocks to bring home as souvenirs, but not this time. I was ever concious of the mist hitting my skin, the knowledge that everything I touched, was potentially causing future harm. Sad to have such mixed feelings at such an incredibly beautiful place. We happened on this mess of metal washed ashore, and I had to wonder where it came from and why it was here. I'll never know, but it does make one ponder the vast power of the waves that brought it to rest at this, its final resting place. I'm sure in the months and years to come beach combing will take on new meaning as more and more debris washes ashore, but I get mental pictures of having to wear special protective gear for a simple beach walk. Sort of melancholy thoughts to be having on such a beautiful day.


In the distance on the beach we saw a cliff rising out of the sand, hardy wildflowers clinging with determination to its rocky walls. Of course when faced with such an obstacle the obvious conclusion is, there's a wall! We must scale that wall to see what's on top!!! Isn't that what everyone says?

The cliff looked closer than it really was! We walked and walked, leaving behind the families who were playing in the sand near the trailhead to the campground, their voices melting into sounds of the wind and the waves. I'm not a big fan of heights, so I admit to not making it to the top, but I did manage to get up a little ways, enough to really get a great view and feel a little triumphant! I have to say though, in spite of not wearing climbing shoes, and carrying a lit cigar, R made it up just fine! The day was getting to the point where we wanted dinner, and the promise of a campfire and some hot dogs waiting for us back at the campsite. We climbed back down to the beach, and made our way back to the trail head. I can't help it, I stop every few feet to admire the view, take deep breaths of the clean, salty air and watch the sea birds race along the water as it ebbs and flows. We'd be back later to see the sunset, but it wasn't easy to pull myself away from the sight.

Back at camp, the sun starting to go down, and the mosquitoes out in flocks (I know that that is not the official word for it but these bugs were nearly the size of birds!), R got our fire going so we could roast our hot dogs and marshmallows over the flames.
It was nice to sit for awhile and relax by the fire, reviewing the day and feeling content with all we had done and seen. Funny thing about heading out on a trip - you can put so much into the time you are given and it feels like you pack so much into the short time away, when at home the time races by and you find yourself on Monday wondering how it went by without anything to show for it. Here we were, just on Saturday evening with a full day to spend having fun and appreciating nature. Can't beat that!

After relaxing for a bit, watching the flames, we headed back down to the beach for sunset - we were only going to get one and we wanted to enjoy it completely. What a sight! Absolutely incredible! Whenever I see sun rays coming down from the clouds I remember my Grandmother telling me once that the sight of the rays made her think of Jesus reaching down from heaven. I think that too, and smile as I remember her saying it to me when I was small. There was a line of birds flying in single file that were so incredible to watch! They would fly down along above the waves, swooping down low over where the water kissed the sand, then fly up and around in a circle back to where they started and swoop down over the water again. I know they were searching for tidbits of food with each wave, but the fascination for me was the precision of their flight.


The sun has gone to bed, and it is time for us to go to bed too. Tomorrow the plan is to go on a longer, more difficult hike. If we are successful in reaching the lighthouse at the top of the cliffs we will consider treating ourselves to another of those amazing pizza. Ok, who am I kidding? Regardless of whether or not we reach the lighthouse, we'll be getting another pizza.

Unexpected Surprises . . .

On our way to find the trails the 1st day in Cape Disappointment we saw a small building with this sign on it. Pizza? In a park? No way! We parked the car, and headed out on our walk, and when we returned the doors were open and out of curiousity we stopped to check out a menu. Oh my goodness, the menu looked amazing! The owner was so friendly and seemed happy to visit with us and tell us all about his business, his specially designed oven, and how he came to have this pizza place in a renovated bus stop in the middle of a state park. He told us that the fire took 2 hours to get hot enough to make the first pizza of the day, and that he'd be ready to make the first one of the day at 12:00. It was 10:00 in the morning, and our tummies were already grumbling with anticipation, so we took a menu to read through and make a very difficult decision on what to get, and headed into town to get some wood and go browse Jack's Country Store while we waited for the oven to heat.

Just about 3 hours later we returned to the park, with a backseat full of firewood, too many camping snacks (it's true - you should NEVER go to the store when you're hungry), and an appetite for pizza. R and I have pretty clear ideas what we each think of as perfect pizza toppings. His pizzas need pepperoni to make his feast complete, I prefer chicken. So we decided on half and half - meat lovers on his half
and chicken, basil and 3 (or was it 4?) cheeses on mine. We watched the owner's wife so carefully and meticulously create our pizza, then watch it as it baked in the woodfire oven, turning it bit by bit to make sure that it was evenly cooked all the way around. The aroma that wafted out to us on the breeze was amazing. We went to a picnic table and sat to wait for our pizza, appreciating that the sun had come out, the ocean breeze blew over us, and we were ready for what was to be the most incredible pizza experience either one of us had ever had.

Every single bite was absolutely amazing. We've both had pizza in many places, and different kinds, but we both agreed, that this was the most incredible pizza EVER and we will definitely be planning another trip to Cape Disappointment to have it again. . . . actually we DID have it again. . . our second day at the park after our hike we just couldn't bring ourselves to leave without having another pie, 2 different choices in toppings. We also tried their homemade cannoli (delicious), their homemade chocolate ice cream and the specialty Tequila ice cream (wow!), and Chi's special homemade brownies. We didn't leave hungry, and couldn't imagine it even being a possibility.

These are the owners - Jim and Chi (I hope I spelled your name correctly!) - a more friendly couple you won't find. They take pride in fresh homemade product, and putting out a quality meal, including vegan and gluten free options - so there is something for everyone! We love giving local patrons our business, and this is one local business we are honored to say we will be visiting again. Thank you for 2 incredible meals!

Cape Disappointment . . . Anything BUT Disappointing!

We looked through our hiking guide and decided that our first official trip would be down in the southwest corner of Washington, to Cape Disappointment. There were several reasons I was drawn to this destination, so after a discussion of the merits we booked our campsite reservation and made our plans. One of the reasons we chose this for our first trip was that the trails were rated as easy for beginners - a group for which I definitely qualify for membership. Since I have always adored the ocean, that was an obvious attraction. My son lives a little over an hour away from the campground, and I knew that we'd be able to see him either on our way down, or on our way back. And, finally, on the Long Beach Peninsula sits one of the most amazing stores I have ever been to - Jack's Country Store. If you have a couple spare hours to browse, I highly recommend a trip to Jack's. It's like stepping back in time to the General Store of yesteryear. They have a little bit of everything, and it's shoved into every nook and cranny available. Their online store is pretty great too, so take a look! www.jackscountrystore.com

On the day of our trip we decided to make a stop at Cabela's on our way to look at a few things . . . which turned into over 3 hours of spending way too much money. Usually at Cabela's I'd think R would spend the most money, but I was the one who walked away with a lighter bank account that day. Too many things that I wanted! I looked like a walking advertisement for Cabela's with my new camoflage sweatshirt with the bright plum CABELA'S across the front, and my 2 different baseball caps with CABELA'S on them! I got a rain hat too - we WERE heading for the coast afterall.

By the time we finally got to the campground it was dark, it was raining and the mosquitoes were out in droves. If you've never set up a tent in the dark, in the rain, while being eaten alive by blood sucking insects, well, you've never lived!
I put on the headlamp R got for me, and together we set up the tent. Poor R. Every single time I looked up at him, or just looked forward at all, I blinded him with my lamp. I'm pretty sure he was seeing stars the entire time. In the midst of the setting up process, wet, chilly, itchy and getting grumpy, my son decides to join us for a couple of hours. We hadn't loaded up any firewood for the trip, since we figured we would go into town to get some the next day so there we sat, with a small lantern for light, my headlamp blinding both my son and R, and sat at our picnic table, eating rehydrated hiking food while visiting in the rain. Together the three of us walked down to the beach to watch the waves crashing to shore, and making a memory that I'll cherish forever. Moments like that you take with you in your heart, to think about and remember later on, enjoying them all over again.

Once G finally left to go back home, R and I crawled into our tent, snuggled down into our sleeping bags, and with the song of the waves crashing onto the shore as our lullaby, went to sleep. We hoped to wake up to sun . . . but as it is likely to do at the coast, it was still misting in the morning, so we hurried through getting ourselves together for the day, boiled water for our coffee and instant oatmeal, and though we left our tent set up, we packed up our gear to put into the car - never can be too careful with the security of your gear.

Time to find some trails! We packed our small 7L packs with water, energy bars, some gorp (mixture of nuts, candies and Chex), bug spray, and bandaids (just in case), and headed out to the main gate at the park to get a map and some guidance from the ranger. After looking at the map for a bit, we chose the 1st path to take, and with a light mist falling on us, the crash of the waves on the rocks, and kamakaze mosquitoes doing their best to drain us of our blood, set out.

The trail we took that morning wound up around to the top of an overlook, giving us the most amazing view of the coastline and the lighthouse to the south of us. The trekking poles came in handy for stabilization, and R walked ahead of me with his cigar, which helped considerably with the mosquitoes.

All total I think we walked around 5 miles that day, and would have done more, but we were distracted by one of those "finds" you happen across in unexpected places . . . gourmet lunch right there in the park. Read on to find out where you can find the most amazing woodfire pizza we'd ever had!

Packing The Whole Trip . . . Into Two Backpacks . . . Almost . . .

I admit it. The only camping I have done until now is car camping. And when I say car camping I mean it in a big way. When my kids were younger my ex and I would take them camping and we'd end up with at least 2 car loads of stuff for 4 or 6 people (depending on if the kids took friends - and they usually did). The campsite was a smaller version of home - why leave anything behind when you can tie it to the top of the car, make one of the kids sit on it, or hold it in your lap? No wonder my husband looked at me like I was nuts the 1st time we went camping together on Memorial Weekend 4 years ago. I have to say though, he's a MUCH better packer of gear than anyone in my old life was, and he displayed marvelous patience for a man who leans towards the minimalist in events such as camping. We got EVERYTHING, including the dog, into the Jeep. Shocking! And we did have EVERYTHING . . . cast iron pans, a propane oven, a full camp kitchen, complete with sink, canopy, all the gear to set up cooking over the fire, on the stove or in the oven. Yes, we had a very well equipped campsite. This sort of camping always felt like we'd barely gotten everything set up and it was time to tear it down and go home again. Well, now we are preparing to go camping in a much smaller way. We're doing it with baby steps, with the ultimate goal being an actual backpacking trip where we head into the hills with everything we need packed carefully into packs strapped to our backs. For this trip we have decided to head to Cape Disappointment on the SW Washington Coast. We are packing most of our stuff into day packs (we aren't taking enough to justify the full on hiking packs), with the addition of a small cooler, some skewers for the hotdogs I am insisting on having, and a few extra clothes. We are going to be gone for 2 nights, and the plan is to see my son for awhile, then spend the rest of the weekend hiking, looking at the ocean, and enjoying our time together. Keeping in mind how short the trip is, we made lists of what we would need. 1) 30 liter day packs - 1 for each of us. These packs are great for day hikes where you wish to pack an extra set of clothes, maybe an extra pair of shoes, some snacks and water, a first aid kit, etc. I had mine stuffed to capacity. I knew that I was likely packing too much into it, but would learn what to change for the next trip out.

2) 3 person tent - yes, I know we were only 2 people, but have you seen those 2 person tents? Sardines in cans come to mind. A 3 person tent gives you a little breathing room, and allows you a small amount of space for your pack too. A good one with a rain fly is important, especially if you're camping in a drizzly area. 3) Sleeping bag and Sleeping Pad. I never realized how important the decision of what kind of sleeping bag to take on the trip would be. I've always car camped, so space wasn't an issue, nor was weight. Now that I'm looking at carrying this on my back I had a whole new world of information to sort through. Thankfully my husband has been hiking and camping in the woods for years and is a wealth of knowledge and experience. For starters we got sythentic mummy bags rated at 20 degrees. I wasn't a fan of mummy bags due to having restricted leg space, however when you're sleeping in an environment that is heated (or not) by Mother Nature, the less air space you have around your body in your sleeping bag, the less air you have to heat, and the warmer you will be. As for sleeping pad, you want something that is self-inflating so it packs up smaller, and is easier to carry. This provides comfort while you sleep, but it insulates you from the cold ground! Even if you have a sleeping bag that is rated at 0 degrees, if you are sleeping on ground that is 40 degrees, you will still be cold, but if you add a sleeping pad under you, you will have enough extra insulation between you and the ground to stay much warmer and far more comfortable. 4) Clothes and personal items for the trip. I knew I wasn't going to dirty the clothes I wore down there very much, so if necessary I could wear them home again also. That left Saturday and Sunday. I took sweats and a long sleeve t-shirt to sleep in (it gets chilly and damp at the coast even in June - especially THIS June!) When I'm camping I always sleep fully clothed. Dressing in the dark in a small tent so you can go outside to potty in the night is much more difficult than you would think. If you're trying not to wake your tent mate or knock the whole kit and kaboodle down, it's a difficult task indeed! I took hiking pants with all the extra pockets for my "stuff", 2 light t-shirts and 2 button up, lightweight overshirts, 2 pairs of AMAZING socks (see previous blog about boot shopping), my hiking boots, my tennis shows, flipflops for the shower (yes, we camped where there were showers), a hat for the sun and 1 for the rain, a light rain jacket, sports bra and necessary toiletry items. This sounds like a LOT, but honestly if you're buying lightweight, very compressable clothing, and shoving them into compression bags, you can get a LOT packed into a very small space! *Note* make sure you take NO cotton clothing on a hiking trip! Cotton fibers suck up moisture and compress down - you'll get cold, wet and miserable in no time, develop blisters and hot spots on your feet, etc. Synthetic, lightweight fabrics wick away the moisture and give you a much more comfortable trip. 5) Cooking items - a lightweight hiking stove (we are preparing for a hiking trip afterall),

a can or 2 of fuel, a 1.5 or 2 liter cooking pot with lid, 2 cups for coffee, either a coffee press or some of those indiviual filter systems for brewing coffee, a long spoon for stirring up the food, sets of lightweight flatware (ours is titanium and SO light!), 2 plates or bowls. (We just took bowls for simplicity), and a water filter (you never know if you're going to be somewhere that does not have potable water).

6) Food - Since this was a combination of a hiking trip and a light weight car camping trip we took dehydrated food, but also some hotdogs and marshmallows for an evening by the fire. Our food supplies consisted of packages of Mountain House Lasagne (think Hamburger Helper - but not as good), instant oatmeal for breakfasts, gorp (combination of nuts, fruits and candies for quick energy snacks while hiking), protein bars. We had every intention of eating only the hiking foods, but this WAS vacation and well . . . more on our food find in another episode. We're all packed and ready to go! 2 backpacks, stuffed to their limits - check. 1 cooler filled with water, the few food items that aren't dehydrated that we are taking - check. All of our cooking, sleeping and eating supplies - check! Mom's coming to house and furbaby sit, so that's it! We're ready to go! 7) Extras - first aid supplies, mosquito repellant (the bugs at the coast were HUGE and I swear they were trying to fly away with us!), trekking poles (these really came in handy - more on that later), microfiber towels - amazing things - wring them out and they are ready to keep on drying! pocket knife - you just never know when that will come in handy! Sunscreen, hand lotion, etc. Keep in mind, if you're planning on a hiking trip you'll need everything to be small enough for efficiency packing it all into the back pack.

Doing What Girls Love To Do . . . Shoe Shop!

I love shoes. I really don't know many women who don't. A few, but seriously, not many. In my closet there are plenty of shoes in a variety of colors and styles - from tennis shoes to cowboy boots, stiletto heels, and tactical boots! Not all of the shoes in my closet are comfortable - afterall, sometimes how you look is more important than how you feel - as long as there's not a lot of walking involved! One thing I can say about most of the shoes and boots in my closet - with the exception of the cowboy boots and tactical boots - they weren't expensive. I see no good reason to spend a lot of money, even if I had it, on something I may wear twice a year. The two pairs of hiking boots that I already had weren't more than about $40 at a local mass market sporting goods store, and they were never a good fit in the store - but I figured I'd break them in and it would all be ok. I couldn't have been more wrong. I found that out the hard way that quality - which translates to higher dollars - is of vital importance when it comes to hiking boots, and I'm grateful I found out on a neighborhood hike, not a long hike where I had no choice but to push on and deal with the pain. Immediately after our local hike, which wasn't more than about three miles long, I took off my inexpensive boots and could see that I had red hot-spots, and what would have turned to blisters if we had been on a longer hike. I had places around my ankles that were starting to chafe, which I suppose could have been the cotton socks I was wearing, and how tightly I had them laced, but whatever the reason, this wasn't something that was going to work. I made a few phone calls and we decided that we'd head into town and visit Sports Haus. I wish they had a website link that I could post here, but they unfortunately don't. The woman I spoke with on the phone was very helpful, offered a few different suggestions for brands - none of which I knew anything about, though I'd heard some of the names from R. We were primarily going to shop for him a pair of boots - I don't think even at this point I was convinced that I needed a pair of new boots. Part of my brain was still convinced that I could just break in the old ones better. We walked into the store and my eyes were opened to a whole new world of shoe and boot possibilities! There were boots and shoes everywhere. They had every square inch of this store stuffed to the gills with wonderful things to see, try on and consider! I was there to observe R getting some boots. The woman remembered our conversation, his size, the brands he was looking for and even the discussion we'd had about his ankle injury from some years before. I've never had a sales person actually remember details I told them in person for longer than a split second, much less from a phone call hours earlier! Amazing! While she was preparing to help him, size his feet and actually offer him true customer service, I decided on a whim to look at some boots myself. I told the woman helping R that I thought I'd look at some boots too, afterall, I was here, right? and she immediately called another woman over to help me - we each got our own individual customer service person! I was wearing very thin cotton socks though, so the first thing I decided to do was shop for a pair of socks. A girl can always use new socks. Once I picked myself up off of the floor after seeing the PRICE of the hiking socks, and wandering back and forth looking for socks that didn't cost more than I've ever spent on my whole sock inventory, I took a deep breath, swallowed the lump in my throat and picked out what turns out to be the most amazing pair of socks I've ever had on my feet. Heck I will go so far as to say that these are more comfortable than any cozy slippers I've had on my feet! I picked out a couple pairs of boots, explained to the lady assigned to help me, pulled off my socks and slipped my feet into these socks - FEETURES they are called. Oh - My - Gosh!!! Seriously! I've never felt any socks like these socks. They are made of a lovely combination of merino wool and bamboo. They somehow manage to feel warm and cool at the same time, and the cushion under my feet felt like it was energizing my toes! I'm not exaggerating. Amazing. Ok, if I had to spend nearly $20 on a pair of socks, they rightfully should make my feet feel like dancing. We were off to a great start. (you can find these at www.feeturesbrand.com but they are also on other hiking/camping supply sites so shop around for the best prices - I'm finding that the average price is what we paid - $17.99 plus tax). The sales associate brought out three pairs of boots, the two pairs I picked out, and one more for comparison. They explained to me what the different types of boots were for, the differences in insoles, ankle support, flexibility of the boot and sole, what the different flexibilities are for, etc. The mind boggled! Who knew? I put on the pair she brought out first, and they were fine boots, but they felt a bit funny around the toes. Cross that pair off the list of possibilities. If it isn't comfortable immediately, it's not a good idea to spend the money on it - it'll just lead to misery later. The 2nd pair I put on were so comfortable that I felt like I could take off and hike right that moment. The third and final boots were also wonderful, but they were a bit more aggressive than what I need at this point in my immediate hiking plans, so I made the decision to part with the money and bought this pair of Merrell Siren mid-level hiking boots. They had a good, moderately knobby tread on the Vibram soles, are waterproof and incredibly comfortable. These boots are ideal for me, as I am a beginner to hiking and I know at this point I will be carrying a relatively light pack, and the hikes we go on will be for people with beginner to moderate hiking abilities. I know I'd still have to break them in, but they felt so good already that even without wearing them out of the store they were more comfortable than my other boots were after several trips to the mountains to hunt for Christmas trees. R went with a more aggressive and sturdier pair of boots, as he already has a mid-weight pair. He's been hiking for some time and the boots he chose are going to transition well to the hikes with much higher difficulty levels, even to the higher alpine hikes that would require crampons, and the heavier loads he will be carrying, even on the hikes with me. Now that I have this amazing pair of boots and socks, I'm excited to get the rest of the gear together and hit the trails! Now THERE'S something nobody would have heard me say just a couple years ago!