Charity Walk
Hi I'm Ken Ash I will be doing a charity walk for The Neurological Foundation along the Te Araroa Trail. I service a trapline in the Orongorongas along the East Whakanui track, but have never before attempted a walk like this. I am fit but at 76 no youngster. So advice please on the best footwear for this trip, I would prefer not to use my boots which are very solid and serviceable Scarpas. I want something that in creek crossings will get wet but dry out quickly. For the last few years I have been hill running using Vibram five fingers. So am used to a minimalist type shoe, but obviously I am going to need cushioning walking over such a long distance.
Please also any advice would be welcome as to the best GPS system
I am looking at a Garman GPSmap64s.
I would also be interested in teaming up with someone when traversing Waiau Pass. Another area where I will team up with a mate is the Tararua crossing, much more familiar too me than Waiau.
Look forward to comments.
Cheers
Ken
16 comments
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I'll keep an open mind Kreig.
You know the perfect boot would have some kind of magical tech that allowed the shank to be nice and soft when the tread was fully supported on even ground, and yet instantly stiffened up the moment it detected it was only partially supported on steep rock.
Just a thought.
Hmmm.... Maybe surgical implants IN our feet.....
A few generations ago we all walked bare foot over all this terrain. Did we ever complain?
@geeves
Yes Robert Long has spent most of his life at Gorge River getting around barefoot, so I know it's perfectly doable. But even he does have some old boots for the odd moment he needs them.
Maori got around barefoot just fine too. Snow, ice and steep rock would have been pretty much off limits for them I'd suspect.
It's probably true that we bang around in boots that are more than we need, or is good for us. Which is why everyone is so interested in moving towards light weight shoes that don't fall apart in the first 10 mins. (Or look ugly ... my pet hate is garish speed strips on footwear that's intended to be neck deep in mud.)
I don't care what my gear looks like. I mean, I can't do squat about my face, so why should I care what my shoes look like? :P
Maori had parawai too: flax sandals. There's a pair in the Canterbury museum. Maori could knock up a pair in 20 minutes. For travelling on scree they could weave in another layer. I imagine the cabbage tree leaves would be nice and tough.
I remember reading an account of an explorer (Charlie Douglas or AP Harper), whose Maori companion made a few pairs of sandals but he took the day off to knock them up. I think he was 'Bill, the Maori' in the account.
11–16 of 16
Page: 12
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Forum | Gear talk |
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Started by | Anjunguang |
On | 17 September 2016 |
Replies | 15 |
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