Page 27 - Indulge April/May 2017

Photos by Patrick O’Donnell For hydration, Cannon said, the store carries water bottles,
micro-filters that can purify water on the go, and hydration
backpacks, which feature a reservoir to store your H20 and a long
tube to sip it on the go.

For challenging hikes, such as Glen Onoko and portions of
the Appalachian Trail, you can invest in a trekking pole. The
idea, Fairchild says, is that you’re giving yourself three points
of contact with the trail, offering more stability over challenging
terrain. There are a variety of types available — some even have
shock absorbers and adjustable lengths. I’ll stick with a good old-
fashioned walking stick, but maybe I’m turning into a curmudgeon
(now, get off my lawn).

In any case, before you hit the trail — any trail — do a little
research and, if needed, a little shopping to ensure you at least
have the basics.

And remember one thing: All the gear in the world won’t help
if you’re lacking the most essential item: common sense.

Be prepared with the right gear. Patrick O’Donnell
is a freelance writer.
that as soon as she saw the sign with the skull and crossbones,
she’d be turning the family around. april 29, 2017

Don’t get me wrong: I love hiking, and I encourage anyone vip admitted at 3PM | general admission 4-8pm
and everyone to get out in the woods. It’s exercise and
psychotherapy all wrapped up in a neat green bow. Yet that 4l0iv+e muunsiicq. gureeabtefoeords
Sunday, I was puzzled, both at the number of warning signs and
the number of people who seemed to be ignoring them. Isn’t it VIP EARLY REGULAR WINE, SPIRITS DESIGNATED
obvious, I thought to myself, that a wet, slippery, rock-strewn A$D5MI5SSIOeNaTIcCKhET A$D4MI5SSIOeNaTIcCKhET $&6B5EEReTIaCKcETh $D1RI5VEReTaICKcETh
trail near steep drop-offs deserves to be approached with a
modicum of caution?

Curious, I called up the Easton Outdoor Co. and spoke
to owner Adam Fairchild and salesman Dan Cannon. The
problem, they both told me, is that many people fail to take
the outdoors seriously. “You need to have respect,” Fairchild
said. “Mother Nature will do what she wants … there’s this
sense of ‘I can go wherever I want to,’ but people don’t stop to
think that straying off the trails is not only unsafe for them, it’s
not good for the ecology.”

Cannon says many people don’t even think about the
bare essentials — like drinking water and proper footwear —
before heading outdoors.

In this case, proper footwear means a sensible pair of hiking
boots — not vinyl rain boots, flip-flops, sandals, dress
shoes or sneakers.

The most popular line of boots at the store, they both said,
are made by Vasque. Fairchild recommended the Breeze 2.0
GTX. It’s light, offers great traction, is breathable (meaning your
feet won’t get sweaty) and has a Gore-Tex lining (meaning your
toes will stay toasty). Although it’s not cheap, the price won’t
break the bank, either.

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