Well before ya know it, we'll be all suited up with our packs and hiking Mount Everest Cape Split. Okay, it may not be Mount Everest, but I'm not taking a 4 hour hike lightly! So I'll be making sure to get some form of "training" in every remaining day in this week. My foot seems to be feeling better from my run on Saturday, so I will have to keep an eye on that since I don't want to be going into the hike already with a sore foot. Friggin.foot. Which brings me to my question: will I be okay wearing my runners during the hike? I really only have one pair of good sneakers (NB 882) complete with my custom orthotic (yup, I'm an old woman) and I don't want to go out and buy a pair of hiking boots. I should be okay, shouldn't I? Frig I really should have hiking boots and my sneaks in my backpack just in case, but I'd hate to "break them in" on a 4 hour hike! What do you think? I couldn't even tell you what the terrain will be like. The description says, "The trail on the right, past the fence, is fairly easy going and is well suited for most hikers and bikers."
Another site description says:
"Cape Split is a fishhook shaped peninsula sticking out into the Bay of Fundy. It is only accessible by boat or the hiking trail.
It is one of the most phenomenal landscapes in Eastern North America. From this dramatic peninsula jutting into the Bay of Fundy we can watch and listen as the world's highest tides rip past us 300 feet below.
About 7km of dirt trail with lots of slippery roots and volcanic rock (about 26 million years ago there was a Hawai-like-shield volcano in the middle of the Bay of Fundy). Lots of hard and softwood canopy overhead. Trail starts at sea level and ends about 200' above in an open field. Sheer clifts on each side and lots of nesting birds to watch. Also the rip tides and fundy tidal bore are fun to watch. The return trail is mostly downhill for an easy ride back. Lots of hikers are on the trail so some caution and respect is required."
Hallelujah for the downhill back! :-D
So I'm super excited about the hike and it looks like there will be 6 of us (maybe 7)! The long range forecast (a.k.a. virtually meaningless reference point for weather) says it's going to be about 10 degrees (celcius, my American friends) and no indication of rain drops so far. :-D
I hope the sky is clear to see this though:
20 comments:
I don't think you need hikers. I'm wearing my good merrell walking shoes. In fact, they are mesh sided so I'll probably have very wet feet. I'm only bringing my mini-pack for the hike and will leave a bag with clothes and extra shoes to change into in the car.
I too am being sure to do lots of cross-training and yoga between now and then! Conveniently I think I can finally go back to warm yoga the day after. Bliss!
B: I searched high and low and I don't seem to have an actually "backback" just all side shoulder type bags. Hubby does have a hiking pack that's kind of old, but I think I'm going to wear it because it's comfortable. I'm going to think about the shoes thing though...I don't want to ruin my runners!
Wow those pictures look awesome. I wish I lived there and could go hiking with you guys.
Beautiful pics!!
Sounds like fun! Hope you figure the shoe thing out. I wouldn't want to break in new hiking boots on a 4-hour hike, either!
PS--Love the updated picture!
I think if it's something people could bike, then just runners would be fine. But I do think it might be rough on them (just the elements even. They might come out all muddy and the fabric might snag or fray or something, I dunno). Basically I'm sure they'll get you through it, but they won't look pretty any more.
I'm not sure if anyone mentioned anything about your long run you did the other day. Way to go! BUT...running for an hour so quickly after coming back to running, pretty rough on the body. (you ever hear the thing where you're not supposed to increase your distance by more than 10% a week?) Might explain some of the pains. Just remember to take it easy at first and you'll be able to run longer than if you go and hurt yourself.
Make sure you bring your camera for some pics on your hike!
You probably don't need a serious pair of hikers...but a shoe like Merrells would be a better choice than runners because of the traction they will give you on the trail.
Have fun! Those are some gorgeous pictures!
My in-laws have had property in Scot's Bay for years. It looks across the bay at Cape Split. I have yet to get someone to do the hike with me. Everyone wants to just sit on the deck and enjoy the view!
I'm back after reading your comment on my blog. I will check it out and get back to you!
That looks absolutely gorgeous!!!! I love hiking too and think you should be fine with sneakers (or joggers) as long as you don't mind getting them dirty...
Yayyyy! So fun!
So I went to Walmart on Saturday fully intending to buy a pair of hikers...but, didn't like any of the ones I found (and they didn't have my size) and ended up buying pretty BUM walking shoes instead that were on sale...
So I'll be wearing sneakers too :)
I'm wearing my old runners (got new ones two weeks ago) incase theres lots of mud etc.
I have a backpack that I'm bringing w/ extra socks, sunblock, bug spray, small amount of first aid supplies etc.
sneakers - just be prepared to get them wet and muddy. But the terrain shouldn't be that bad if a bike can go on it (without getting stuck. Hikers are good for waterproofing your feet, being warmer, and not caring if they are dirty. AQlso, they have better traction. But sneaks are just as good in this case (I think).
Too bad, FH just took my extra smaller pack with him to sea because he forgot his pack on board and needed to pack some stuff! I have a really cute little one from MEC that's perfect...I think it's actually a rock climbing pack but it's just the right size for socks, water, snacks and such.
sneaks will be fine - i don't think that trail is that crazy, that you'd need hikers. muddy yes, but that too will depend on whether between now and then.
oh! bag for water, etc. looks like it's a good thing we got a MEC bag that we use for a diaper bag. maybe not the most ergonomically correct, but it'll do!
Probably not what you want to hear, but if there are slippery roots and volcanic rock, runners probably won't cut it. I wore runners on a 4 hour hike once and regretted it after about half an hour. I don't think you need hard core hiking boots, but trail shoes like the Salomon Exit Peak light trail shoes (mec.ca) would be fine.
They're what I have and what I wear on short hikes--I love 'em! Runners also don't have the lateral support that you'll need on a rougher trail than running on ashphalt requires.
But that's just my opinion. =)
I'm sure it'll be fabulous whatever you decide to wear!
H =)
To be honest with you - Cape Split this time of year, particularly with the amount of parcipitation we've had lately is going to be wet, muddy and soft.
Trail runners at the very least...not sneakers, unless you want 4 hours of wet, cold and icky feeling feet.
That sounds so cool! Can't wait to hear all about it!
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