Summer Time Means Sandal Time!

Clown Shoe vs. Jesus Sandal

Through my work in the Outdoor Retail Industry, I spend a lot of time in footwear. Come early May, people start looking for a sandal or shoe they can take in the water but will dry super quick and provide the comfort and support they need to get through the day. Based on my experience, there are two brands that stick out among the rest.

Keen sandals are great for all occasions. They provide excellent arch support, are constructed with a durable EVA foam - which offers excellent cushion and shock absorption - are built with a medium to medium-wide last (sorry to those with narrow feet), and have a unique, patented toe cover. Specific models are made of leather, while others are made of a synthetic, nylon blend. All Keen sandals are 100% waterproof and resist odor-causing bacteria. They are also equipped with anatomically-designed foot beds for extra comfort and support. The unique ridges built into the foot bed help cup the heel and prevent sliding.

While I do not own a pair of Keens on account of a narrow foot, I have encountered many loyalists and seen the sandals on happy feet in many circumstances, ranging from the local grocery store to the mountains to the beach. Many customers looking for a simple "water shoe" end up with Keens but also end up with a lot more. They come back to the store a month later and say, "I wear them all the time!" Indeed, Keens have that reputation. And here is a bonus: some models have a vanilla extract built into the rubber, so they smell good, too! In fact, I'd be lieing if I said I didn't enjoy sneaking a sniff in the shoe deck, from time to time...

Chaco sandals have developed something of a "trend following" at nearby Appalachian State University, but, in general, have found a profitable market amongst the outdoor adventurer crowd, due to their extreme functionality. Chacos, or as some like to call them - "Jesus Sandals" - provide unparalleled arch support. The thick, Vibram, Unaweep sole makes Chacos tough enough to hit the Appalachian Trail for a day hike or even an overnighter. And if you have more water-based endeavors in mind, try the Pro edition, IdroGrip sole that's designed to give you more traction in wet places. As with the Keens, there are several models to choose from. The Z/1 series have a single strand of polyester (quick-drying) webbing, while the Z/2 series (pictured) provide a stabilizing toe strap, which river guides and hikers find useful. Chaco also produces more casual styles, such as the Zong - which has no heel strap - as well as flip flops. Like the Keens, Chacos are 100% waterproof and quick drying, so don't hesitate to wear them in the river!

Since I own a pair of Chacos (the Z/2's) I can testify to their quality. After a full year of solid use, they hardly look worn, and the Vibram sole is holding up, as expected. I've worn them for entire days at work and have also taken them on day hikes. They seriously provide the support of a light hiking boot. I absolutely love them. However, I think Keen also makes a quality sandal, and if my foot were not so narrow, I would surely have a pair of them, as well. So if you're looking for a pair of summer shoes or even just something more supportive than your typical Nikes, try a pair of Chacos or Keens and see what all the talk is about!

Rock Climbing at Table Rock Mountain

April, 2009

Chris, Taylor, and I stand at the base of Table Rock Mountain in the Linville Gorge, equipped in harness, helmet, and climbing shoes. It is a pleasantly warm afternoon. The sky is clear, and the bugs have not come out yet. We could not have asked for a better day. While Chris feeds rope through his belay device, Taylor and I observe Rich Chisholm, my manager at Great Outdoors, scurry up a sheer rock face, placing "pro" as he goes and demonstrating technique. He takes his time, explaining as he goes. Chris turns to me and says, "You know, he makes this look so easy."

As I will soon find out, rock climbing is much harder than it looks. For Taylor and I, this is our first climbing experience outside of a gym. Luckily, Chris has been out with Rich before and "knows the ropes" fairly well. Today, we are "multi-pitching," meaning we are climbing multiple lengths of rope. First, Rich must "lead climb" ahead of us, placing protection as he goes and trailing several ropes. Once he reaches the first ledge, he will anchor in and belay us. Therefore, we are actually "top roping," which is safer and more feasible for beginners. I, for one, am thankful, as this is an entirely new experience!

Once Rich reaches the first ledge, he rigs the anchor, and it is my turn to climb. I am nervous but excited. As I take to the rock, my climbing shoes stick, providing me with a level of traction I'm unaccustomed to. As I climb, I start to see what a vital function these shoes serve. At times, the footholds are so miniscule you can barely see them! From below, Chris and Taylor offer words of encouragement, and Rich, perched some distance above, calls down words of instruction. I am making progress, slithering up the face, stretching to the max, and exerting way more energy than necessary. "Just relax," Rich says. Now my legs are wobbling uncontrollably. Relaxing is not easy. Later, I learn the climbing lingo for this annoying phenomenon. "You had Elvis Legs," Rich says. "Your body was just reacting to using muscles it's not used to using."

As I reach the most difficult part of the first pitch, a horizontal route called a "traverse," I am sure to secure my orange line in the protection Rich has placed in the wall, while also removing Taylor's green line...or something like that. It's confusing in retrospect, and it was just as confusing while I was exposed on the rock face, overlooking the valley. With some difficulty, I scramble sideways and make it through the traverse. Now I am almost to the ledge and can see Rich ahead. As I climb over the lip and stand on solid ground, I can hardly breathe. This is no surprise, though, as I probably ceased to perform that essential bodily function while I was hanging eighty feet above the ground.

Thirty minutes later, Chris and Taylor - climbing together - will join us on the ledge. Taylor, after a short fall, regains her composure and pushes onward. A Wake Forest cheerleader, she is strong and flexible and adapts to the challenges quickly. Taking up the rear, Chris cleans the route, removing the cams and stoppers. He exhibits the confidence of a climber, and I'm grateful he's with us.

From here, things get a little harrier. As if the first hundred foot pitch is not enough, since I am already exhausted, we have another pitch to go. And up Rich goes! We watch him scramble up the vertical face until he's out of sight, and then we realize that could present a problem. Also a problem is our overall inability to communicate, as it has become rather windy on the mountainside. Eventually, Rich reaches "Lunch Ledge" and yanks on the ropes to give us the signal. It is time.

I say a prayer, take a deep breath, and begin to climb. From the outset, there are complications, first and foremost, my mental game. I don't feel like I can do this. But to make matters worse, as I progress up the wall, trusting tiny holds and trying my hardest to depend more on my legs than my upper body, I come to a sudden stop. Something is amiss. The ropes have gotten tangled like a pretzel. Either it is the luck of the draw or I've done something wrong. Knowing me, it is probably the latter. Now I must down climb to right this error, a difficult task for any climber, let alone a beginner. As I struggle to descend what I have just climbed - a real blow to my morale - I get the Elvis Legs again and lose my footing. This is the moment I have been dreading all along, and now it is happening. I am falling.

It's funny how a story grows over time, because a 10 foot fall eventually becomes a 20 foot fall. Then, sometime later, a coworker approaches you with this concerned expression and says, "I'm glad you're okay! Heard about that 30 foot fall!"

In truth, it is probably only a 10 to 15 foot fall and mostly rope stretch, at that. But it is painful and - if I'm honest - very scary. It is not your typical "whipper" fall into an empty void; rather, it is a slide down the rock face, scraping and banging your knees and elbows kind of fall. Rich does catch me, of course, as I knew he would, and eventually I am lowered back to the ledge, although my violent plummet ended a mere 4 feet above that ledge, meaning I was 4 feet from breaking my legs and ricocheting off the mountainside. Or maybe not. I tend to be a little dramatic.

Suffice to say, I do not make the second pitch. Chris Gilpin, the hero of the day, manages the tricky ascent in my place and relays everything to Rich. Since it is getting late in the day, we cannot communicate with each other, and I am unable to go on, we call it a day and rappel down. When I feel firm ground beneath my feet, a wave of relief washes over me. I have never been more relieved! A random climber sits at the base of the mountain and sees me descend. I tell him about my fall, and he asks me if I'll ever give it another shot. I think about it for a second and respond, "Probably, but not right away." He grins and nods. "It'll be different next time." Rich says the same once we are all reunited on ground level and that even making it up the first pitch is a great accomplishment.

So I will focus on the positives from this adventure. I climbed a hundred feet up Table Rock Mountain, saw an impressive, early-spring view of the countryside, fell 15 feet, and survived to climb another day!

Proco Staffers in the Great Outdoors

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings!" ~ John Muir

This is a video Emily and I recorded from the summit of Stone Mountain in Elkin County, NC. February, 2009.

Piedmont Vistas: Day Hiking in the Sauratown Mountains

Part II

Now that you've tackled Jomeokee, the Great Pilot, and seen the white cliffs standing silently over the Piedmont Plateau and the raptors soaring around Big Pinnacle, it is time to venture northeast to Hanging Rock State Park, home to Moore's Knob, Cooks Wall, and Hanging Rock, the tallest peaks in the Sauratown Mountain Range.

When I first moved to Winston-Salem, Hanging Rock fast became my initial impression of the North Carolina mountains. Since my first day hike there with friends, Erica and Sarah, I have returned several times to explore the different trails and witness the Piedmont's seasonal evolution. With trails of varying length and difficulty, plus plenty of opportunities for camping, it is the ideal park for family getaways.

The Hanging Rock Trail is easily accessed from the visitor center parking lot and is 2.2 miles, out and back. It is a steep and strenuous climb but well-maintained and worth the effort. In the summer, Hanging Rock is shrouded in haze. At 2,070 feet, even this jagged rock face cannot escape the southern humidity. But it was encouraging to find hikers scrambling up the trail, regardless! A lot can be said for a cool mountain breeze after a tiring ascent.

I returned in November, hoping to catch the sunset from Moore's Knob, where an impressive, stone observation tower looms above the tree line. Sitting at 2,579 feet, Moore's Knob is the tallest point in the Sauratown Mountains. The Moore's Wall Loop Trail can be found at the second parking lot, just beyond the visitor center. On their way up, visitors will witness outstanding rock structures, such as Indian Face and Balanced Rock. From the summit, hikers can see Hanging Rock to the east, and to the west, Pilot Mountain, a faint bump on the cusp of the horizon.

When my old college buddies, Sherwin, Matt, and Robbie, came to visit this past January, Hanging Rock State Park once again seemed a good place to explore. We embarked down the Cooks Wall Trail, encountering dozens of fellow hikers with their dogs and stopping on our way at House Rock, a flat ledge with views to the southeast, and Cooks Wall, a popular spot for climbers. Shortly after, we arrived at Devil's Chimney, where sunshine radiated through the clouds like the glow of Heaven. From this exposed rock face, Winston-Salem is visible on a clear day.

My most recent day hike in the Sauratown Mountains took me back to the summit of Hanging Rock, this time, with my good friend, Tim Bob. It was an especially frigid morning, and the parking lot was nearly deserted. From the summit, the Piedmont Plateau looked bare, radically different from its lush appearance in August. And rather than having to endure humidity, we were forced to take cover from cold mountain gusts strong enough to blow us over. Yet, despite the landscape's transformative nature, the Sauratown Mountains remain a testament to the strength of these lands and the power of nature and heritage. The seasons may come and go, but the mountains will always remain.

To see this article on the Great Outdoor Provision Co. Blog, in addition to other articles about the outdoor lifestyle, follow this link...

Piedmont Vistas: Day Hiking in the Sauratown Mountains

Part I

You've been itching to get outside all week; the weather has been unbelievable, and your hiking boots in the corner of your closet are collecting more dust than mountain dirt. You've got to go hiking! But time is precious, and there aren't enough hours in the day. The Appalachians are too far, you think. Maybe next weekend... Fortunately, for those in Winston-Salem and surrounding cities, Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock State Parks are within close driving distance, so there's no excuse for delaying that day hike!

As a native of Virginia with a brief track record in North Carolina, I have much exploring still ahead of me; but so far, Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock have provided several fun-filled days in the outdoors.

Pilot Mountain, located between Pinnacle and Mount Airy, NC, towers 2,421 feet tall. It is a giant monadnock amongst a heritage-rich landscape and part of the Sauratown Mountain Range. On a clear day, it can be seen miles away, incoming on Route 52 out of Winston. I first visited "Jomeokee," as the Saura Indians once called it, in October, 2008. While visitors are more than welcome to park at Little Pinnacle Overlook and forego the arduous climb, my friend Jennie and I attempted the Grindstone Trail, which takes hikers from the bottom up with a 500-foot plus elevation gain in under two miles. On this breezy October day, the trees were painted red, orange, and yellow, and as we neared the summit, the tree line thinned to reveal an expansive view of azure skies and vibrant countryside. Immense, white cliffs border the Ledge Spring Trail, which forms a loop with the Grindstone, taking hikers to the overlook. There, visitors are presented with a clear view of Big Pinnacle (Pilot Mountain), home to raptors and ravens.

Jomeokee Trail leads hikers down and around the knob-shaped mountain, but climbing the steep rock walls that make Pilot such a unique monolith is forbidden to ensure the survival of the birds inhabiting it. However, rock climbers frequent the aforementioned cliffs along Ledge Spring Trail. Jennie and I traversed the Jomeokee Trail, awed by Pilot's bold presence, and assailed by legions of lady bugs, a sign - I am told - of good fortune. And if my first visit to Pilot Mountain is any indication, you better believe I'll be back in the spring.

To see this article on the Great Outdoor Provision Co. website, among other articles, click this link...