I’ve got the orange Superfeet insoles for a couple pairs of hiking shoes whose fit is less than ideal. They seem to improve comfort a smidgen, though not as much as a better-fitting pair of shoes would, I suspect. I’m…
Monthly Archives: February 2008
REI has consumer comments now
by tom • February 5, 2008 • 1 Comment
Just noticed this the other day: REI.com has added consumer reviews (which backcountry.com was using two years ago, but hey, late progress is still progress). As a sampling, check out this link to the $600 Garmin Colorado 400t GPS unit,…
Hiking at Rancho San Antonio
by tom • February 5, 2008 • 6 Comments
I decided to write my next Mercury News column on Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve, so I stopped by the park yesterday to refresh my memory of the trails out that way. Hadn’t been there since…
California parks department’s defense of closing 48 parks
by tom • February 4, 2008 • 8 Comments
A PDF from California Department of Parks and Recreation outlines why the parks in question were targeted and points out a few telling details, such as: Elimination of public access at the 48 parks will result in a revenue loss…
California state parks budget crisis — in brief
by tom • February 3, 2008 • 3 Comments
This article from Capitol Weekly lays out the original proposal. Among the key facts: Budget cuts would save $13.3 million — about a dollar for every family in California. Closures would shut out an estimated 6.5 million of 79 million…
Saving California’s state parks — don’t leave it up to the politicians
by tom • February 3, 2008 • 0 Comments
Rick from Hike Half Dome sent along a note about a message making the rounds advising some general rabble-rousing and attention-grabbing and getting up in the grill of our political leadership. While I’m certainly not opposed to making politicians’ lives…
Little Basin to Big Basin
by tom • February 3, 2008 • 2 Comments
I had nothing to gain from this hike: I’ve already written a column about Big Basin for the Mercury News; the forecast called for rain all day; and it was with a group of over a dozen people, and I…
Hiker reported lost at Henry Coe were found later last night
by tom • February 3, 2008 • 0 Comments
From this morning’s Mercury News: Two hikers lost at Henry W. Coe State Park walked into the command post of searchers out to find them Saturday night, Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputies said this morning. The hikers, deputies said, had…
Rain check on Groundhog Day Invitational
by tom • February 2, 2008 • 3 Comments
Well, the annual meet-up is going to have to wait for a drier weekend — I spent five hours in the rain at Big Basin today (pix & commentary to come) and have decided that’s enough wet, sloppy trekking for…