|
|
Switzerland and Scotland
I just got back from trips to two amazing and very different countries. The first trip was our inaugural Hiking Scotland: Highlands to Islands, and the second was a scouting trip for a new hiking adventure in the Swiss Alps. And though an abnormal amount of rain made our itinerary change a bit and we didn't hike quite as much as planned, we all fell in love with Scotland, its rugged moodiness, friendly people, incredible food, and wild beauty. I left feeling that if I never visited another country, I could die happy.
Until I woke up the first morning in Switzerland and looked out at the Eiger. My heart soared as I looked at jagged peaks in every direction and breathed in clean mountain air. For the next 7 days two friends and I did a challenging traverse, hiking 5 to 8 hours a day through meadows and woods as well as up and over some very steep passes, ending each day tired and happy.
But as much as I loved it, I also realize that only a small minority of women would enjoy it as much as I did. And also this kind of trip limits how much time you can spend wandering towns, going into shops, visiting sites etc.
There is always a tradeoff between time spent hiking and time available for other things, and we are always working to refine that balance, particularly on our international trips. For these 2 countries, however, in 2012 we are going to try something different: 2 trips to each. One will be focused on challenging hiking: in Switzerland it will be the traverse I just did, and in Scotland it will be more peaks and long hikes. The other will combine some hiking, but shorter and less challenging (although not necessarily "easy") with time for other things. In Scotland it will be a minor variation of the trip we just did, and in Switzerland it will be village-based hikes in the Berner Oberland and Zermatt.
All of these should be posted on the website by the end of the month but if you want us to send you an email when we have them up, just let us know if you haven't already. And if you have thoughts on this approach, please share them on our Facebook page.
|
|
Drying your hiking boots
So you're spending the day hiking in the rain in Scotland and as you're returning through the valley you had crossed a mere 3 hours earlier, all the little streams you had hopped across had risen significantly and you soon realized that no matter how hard you tried, your boots were not going to stay dry and you might as well just get used to the idea of walking through water that came over the top. Fine. But how are you ever going to get them dry for the next day? If you live in the rainy Northeast, you probably already know this little trick. But if you have always had the luck (or foresight) to hike in dry weather, read on.
First, DO NOT use a hair dryer or put your boots close to a high heat source. The heat weakens the adhesives used in your boot and can make the leather brittle. It can even change how your boot fits. Instead:
1) remove the insoles (this is actually a good idea when you are just storing your boots between uses too)
2) wad up some newspaper and stuff it into your boot. If you have enough newspaper, change it in about an hour.
3) in either case, remove the newspaper before you go to bed and let your boots continue to air dry over night. You will be amazed at how effective this method is. And don't forget to clean them when you get home!
|
|
Credit cards and international travel
Most travel experts recommend using credit cards as much as possible during overseas travel for both safety (you're not carrying large quantities of money), convenience (you don't have to worry about finding a bank), and efficiency (you get a much better exchange rate than with cash or traveler's checks). If you need cash, bring an ATM card. In both cases notify your credit card company and/or bank that you are traveling overseas. Three tips that will help your dollar go further:
1. Get A Capitol One credit card. They are the only credit card I know of that does not charge a "foreign transaction fee" of 1% to 3%.
2. If you are given a choice of your card being charged in the local currency or your native currency, always choose the local currency. It may seem like they are doing you a favor to let you charge it in your currency, but they tack on a 3% fee for the convenience. You will always get the best exchange rate through your credit card company.
3. Keep track of the current exchange rate. I always look at xe.com (understanding that what they show is higher than what you actually get as it is a "mid-market" rate). That way if the exchange rate you're getting is out of line, you'll know it. In Scotland there was a "FREE" ATM - they didn't charge an ATM fee but the exchange rate was poor.
|
|
Extending the life of synthetics
Synthetics such as capilene,polypropylene etc. were a big breakthrough when first developed for use in outdoor clothing. Quick drying and able to wick moisture away from the skin, they are both warmer and lighter than cotton, and provide much better insulation than any natural material but wool. There is only one little problem - after a not very long period of use, they smell. Bad. You can wash them and they smell fine, but within a few hours of activity you start avoiding standing close to anyone. Then there was a revolution in wool - it became comfortable, durable (except for SmartWool socks) and didn't smell. The only drawback is that wool garments are spendy. So what's an outdoor girl to do?
In response to a recent blog post on wool, someone on our Facebook page shared that washing your synthetics in a quarter to a half cup of vinegar along with detergent, and then letting them air dry, would greatly cut their odor. Frankly I was hesitant to try it because I was afraid I would end up smelling like a salad. But after my Austria trip, when I had to wash my shirts every day as soon as I took them off, I decided it was time to give it a try.
It works!! I even got 2 low-activity days of use out of one shirt. The odor is both less and much less offensive. And I don't smell like a salad. Thanks, Diane!
|
|
A Special Invitation to Women Having Big Birthdays
A Big Birthday is any whose number ends in 0. And as we get older, and Big Birthdays may have a bit of ambivalence, many women want to celebrate it in a special way. Some women want to pamper themselves or buy something they really want. Others like to challenge themselves.
I have a Big Birthday coming up the end of the month and it just so happens to fall on the last day of the last trip I'm guiding this year- Slackpacking Georgia.
We still have 4 spaces left on it, and I would like to extend a special invitation to anyone who had a Big Birthday in the last 6 months or will in the next, to join me and receive a discount equal to half your birthday (e.g. if you're turning 60, you get 30% off). This is a pretty challenging trip so make sure that its appropriate for you. But if it is and you like challenge and you want to celebrate a Big Birthday, please join Leigh Saint and me for Slackpacking Georgia. (And yes, you can still come even if you're not celebrating a special birthday).
|
|
Have a great Fall!
This is the last month we offer trips before taking a couple of months to catch up on everything that got put aside in the last 10. Jan is just getting back from Italy and getting ready for Section Hiking the Appalachian Trail, Kate and Anne F are off to hike the Southwest, Anne B is about to leave for Peru and Machu Picchu, Pam and Ruth will be sampling the Smokies, Leigh and I are slackpacking Georgia, and then Kate and Anne B are off to Hike Bryce and Zion. It's been a great year, full of amazing trips with amazing women, and we're excited for 2012. Have a great fall!
--Marian, for all the guides at Adventures in Good Company
|
|
|
