Zion National Superhighway

Over the last couple of days you may have noticed how Ian’s footwear kept changing, and how he went barefoot on the Angel’s Landing trail.

There’s a tale to tell.

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Angel’s Landing

On our last day at Zion it took us a while to figure out what to do. I was a bit footsore from doing 8.5 miles two days previously, and 5.4 miles yesterday. Ian’s knee was acting up. Our choices were to just hang around soaking up scenery, trying the Narrows (upcanyon where the walls close in on you), or Angel’s Landing, a knife-edge mesa.

Eventually we decided we’d go for the challenging Angel’s Landing, with a nearly 1500 foot climb and a 5.4 mile round trip.

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Huber-Terrific

When I go hiking around Central Ohio, I often look for a more out-of-the-way place. Sure, I also hit the main attractions, but I also have a yen for the different.

So, here in Zion, after hitting Observation Point, we went to Huber Wash.

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The Blue Monk

So, we (my son and I) are at Zion National Park. It’s time for some serious hiking. Our plans were to do the 8-mile round trip to Observation Point. Our neighbors (next campsite over) had mentioned that much of the trail was “paved”, but what did that mean?

And would it be a problem to hike it barefoot?

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Tryin’ Zion

After we left the Colorado National Monument, we kept going west on Interstate 70. It rained the whole time. We then turned south on Interstate 15. It rained about half the way.

However, by the time we cut back to Zion National Park, it had cleared and the sun was out.

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Out and Above

Well, I’m off again on a long hiking trip. I’m out west again, and this time my son, Ian, was able to join me.

Our first stop was the Colorado National Monument.

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Light Blogging

A warning: blogging may be light for a bit. I’m heading out again (like I did last year) and I don’t know what sort of opportunities I’ll have for writing, or even if I will have internet access.

I’ve queued up a few entries to fill things a bit.

But with any luck I’ll be able to post new stuff as I go along.

So check back occasionally, or if you get my facebook feed you’ll see when it post.

 

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You’re In the Wrong Store

I was shopping on Friday at a different grocery store than my usual one. As I was wheeling my cart along, one of the employees pointed at my feet and said, “You’re in the wrong store.”

But I bet it’s not what you think.

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Clear Creek: Spring Continues

On May Day I headed back to Clear Creek Metro Park just to work out a few kinks in my system, and to experiment with my pack a bit. This time I was carrying about 38 pounds.

Spring was continuing to pop.

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Toddlers

I got an emailed request to write about toddlers going barefoot.

So, here goes . . .

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You Kneed to be Barefoot

There’s another study out on what most shoes do to feet, and specifically the stress that gets transmitted to the knees. Najia Shakoor, who’s been the lead investigator on other similar studies, Walking barefoot decreases loading on the lower extremity joints in knee osteoarthritis, and Effects of common footwear on joint loading in osteoarthritis of the knee, is also the lead investigator on this one.

It shows that training in what they call “mobility shoes” (designed to mimic barefoot walking) can lessen the stress on the knees even when regular shoes are then worn.

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How Judges Cheat – Part 2

A couple of weeks ago I reposted an example of how judges cheat by simply ignoring what the law says, and not following the rules of judicial construction. Today I’m going to give examples from my own cases that show a way of cheating that never shows up in the published opinions. Unless you are able to read the briefs of the case, there is no way to know what the court’s opinion left out (though sometimes you can find that if a dissent is written).

I lost my appeal in my lawsuit against the Fairfield County District Library, with the opinion being issued on December 14, 2011.

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There Really Is a Reason . . .

I’ve written before about how I play tennis barefoot. But I’ve also written about how, while barefoot hiking builds up the soles, barefoot tennis tends to wear it down.

So, what ought I do when I’m preparing for a hiking trip?

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Make Like a Tree . . . And Leaf

Yesterday, of course, was Earth Day. So I spent most of my day in direct sole-to-soul contact with the Earth. (And, if truth be told, a bit of time in butt-to-butte contact during a rest break.)

It was an 8-mile barefoot hike at Tar Hollow.

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I Like the Unpath Best

When I wrote about The Old Ways, by Robert MacFarlane, it included a small bit from Nan Shepherd’s The Living Mountain.

I thought I’d write some more about her book.

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