Kahtoola Microspikes Product Review: Initial Thoughts

Yesterday we spent the day hiking in our newly purchased Kahtoola Microspikes. We've used Stabiliciers for years and I have to admit are now decidedly fans of the Microspikes. My initial thoughts on how the Microspikes hold up under fairly extreme snow and ice conditions are below.

Microspikes: Fit and Function

We've used the Stabilicers for years on winter hikes and been sorely unsatisfied. Those sneaky little things used to slip off our feet constantly. After trying the Microspikes for only one hike I can already tell a HUGE difference in fit. The Microspikes actually stay on my feet with no adjusting. This is a great thing because when you are above treeline and the elements are pounding you- you really don't want to take your gloves off and fiddle with your footwear.

The packaging for the Microspikes includes detailed sizing info and we followed it to the letter. Since we mainly use foot traction with our bigger winter pack boots we carefully choose the correct sized based on the package and while it seemed a bit big at first- they fit perfectly on our big winter boots. Definitely take into consideration what you plan to use for footwear when buying and sizing these.



Microspikes: Traction on Icy Conditions

First and foremost, let me explain that I don't think Microspikes are the kind of traction you need while walking your dog around town. Microspikes actually need ice and snow to work or else you're clunking around in something unnecessary  For the type of activities we engage in- the Microspikes really held up. They were excellent on a mix of plain ice, snow on top of ice, icy snow, and compact snow.

Microspikes: Final Thoughts

My impression so far is that the Microspikes foot the bill for the type of equipment I need while hiking. I love that they stay on and don't need to be constantly adjusted. I found the sizing to be accurate, but careful consideration and reading of the packaging is needed. I'll post my final thoughts on the Microspikes in the coming weeks and include durability, portability, and more on conditions and fit. Stay tuned!

Disclaimer: Product Reviews are based on opinion only and are not intended to condone, encourage, or promote a product. Some products are sent to me by the manufacturer or affiliates and are mine to keep. I mention this specifically on products sent to me. Compensation and/or product and/or services never interfere with the review of the product. Otherwise, products and services are purchased by me for personal use. The Microspikes were purchased by me.

Hiking the 4,000 Footers: Mount Waumbek 11.16.2012

Via Starr King Trail
7.2 miles round trip

Number 37 on the List!

Our hike up Mount Waumbek marked the transition between two season- fall and winter. Up until this hike tackling the 4,000 footer list was mainly a summer and fall event for us and while we have plenty of experience winter hiking, the transition between the two seasons is never and easy one.

We loved spending the summer hiking with our lightweight packs and camelbaks, but on Waumbek we mistakenly brought the camelbaks only to have them freeze on us. We forgot our pants which I recount in this post and, oh yeah, we forgot our camera - a-freakin-gain. So no pictures of this gorgeous mountain.

We had some difficulty finding the trailhead for the Starr King Trail because our guidebook is so dated. After driving down what amounted to a dirt trail (thank goodness for four wheel drive and plenty of clearance!) we found the trailhead. The week before we had attempted this hike after a couple of inches of snowfall only to discover the road hadn't been plowed.

Waumbek is waaaay far up in Northern New Hampshire located in the Pliny Range (bordering the Pilot Range). Even though it was essentially the "off season" for hiking in this area we ended up having several hiking buddies (the kind where you leave the parking lot at the same time and you just can't shake them).

For a stretch we managed to have the trail to ourselves. This area is amazing and isolated. You feel like there isn't a soul for miles and your only neighbors are the moose and coyotes, who have left tracks crisscrossing the trail. The trees are a different sort this far north- far more stunted and scrubbish. We had several inches of snow to contend with- but not really enough for snowshoes or any sort of traction.

The summit for Waumbek is a pile of rocks with no view, but the isolation, quiet, and peeks of views the whole through make it completely worth the adventure or in our case- misadventure.

Hiking the 4,000 Footers: Mount Hale 10.27.2012

Via Hale Brook Trail

Number 36 on the list!

(picture is on Jefferson not Hale; read below to find out why)

Hale is a mountain that shouldn't be hiked all by itself. It's really part of a large family of mountains that should be hiked all together in one big swoop. Separating it and hiking it out and back in one day like we did is like divorcing Hale from its family (think backpacking--- Hale, Bonds, Zeacliff).

A 4.4 mile round trip Hale is extremely short for all the driving it requires. I think we drove two hours for this two hour little hike. The trail was crowded with families day tripping and leaf peeping. We forgot our camera- which was very devastating at the time. So I have zero pictures of Hale right now (thus the random picture hiking up Jefferson above- but really who doesn't like looking at THAT view). Turns out we weren't missing much for pictures because there is really no view at the top of the peak.

Hale was a mountain we decided to climb after several false starts and failures which I wrote about in this post.

Hiking the Winter 4,000 Footers

We started our newest adventure! Today we hiked Cannon Mountain a fairly steep but short hike. The mountain is a well known ski area as well. It was freezing cold and snowy the entire hike. Outside of Franconia Notch (the Notch for short) it barely snowed! More to come about this hike and the Winter List soon!

The Winter Solstice List

We've been pumped for winter since it means the start of a new list. While we still have 11 more peaks for our 4,000 footers list, we're starting the Winter 48. Essentially we'll be completing all the White Mountains 4,000 Footers during winter.

Winter really changes everything for hiking the 4,000 footers. Streams and rivers that are typically crossed with shoes off and pants rolled up become a major make or break moment. The worst weather in the world brings it in the winter. The winds are regularly strong and now become a windchill factor. Roads are closed for the winter sometimes adding five to six extra miles to an already long hike.

So tonight we celebrate with whiskey and jalepeno poppers as we tackle a new challenge. Here's a list of other smart winter adventures that may peek your fancy...

• Build an igloo
• Dig a snowcave
• Ice skate on a lake
• Climb up a mountain just to sled down it
• Throw snowballs for your dog
• Scoop up your own all natural snow cone (food coloring too!)
• Winter Camping
• Winter Peakbagging
• Breaking the trail with your snowshoes
• Make your own snowflakes (below)
• Night Hiking

source

Cabin of the Week

source

As my faithful readers well know-- I am a cabin, tiny house, and vintage camper addict. My pinterest boards are loaded with these types of pins. This little rustic cabin looks like a perfect mountain getaway.

Feeling the cabin/tiny house love? Check out these links for worthwhile blogs and sites.

• Tumbleweed Houses
• Tiny House Blog
• Free Cabin Porn

Hiking the 4,000 Footers: Mount Jefferson 10.20.2012

Via Caps Ridge Trail 
Elevation: 5716 feet
Presidential Range

Number 35 on the List

Getting to Caps Ridge Trail head is an adventure in itself. Closed in the winter the trailhead parking lot is so high in elevation gain that you only have to hike 2700 feet of Jefferson's 5716.

A narrow dirt road with lots of curves and tight turns-- and cell phone reception? Nill. It's spectacular.

Caps Ridge Trail is a sweet and easy (relatively) way to claim one of the mighty Presidentials (or Presis for short in NH). Loads of good views line the way up and down the trail. Don't forget full gear even in the summer. The Presidential Range is notorious for some of the worst weather in the world with some of the highest wind speeds ever recorded. It has snowed every month of the year in this area and average wind speeds are regularly 35-45 mph.

Overall the trail is easy to follow, not very crowded depending on the time of year, and relatively easy compared to Jefferson's neighbors such as Adams and Washington.

Vintage Camper of the Week

source | photographer

This entire set-up is just perfect. It may not be vintage, but it's certainly calling out for a little get-away...

On Dealing with Failure

We've spent the summer attacking the list of White Mountain's 4,000 footers- 48 in total to be exact. It started out slowly and without a specific goal, sort of like- "let's see if we can hike again next weekend" type of thing. Then suddenly we were addicted to these hikes. My work weeks suddenly seemed shorter and more bearable with plans for adventure each weekend.

Over the summer weeks and weeks of successful hikes went by. We got up earlier to avoid massive thunderstorms. We pushed through on Owl's Head despite colossal downpours all day. Somehow we got our groove on and the hiking gods were with us.

But towards the end of the summer we started to hit road blocks. It started on Whiteface and Passaconaway. We had attempted these mountains at least twice before in previous years, but always had to turn back. On our chosen day this past summer we arrived sans lunch and sans band-aids/blister supplies.

My summer has been an amazing whirlwind of hiking and adventure that also included incredible blisters. Blisters that were really covered with more blisters and then covered with blood blisters. Really so many blisters that I couldn't possibly hike with out first aid supplies. And no lunch? The hike was doomed. We made it a few miles in because we wanted to stretch our legs. We hiked back to the car defeated again.

In September and October we ran into new dilemmas  The hikes we saved for last were further away and required close to three hours of driving just to reach the trail head. Timing was critical on these hikes because the days were shorter as dark crept in earlier. With six hours of driving and six hours of hiking we needed to make plans for someone to take out our dog. It literally required an army of pre-planning and calling in favors to complete these hikes.

We arrived at Mount Moriah at 8:30 am (that means we were up and at em' at 4:00 a.m. who-hoo) to find not a single parking spot at the trailhead and spray painted signs saying "don't even think about parking here."  

The next trailhead for Moriah was 30 minutes away, but we gave it a shot. A mile or so in a river crossing that hasn't quite frozen over yet but was covered in ice and slippery snow prevented us from claiming Moriah that day.

On Mount Waumbek we couldn't find the trail head once.

Another week we came back to discover that Adam forgot his pants- yes- forgot his pants!! No, he didn't drive up pantsless- but he wore a pair of jeans. Waumbek in November is covered in snow and Adam had no waterproof pants or long johns. At that point we had made so many trips up to these mountains to fail that we just freakin' went for it. We monitored the weather and Adam's comfort the whole time and ended up hiking Waumbek in jeans!

All those days of missteps and failure were crushing at the time. It's hard to look forward to something all week and then suddenly realize you forgot your pants (wink, wink). Even harder was the realization that our hope of completing the list before winter was slowly fading.

What I discovered about dealing with failure is this-- Sometimes you have to get up at 4:00 in the morning and drive three hours only to realize you forgot something. Places are hard to find. Stars don't quite line up perfectly all the time. But you know what? Eventually we climbed Mount Whiteface and Passaconaway. We eventually climbed Waumbek. And well Moriah...eventually we'll climb her too.

The point is- being in the outdoors, having outdoor goals, and taking up outdoor sports will have moments of failure. But everyday you get up you have a chance to try again. Everyday you wake up and are blessed with ability to put one foot in front of the other you get another shot-- that is unless you forget your pants.