Tootsie - Not the Candy

How does one get the trail name Tootsie?  Well, let me share with you the back story.  It seems like there is a big trend towards using trail running shoes as backpacking footwear.  The advantages are they are light, waterproof, and have good traction. Having done my fair amount of trail running and my love affair with my trail running shoes I thought I'm doing.  I'm going to do an overnight backpacking trip in my trail running shoes. They are all the rage, everyone is talking about it, I want to be hip and trendy!  I'm jumping on the band wagon!!

I procured this picture from Cleaver Hiker

But... NO!!! Not for a gal like me that is full figured and carrying about a 35 pound pack. They just don't cut it. Let me break it down for you so that you are not sucked into the hype and try it without the proper knowledge.  Mindy and I headed out and for the first half of the trail my shoes were glorious. My feet felt great and I felt like they were supporting me and the weight of my pack. Now imagine a typical Alaskan summer day in August and you know that rain is a factor.  

I did NOT have the traction that I would have liked.  With the added weight of the pack and the wet conditions I was slipping and sliding all over the trail.  That brings us to the wet factor.  Having to go through very shallow puddles and stream crossings my feet were now becoming prunes.  I trudged through and we made it to camp.  My feet received the well needed ventilation they needed to dry out and breath.  

Being naive I thought my shoes would surely dry by morning and I could trek out the next day in comfort. I awoke to very soggy shoes. 😞   So being the trooper that I am I decided I would improvise and put my feet in plastic bags to provide a barrier between my shoes and me.  It worked for awhile until we had to do a stream crossing that went badly and everything got wet.  You may be reading this and laughing, shaking your head, or even feeling just a bit sorry for me and I don't blame you.

So, what I learned is that trail running shoes just don't make the grade.  Since my feet were a constant discussion during the trek Mindy dubbed me Tootsie.  I love my trail name and can't wait to introduce myself on the AT as Tootsie.

Tootsie formally known as Bethany