A shot from on top of Table Mountain, on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge. I'm wearing Luna Sandals, which actually blew out, finally, on this trip. I'm undecided as to whether I should get a new pair, or go for Xeros. But, a good farewell trip to a well-used pair of huaraches ..read more

Call me The Mysterious Stranger. After getting laid off my seasonal summer job for the Forest Service, I’m heading north, beginning my long road trip. I pass through Payson, and on up into the small village of Pine just north of there, around dinner time. Outside the Thai restaurant on the left there seems to be a large gathering of people outside on the patio. I think, ‘Hm, that looks like a packet pickup for a race.’ I continue on to a different restaurant and, parking, happen to look up at a banner saying, MOGOLLON MONSTER 100M, Sept. 27-28. Hey, that’s tomorrow! Hey, that was a packet pi ..read more

ON FOOT: Grand Canyon Backpacking Stories, edited by Rick Kempa, is now available! Featuring my essay "Holy Water" among many good ones, including one by a Barefoot Running Society member on hiking barefoot! Vishnu Temple Press is offering free shipping through September. Click on any link to go there and order ..read more

Oral Cancer 5K Rangley, Colorado The weather last night here in Rangely, Colorado was cold and rainy, and snowy at just five hundred five higher elevation, so I halfway expected to wake up to snow on the ground. But no, this morning is sunny, dry pavement, if still cool: people at Registration are wearing winter coats, though runners are in jackets or hoodies, with long pants of some kind. I am the only one in shorts, and regretting that decision. At least the race starts at 8:30 rather than, say, 7:00. Enough for the sun to come up and warm things a bit. This is my last race here in Rangely ..read more

The Hana (leather) by Xero Shoes  The Hanas, like all shoes from Xero, are super comfortable, with think flexible soles, zero-drop heels, and and spacious toe box. What I was hoping to get from Xero Shoes Hana was a moccasin-type shoe, something with the feel and comfort of my Minnetonka Moccasins, but with a tougher sole, so they would last longer, and be able to handle wet sidewalks, while also being somewhat dressy for work, or out on the town. There is a canvas version (I think? Grey, doesn’t look like leather), for a more casual look, but I ordered the black leather version. They co ..read more

Septemberfest 5K: Flat, fast and free I’m amazed to have yet another 5K race here in little ole Rangely, Colorado, two weeks after the last one, and this is indeed as advertised: free. All one has to do is show up here in the Elks Park parking lot before 8, sign a form, and you’re given a ____ with a number. I’m second, so I get 102. How or why this is happening at not cost I’m not quite sure, but I think that the richest guy in town is sponsoring this whole three days of festivities over Labor Day weekend, which is I think ironic, but nobody really celebrates the labor part of Labor day anymo ..read more

Becky’s Walk 5K Saturday August 21st, 2021  Rangely, CO United States This race, like most things here in Rangely, Colorado, is not that well organized, at least in the ‘sign up’ and ‘get the word out’ stage. But, I’m here, on a cool overcast Saturday morning, which in August, around here, in the high desert of Colorado, is a blessing. The ladies at the check-in desk are all friendly, and even know my name, which happens in a small town. Except to me: I can’t remember names at all, to an embarrassing degree. This is a 5K run/walk. Becky’s Walk. Third annual. Benefit for Multiple Sclerosi ..read more

Genesis Sandal by Xero Shoes   I can’t believe I took so long to order the Genesis sandal/huarache from Xero Shoes. It is the perfect sport sandal/huarache for running, hiking and especially walking. I’ve been a fan of most Xero Shoes products, and was there when they first came out: their original huaraches sandal, now called the Feeltrue Sandal, and still for sale on their website, is the best sole of all the huaraches. I’ve compared them before, but for example, the soles for Luna Sandals, even the thinnest, the Leadville, are twice as thick as Xeros, but softer, and therefore they s ..read more

Z-Trail sandal by Xero Shoes Lowdown: surprisingly disappointing After owning my Xero Shoes Z-Trail sandals for less than a month, I had both of them blow out on a recent backpacking trip in Grand Gulch, the left foot on Day Two, the right on Day Four. The same thing happened to both: a small metal 'clip' thingy that attaches the main strap to the back velcro heel strap simply snapped off. I was able to adapt: the main strap was long enough that I could run it around my heel in kind of an old-school huarache wrap, though it was not at all sturdy or tight. I was excited to see Xeros being s ..read more

Top o' the morning to ye! A fine sunny day to run a 10K, and at the reasonable hour of 10am! Instead of paying $100 for a St. Patrick's Day race in Portland tomorrow, I've opted for a cheaper one, $40 (and that was because I registered last minute) down in Salem today, where the money goes to a charity. I guess I'm less enthused about races in general, especially at the shorter end or 5K and 10K, distances I might coneiveably run anyway, but being with a pack does motivate me to push myself, run faster, though would be more fun with a friend or two. Or at least a fellow barefooter. Alas, I h ..read more