Margaret Lake - Take Two

 

First trip to Margaret Lake Here

So we decided to try our luck at Margaret lake again with hope that most if not all of the snow would be melted. We got a nice typical mid afternoon heat of the day start to our hike. The trail was much easier to follow sans snow, and much greener too with the wildflowers finally starting to bloom.

Well that looks a little familiar

We were able to follow the trail and were pretty surprised by how far off trail we had previously been, and happily surprised when we entered into the wooded area. There were points that were semi hard to follow but someone had gone through and marked the trees with some duct tape that let us know we were still on track.

I started getting blisters on the back of my heels (stupid shoes - but I didn't know if we would encounter snow or not) so I took them off and hiked the wooded area bare. The ground was surprisingly cool and very refreshing to the mid-day heat. At some point I hit my arch on a rock (even after I couldn't see it) and got a small bruise but no big deal. We started encountering some snow so I put on my huaraches but as the snow started getting more dense so back on went the shoes. 

We made the switchback descent down to the lake and by the time we got close there was nothing but snow.

The lake was crystal clear but with no where to sit and eat our lunch because of the snow we headed back up the trail to a clearing where it split off into two separate trails (the second goes to Lake Lillian). When we got there we encountered two barefooters! We chatted momentarily and let them know there was a substantial amount of snow on the trail, sat and ate our lunch before heading back down the trail.

All in all, I don''t think we'll be doing this trail again.

Currently Reading

As I take the time to rest my ankles I've got two books I'm currently reading/browsing. I'll admit that chances are pretty slim that I'm going to read ever word of either of these books, and it's far more likely that I'm going to just skim them and then continue to reference them as I continue on my journey.

The first is 

 

Jason was nice enough to set up a free download for the e-file here

The second is 

 

 

I love the fact that this book has so many pictures in it showing you the different motions. There are a lot of drills to help perfect form and strengthen and stretch in areas most needed for good form barefoot running. I can't wait to be able to try some.

Where these soles have led me

This is me

Hiking Wallace Falls 

Ten months out of the year I work at an infant to kindergarten inclusion school. The other two months of the year I spend my time exploring new places, skills, and information. 

A few years ago (3 years ago?) this led to a cross country bike trip. My husband and I traveled 3,045 miles in a 50 day period. We camped all but a handful of days, carried all of our own gear, got ridiculous tan lines (or burn lines in my case), and raised money for livestrong. 

The route we took

Now we're not cyclists. As a matter of fact, until a few months before that trip neither of us even had bikes to use. Just the ambition, some time, and the ability to ride a bike. We wore tennis shoes and t-shirts. It was a pretty good time until Montana. Northern Montana anyone? No thank you. 

Route 2 in Montana is 666 miles long. Enough said.

The following year our son was born.

Over the next year after that I taught myself how to knit. Then I taught myself how to dye yarn.

I now sell knit goods online on the side as a way to support my hobby. I mostly sell wool pants that are made as cloth diaper covers. 

If you're interested, I have a facebook page set up here. 

This year I've done two polar bear plunges, and gone sky diving.  

'

Recently, I've taken an interest in running. I played sports when I was younger, but I have never been much for running. I've said plenty of times that I hate running. I always obsessed too much when trying to get into running. Time, breathing, speed - blah. I was intrigued when I saw Vibram Five Fingers at REI one day and really liked them, despite my life long aversion to things between my toes.

So I got a pair and started jogging. Not only that but I was actually enjoying it.

Naturally, once I find something new I want to know everything about it. Dr. Google to the rescue!

On my information quest I came upon the book Born to Run. I got a copy, read it and had that Aha duh running epiphany... why did it matter how fast or how far I ran. 

After reading more online about the benefits of barefoot running I was sold on completely changing my lifestyle to incorporate either being barefoot or in a minimal shoe. As a child I had flat feet, had orthotics, and my feet constantly hurt. I was always bound to my shoes to use the orthotics in order to keep from having shooting pains in my arches, over correction of my knees to make up for my ankles falling in and a cascade of other aches and pains from my ankles to my back.

Sometime in my teenage and adult life I stopped wearing shoes all the time. When barefoot I learned to walk mostly on my forefoot, which led to less need for an arch, and less pain from not having one. Without me realizing it, in a few years I had accomplished what a lifetime of orthotics couldn't I had an arch (even if it is just a small one). Of course, I didn't realize this correlation until my recent exploration into the world of barefooting.

I got a little over exuberant in my new found life and found myself with a little case of sore peroneal tendons that I've been resting up since.

    

I'm likely going to get a pair of not-quite-minimalist shoes with my transition to make it a little smoother. I'm going to continue jogging barefoot (I've decide to ditch the Vibrams, at least for now) and have a pair of Luna Sandals waiting at the warehouse to be picked up.

(( Lunas were a win win for me. They were running a sale, and they are local. When I was first looking to get a pair of Unshoes and I still might in the future - but Lunas ended up cheaper with the discount code and no shipping fees. I also ordered a pair for my son. ))

So join me (and my feet) on my adventures this summer around beautiful Seattle and it's surrounding areas as we adapt to our new found unshod freedom and lifestyle.