Those of you who know me have most likely heard me rave about my SPOT GPS Locator. As a solo hiker, I believe this device is an absolute life saver. If you are unfamiliar with the device, it basically is a satellite messenger and GPS tracker that allows:

-You to send pre-developed “ok” and ‘check in” messages friends and family or even rescue specialists/local authorities if you get stuck in a bad situation.
-Friends and family to track your location when you are boating, hiking, flying, etc.
-You to keep track of your travels and share them with others.

The SPOT is small and lightweight and the batteries will last for quite a while (up to 7 days), even with active tracking on. As long as you keep the device pointing upward and have a relatively clear view of the sky, you will be in good shape. The device itself costs roughly $150 and annual service plans will run from $50-100+ depending on the options you choose.

I won’t go on any kayak trip, offroad journey or hike without it.

Mt. Ajo, AZ

Recently finished a hike up Mount Ajo in Organ Pipe National Monument just north of the border of Mexico in Arizona. I had been looking forward to this hike/climb for a while and was completely prepared for the 7.5 hour trek. Or so I thought.

The trip was pretty brutal and the loose, sharp rock and rugged terrain absolutely shredded the tread on my Merrell Outbound hiking boots. This was particularly surprising and disappointing because these boots were extremely comfortable, only 6 months old and had less than 130 miles on them (through Montana, Utah, Georgia and California). I finished the hike with relative ease, but the boots were done. This didn’t seem right — and a call to Merrell confirmed it.

Based on the recommendation from the Merrel rep,  I spoke to store associates at REI when back in Atlanta. After a quick look at the boots, a customer service rep took them back and offered me a refund and the 20% off coupon I had used to purchase them originally. Minutes later, I had another pair of boots and paid very little out of pocket. I really realized the value of being an REI member and spending a little more to purchase from them. Don’t know many retailers that would make the return process so easy.

While I still like Merrell products and stand by the boots I had, I decided to go for a pair of Asolo Flame GTX hiking boots. The brand and model had great reviews and seemed very supportive and sturdy.

Tried them out for the first time on an 8 mile hike up Blood Mountain in northern Georgia. Didn’t require much break in at all and held up to the mix of ice, mud, water and rock that I encountered.

We’ll see how long they hold up.