(Photo borrowed from Willi at the boats-to-build blog*.) Before the term Vibram Lug Sole was known, we wore boots called "Waffle Stompers." A true waffle stomper was a budget hiking boot. It was a rounded, suede, ankle-high sort of thing with a lug sole (a waffle pattern)and red laces. These were the ideal fashion accessory to complement your puffy down-filled ski vest.
What we really wanted were a pair of alpine hiking boots with a steel shank, true vibram sole, and scree collar. The laces for these were of the same construction as climbing rope. These thing had to be broken in well, if you wanted to avoid blisters. Also, they weighed about 20lbs. Each.
In Albuquerque, in all honesty, we (by which I mean people I hung out with before Vance or Jones) were inspired by the ultra hip nature boy, John Denver. If you remember the cover of his Rocky Mountain High album, that was the look we aspired to. (Check out this photo of John here. I'd almost forgotten those quilted yoke-pattern shirts we wore. Damn we were cool.) Despite what was going on in the rest of the country (and maybe even the rest of the city) we were Rocky Mountain kids. We wanted nothing more than to hang out in Colorado and ski/hike/climb plus get high/laid.
In retrospect, I wish that was the route we'd chosen. Rather than trying to hitch-hike to Memphis, what if we'd headed one state north, to Colorado, back before Denver was a megalopolis? How would life have been different?
I guess it's a question I keep coming back to. Was there really any escape for me from joining the Army? Maybe it was something I needed.
(For old-time grins, I'm listening to John right now.)
*boats-to-build is a great little blog that's been unattended for a couple years.
I did have a pair of the Vasque Hiker II boots that were solid as hell. Very expensive and left the most disturbing scuff marks on moms kitchen floor.(will have photo of me sporting said boots(with bell bottoms) in Dillon, Colorado up soon. I did camp, hike and climb all over New Mexico, Colorado and spent 28 days backpacking Shoshone and Yellowstone in Northern Wyoming in the '70's. One summer in like '73 or '74, I camped and slept on the ground so much that when I returned from Wyoming back to Memphis, I slept on the floor for a week because my bed was too soft. I was 16 and ready for anything outdoors. What if I went back to Wyoming for a 35 year re-trace of my trip with the National Outdoor Leadership School? Would the North Absaroka range be as pristine as it was then? Places like Piolt Peak and HOODOO Basin. I thrived in this enviroment....what happened to me? Oh, I remember...I got lazy.
ReplyDeleteLast week I was in a department store with my wife and while she was shopping the bargin bins, I lingered in the camping department for about 25 minutes day-dreaming about tents and bags. I miss it.
I know. I have to stop going over to REI anymore. It's like porn. Fun to look at, but I can't do much with it.
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ReplyDeleteCheck Moonpie 1, page 3 & 4 for Martins shirt. Yep, quilted yoke.
ReplyDeleteAs John Denver would say, "far out!"
Oh yeah. The Vasques were like the Gold Standard of hiking boots.
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