Review: Asolo Fugitive GTX

WHY I BOUGHT THEM

I found out about Asolo, an Italian boot maker, from a good friends that lives and works as the Head Fly Fishing Guide at 4UR Ranch in Creede, Colorado. I was in need of a new pair of boots and hadn’t made up my mind as to whether i would stick with the trustworthy old Vasque’s I had known and loved for years with another pair or if I would venture in to the unknown. After some conversations with my buddy about the pros and cons to the Asolo’s he owned, I figured if they were good enough to live and work in at 9,000+ feet in the San Juan Range of southwest Colorado that they would undoubtedly perform well for me as well.
   So, I came back from that trip to Colorado on a mission: to find the boot that was right for me. We were living in Nashville at the time, so with a quick trip to the Brentwood REI, the Asolo Fugitive GTX’s were on my feet. Here are my thoughts after owning them for 3 years…

   WHY I LIKE THEM

I bought these boots in the fall of 2007, and just after three years of owning them and countless trips in them (whether day hikes or backpacking trips), I can honestly say that I love these boots. My previous pair of boots were the classic Vasque Sundowner…all leather…no bells and whistles. They are essentially the same design today as they were back in the 70s. They are classic, and I still own and love them. However, I wanted a boot that was a bit beefier, which may be the first draw back for some hikers. They weigh in over three pounds (for the pair), which may not seem like much, but that is 30% heavier than Sundowners I already owned.
    The soles and toe guards protect your feet from stumped toes and from wear and tear on both the boots themselves and your feet. Combine tough soles and hard rubber toe boxes with a stiff split-grain leather lower section, and you’ve got an amazing platform protecting two of your most precious commodities on the trail. The upper part of the boot is made almost entirely of tough nylon with increased fabric layering around the ankle… providing for the support I was looking for in a boot. Lets be honest, it doesn’t matter how sure footed you are…we all roll an ankle from time to time, and these guys have built in ankle braces.
   The Fugitive GTXs are water shedding machines. The Gore-Tex liner works wonders and the nylon outer layer is quick drying. Wet feet are killers on the trail and I haven’t had a single case of trench foot since I started hiking in these bad boys. The tongue is sewn in seamlessly with the rest of the boot in order to prevent any leak points. So whether its puddles, creek crossings, or a downpour of rain…these guys will keep you dry.
The uppermost part of the boot back and the tongue flap have a nylon mesh fabric on them that are both quick drying and highly breathable…which is great when you sweat as much as I do.

THINGS I WOULD CHANGE

   Truthfully, the only thing I would change about these boots is their factory insoles. I guess Italians have hobbit feet and/or they are incredibly flat footed (sorry for the broad generalization there). These are an easy, and pretty inexpensive way to provide a little better cushioning for the feet. I would especially recommend this switch if you have high arches. Personally, i use the High Volume Superfeet green insoles. You can usually find these at any local outdoor retailer.

OVERALL

My favorite part about these boots is that they are just downright tough. I have put them through everything from two days of rain and muddy trails in Alabama to rocky summit scrambles in Colorado at 14,000 feet and they haven’t let up yet; and they show no signs of needing a replacement anytime soon.

    If you want to pick up a pair of your own, I say you stop at your local outdoor store and support a small business. If that’s not an option, or you simply don’t have a decent store in your area, you can buy them online from REI.com. For me, they were true to size and the same as all my other shoes (they come in a Wide option if you have boxy feet). If you’re in the market for new boots, I hope this helps a little bit. I love these boots and I think you will too.

By Lee Cadden

Alaskan Ventures specializes in custom Alaska Backcountry Adventures.  Check us out at www.AlaskanVentures.com  

Smith Family Trip 2010 part ll ( Lake Clark National Park )

Base Camping On The East End Of Lake Kontrashibuna In Lake Clark National Park, Alaska

  The morning of the fourth day, after resting the previous day, we set out for our destination.  Gladiator basin is a unique jewel nestled in the center of Lake Clark National Park.  It comprises a mountain box  canyon with with a stunning glacial fed the stream that flows directly down the middle.  Flowing right over the edge of the basin almost 2000 vertical feet, the stream collides into Lake Konstrashibuna.
  The hike just to the edge of the basin is not for the faint at heart!  A mere game trail carved out by thousands of years of animal use is our path.  Ascending the 2000ft game trail is grueling at times and stunningly beautiful at others.  The route parallels the many breathtaking waterfalls that guide the river to its destination below.  Up and over high mountain steps, through thick alders outcroppings and over ancient rock slides this narrow trail is the only way in or out of this magnificent canyon.

Crossing the 40 degree Gladiator Creek

   After a quick pep talk and a redistribution of weight in our packs, we headed out.  Crossing the Gladiator creek, below the canyon, was our first challenge.  Chris and Renee rolled up their pants and toughed it out.  The stream was swift and barely 40 degrees.  I threw on my Cloudveil waders and ferried the girls across on my back.  One slip and it would have been a cold bath but we all made it.  Finding the game trail that leads into the canyon was a must and we followed the stream up veering east to find the trail head.  After finding the trail and ascending the first 300 feet we stopped for a breather.  I sized up the group and their ability and everyone seemed okay to continue.  We all ate a granola bar before saddling our packs and headed up.  With inclines up to 45 degrees we sometimes held on to any root or rock we could find.  Working together we help each other over fallen trees, under deadfalls, and through alder thickets.  Always crying out "hey bear", we didn't want to run into any animals on this tight, closed in trail.  Most attacks by bears or moose happen when hikers surprise the animals at close proximity.  Singing, as the girls did often, or yelling "hey bear" every so often is a small price to pay for safety.  In the 11 years of my guiding experience I have yet to encounter an animal on the trail when using this tactic.  These bears are not blood thirsty killers.  On the contrary, they mostly eat plants and want nothing to do with humans. 
    At each break we found ourselves munching on watermelon berries and high bush cranberries.  The alpine flora in late june is very lush and green.  This makes the views amazing but the hiking challenging.  At one particular break we could hear a deep roar not far from where we rested.  Sneaking through the bushes towards the mighty sound we were all rewarded with an amazing view of the river falling some 400 feet below.  We all wondered just how many people had ever seen this falls before us.  It was so remote and so beautiful!!!   If this were in the lower forty eight it would be a landmark with a road paved to it.   Not here....it was still wild and untouched!!!

Hiking up to Gladiator Basin in Lake Clark National Park

 We pushed through the challenging mountain trail all the way to the top.  When we finally broke through above tree line we were exhausted and ready for camp.  Peaking back down the mountain where we had come, a sense of pride filled us all.  Although we where close to our destination we still had another 1/2 mile to reach our camp site.  The girls, Rayne and Autumn, both carrying 20lbs packs were at their limits.

"Mighty mouse", Autumn's trail name, told me she had had enough.  I told her to take one step at a time and follow my lead.  This trip is difficult for even the toughest person not to mention an 11 and 13 year old.  I was amazed and encouraged by their persevering spirits.  I have had grown men cry on less intense trips.

   As we pushed on to our camp site I was growing concerned about the dark, ominous clouds that had swept in from the west.  "Chris", I exclaimed, "we have to find a camp spot NOW or this storm is going to get us".  Chris agreed and we all picked up the pace in hopes of beating the storm.

Yummy! Blueberry Cheesecake

We finally made it to our camp site and quickly set up our North Face tents and boiled water for our Mountain house meals.  After some hot food and fresh water we all began feeling better.  The thunderstorm came over us a few minutes later and we all ran to our  tents for shelter.  The weather went from calm blue skies to 50mph winds and lighting within a few minutes.  It blew and roared for 15minutes and just as quickly as it cam it was gone.  We climbed out of our tents and finished the night eating blueberry cheesecake and hot tea.  It was a great day to say the least! 

Hiking in Gladiator Basin, Alaska

    The following morning we awoke to thick fog and slight drizzle.  I whipped up breakfast and coffee, broke down the tents and we headed down.  We had planned to explore the basin for two days but the weather was settling in and hiking in it was not desirable  We made it to the original camp site 7 hours later.

Feeling pretty good as we rolled into our base camp on the lake, we loaded up all of our gear and set out for the first leg of our return.  We paddled until 12:30am before stopping for the night.  We all slept very well as tired muscles make for great sleep.  The next day we paddled 14 miles back to the headwaters above Tanalian falls.  Over the campfire we reminisced over the past week.  From the challenges, to the victories, to the laughs and the stresses the memories brought back a great feeling of accomplishment for us all.

Click For Larger View

   A special thanks to the Smith family and their willingness to step out of the box for their Alaska vacation.  I hope it meant as much to you as it did us!  See you next year!

Here is a map of our location.  Lake Clark National Park comprises over 4 million acres of pristine untouched beauty far from any road or city.  

If you are interested taking a similar journey with your family or group please check us out at
http://AlaskanVentures.com

By: Peter Goodwin