Review: Vibram Five Fingers Trek Sport (First Impression)

 At Alaskan Ventures we like to review our gear in two stages.  First, when we purchase the gear we will write a "first impression" on the apparent quality and design.  Secondly, after a season of use we will write our follow up review on the actual performance.  Enjoy.....

 Okay, I finally broke down and bought a pair.  I made fun of them when they first came out, but like most things they grew on me! I was working out with my brother-in-law the other day and he brought out the new "Vibram Five Fingers Trek Sport" from his gym bag.  I couldn't take my eyes off of them!  He had the new Trek Sport which is super rugged and has a great traction sole.  I used my "REI" gift card and bought my own just two days later.
   First impression....LOVE EM'.  I didn't take them off for two straight days! My wife made me take them off before I got into bed only after I put up a fight!  I wanted to spend a lot of  time in them just to see if any sore spots developed.  No sores after two days of inside use--just pure comfort.  I wore them to the grocery store, and the way people were staring at my feet they must have thought I had major frost bite. 
Everyone asks, "Is it weird having something in between your toes?"  I have to say it feels quite normal and comfortable.  Something I really like is the thick, aggressive sole that seems to guard my feet well and provide excellent traction. They also have a 4mm raised arch which gives you added support--I like this a lot!
    I was anxious to try them outside and convinced myself that they must be insulated with some amazing state-of-the-art fabric.  I ventured outside in -5 degree weather and 12inches of snow, and unfortunately found out they would not be replacing my winter Pac boots.    So they have their limits...

For now they will have to be my gym shoes until spring comes and I can hit the trails. Overall, they seem to be of great quality and design!   I will keep you posted on how they perform this upcoming season!!


Update:
  It was a warm 25 degrees the other day, so I just had to try them out!  I ran in them for 3 miles and they felt great.  I could feel the previously unused muscles in my calves really working hard.  They felt very natural--almost like I was a kid again running around outside without shoes.  I do have to admit that I couldn't feel my toes when I returned home and re-warming them was very painful! Once again I conclude that these will not be my winter running shoes.

    Stay tuned for my second impression!

   

At Home In the Wild

While guiding in the backcountry our senses are always on alert for Alaska's wildlife. Bears come to mind when I think of dangerous animals but moose can be just as dangerous. During the off season my wife and I reside in Soldotna, Alaska. It is a small town with a population of around 15,000. Our awareness tends to fade as we settle into our routine throughout the winter. However, just when we think things are safe and normal we are reminded that we live in the wildest place on earth!!!!

 
   Peter and Katie Goodwin own and operate  Alaskan Ventures.

Winter Camping/Hiking in Alaska

   Hello from the cold land!  A few weeks a good friend of mine, John Castenholz,  and I decided we needed a cure for our cabin fever!  When the days are only 6 hours long and the temps dip beneath 0 often it is very tempting to stay in your house ALL winter.  When John called and asked I was pumped.  I had never done any winter excursions and knew it took a different skill set to survive.  The last thing I wanted was to head out on my own and lose an arm to frostbite.  John has lived in Alaska for 18 years and is a very experienced mountaineer and outdoorsman.  His resume of adventure includes several of the highest peaks in the lower forty eight as well as ice climbing and big wall climbing El Capitan.  To say the least he would be guiding me on this one!

We headed up the trail and made pretty good time until we hit the lower Fuller Lake.  At this point the snow was 6-12" deep but at the lake it was 24" and very dry.  We stopped middle way down the lake and had lunch!  I had several left over Mountain House meals from our adventure trips last summer and took one out of my bag.  John, too, had a few Mountain House(MH) meals from the "past".  After careful inspection I commented to John that I had never seen a MH package look like this one did.  He casually and softly mentioned that these may be from some of his early excursions......in the early 1990's!!!!!!  Opening the package, we both noticed the funny smell.  I tested the meal only after John promised me he would carry me off the mountain if I became ill.  When your cold anything warm is accepted as possibly edible and this 20 year old "chicken and rice" was no different.  Although stale as a pile of heated, decaying leaves is felt good to eat!
    After our meal we hit the snow covered trial and made our way slowly up the mountain!  After struggling through several 5ft snow drifts on a 40degree angle, we made it to our first camping spot.  It was 11pm and we were exhausted!
The next two full days of travel were intense.  I nearly died once....slipped and skidded down an icy slope before endoing and landing on my head. Overall it was a great trip and the weather was beutiful!  Watch the video and see our journey and the beauty we had stumbled into!
 If you are interested in taking your adventures to the next level check our website and take the plunge!
http://AlaskanVentures.com

 

The Buzz!

    Nope its not a hair cut!  I guess if they got close enough it could cut your hair.....
The bush pilots we use at Alaskan Ventures are very safe and have amazing track records.  They do however like to play a bit from time to time.

The worst is when you are in a boat in the middle of a lake and they buzz you!!!  You feel pretty vulnerable....I almost died once.

The Best Salmon Recipe Ever

Alright everyone, I am going to share my cherished, closely held Salmon recipe simply because we have had so many requests. If your are ever in the bush for 35 days straight, or just at your grocery store and are looking for a hot, out of this world meal, then here it is.

First, catch or buy a salmon. I prefer wild salmon because the farm raised kind is poor quality and full of who knows what. Next, filet the fish and lay each slab of meat out on your cutting board (or anything flat for those of you in the woods!) Next, cut the filets length wise into strips. Cut the strips into 2 inch x 1 inch thick pieces--sort of like a chicken nugget. Now for the secret ingredient.... Krusteaz pancake mix.

I know it sounds silly, but I would have never discovered this outrageous recipe if I wasn't in the bush with next to nothing to cook with but pancake mix. Necessity is the mother of

invention!!! The pancake mix has a hint of sugar and compliments the salmon perfectly. Add a bit of salt and pepper to your Krusteaz and the mixture is finished.

Next, dip those little nuggets of goodness into the mix and then place on the skillet with LOTS of butter (this is key--don't skimp and use Pam, coconut oil or something healthy--it must be butter). Fry those puppies up, about 2 min on each side. The cardinal sin when cooking fish is to overcook, so don't do it!!!

Place the salmon nuggets on a plate with rice as shown above and your guests will be raving!!!

Ingredients:

1 cup Krusteaz

1/2 stick butter

Salt and Pepper

Salmon

Season 2010

First off we need to apologize for not updating the blog in three months. From May 5 till now we have been swamped with trips. That coupled with no access to the internet while in the bush is the reason for the gap.

Overall we've had a great season so far. Our clients have ranged from hardcore enthusiasts to photographers to families needing a break from the grind. In the next two weeks we will have many stories from the trips this year. Stay tuned!!!

As always make sure to check out our website at www.AlaskanVentures.com

To Alaska

Just arrived in Anchorage after a full day of travel. Weather here is partly cloudy and 59 degrees....Perfect!!!! It was 87 and sweaty when I left nashville this morning. Glad to be leaving the hot weather behind.

Tomorrow officially starts the beginning of our season. We have trips pretty steady from here on out through September. I will be out in the bush for 18 days and won't be in contact by email or the blog. However, I will have mucho information and stories to post when I return.

For more information on what we do and who we are visit our website www.AlaskanVentures.com.

Peter