Tips for Holiday Air Travel Success

It’s about that time.

That time of year when planning, watching, and a little praying starts to take place. No, I’m not talking about getting ready for Christmas morning. I’m talking about pre and post Christmas holiday air travel.

In years prior, the Grinch arrives early for me, in the form of blizzards, mechanical failures, and delayed flights, wrecking havoc on my holiday travel plans. Last year, I didn’t even make it to my parent’s home in Virginia thanks to a cancelled flight on December 23rd. The first flight the airline could rebook me on was December 27th. Bah humbug!

So this year, with a stormy, wet forecast on tap for the west coast, I’ve already started planning and strategizing with the hope of making it to my in-laws in Atlanta.

This year’s plan of attack for holiday air travel success includes:

Fly Early
I’m flying on December 22nd this year, giving myself a little more time to get to Atlanta by the 25th if the worst happens.

Fly with Status
My highest frequent flier status is with United Airlines. While they weren’t the cheapest ticket, I know from previous experience that re booking is based on fare value and frequent flier status. I’m hoping my loyalty may mean something if I get stranded somewhere en route.

Be Proactive
If every flight in front of yours is delayed because of weather, chances are yours will be too. Watch the flight status for posted delays and if it looks like you may miss your connection because of a delay, ask to get re booked at once.

Leave the Luggage
I hope my mother in law won’t mind me wearing the same thing for one week. Checking luggage is risky at any time of year, much less peak season. Pack lightly to spare the holiday headache – or just ask for clothes for Christmas!

Pack your Patience
Remember that every flight will be 100% full, so get ready to make some new friends. Also remember that the holidays are stressful, chaotic, and at times, unrelenting. Be prepared for some bizarre behavior and pack some patience. Who knows what the gate agent, flight attendant, or the woman sitting next to you has been through already that day.

I’m off to Atlanta from San Francisco December 22nd. I’ll let you know if my planning paid off. Happy Holidays!

When to Replace Old Hiking Boots

Guiding women hiking all over the world, I go through some boots.  If you are like me, once you find a great pair of boots, you don’t want to get ride of them – for anything.  I once worse a pair for 8 years straight, until the pair truly disintegrated on my feet in New Zealand.  With hiking season coming to a close, now is the time to ask, “Do I need to replace my old hiking boots?”  There are a few things to consider when thinking about replacing old boots

1.    Tread – if the tread is worn over most of the sole, it is time to replace the boots.  2 reasons to do this include Cushion and Safety.  If your feet are stomping on the ground with less insulation than previous, it can tire your foot more quickly.  Additionally, little tread on boots reduces there ability to grip the earth and rock, making it much easier to slide all around when you are on the trail.  Note:  Boots can be resoled.  Many boot manufacturers and independent stores offer this service.

2.    Waterproofing – If the waterproofing in the boot is failing, in most cases you can apply a commercially available spray (buy at outdoor or shoe store) and it should do the trick for a few more months unless the shoe fabrics themselves are starting to wear out. Then, replace.

3.   Boot Upper and Seals – As boots wear out, the seams and seals start to crack, peel, or become unstitched.  Minor, these can be repaired usually at home or by having your local cobbler do it for you.  Sadly, factory applied seals usually last a lot longer than aftermarket seals, so if you do it yourself with gorilla glue, it may not last as long as when originally bought it.

4.    Insoles – Insoles can wear out with boot use.  If you notice the insoles have cracks or have worn through in certain areas, replace them.  No need to replace the boot however!

5.    Laces – Laces over time can get dirt in them or get worn out, and start to fray.  Best to replace laces early on (or carry a spare pair), as it is highly likely they will end up breaking on you miles from your car.

The great news is that you can usually get a few more years out of old boots with a few of the suggestions above for most hikers.  The keys are prevention and a little maintenance.

These boots have 2 seasons of use and have no visible signs of wear.

With 2 seasons of trail use, the tread on these shoes is nearly gone.  Time for a resole.

This tread is in great shape after 1 season on the trail, thanks to the the long lasting Vibram sole.



These insoles have cracks and the arch support is no longer stable.  Time to replace.



After 1 season, these insoles have held up well.  Little wear visible.

Fall Hiking Tips for Women

Fall has arrived across much of the USA.  With its gorgeous colors come fewer people and cooler temperatures, making it a great time to hit the trails.  Remember these important tips as you head out this fall for a safe and enjoyable late season hike, run, or bike.

·    Plan ahead for your hike and know your route.  The days are shorter with less daylight, making it important that you get back to the trailhead before sunset.  Take extra precautions and bring a headlamp if you are planning a big day hike.

·    Fall is hunting season in many parts of the USA.  If you are travelling through areas that allow hunting, be sure to wear bright colors and talk loudly on the trail so you don’t sound like a deer, turkey, or other animal.  Better yet, hike in areas that don’t allow hunting.

·    Fall usually means cool mornings, warm afternoons, and brisk evenings.  Dress in layers so you can stay comfortable throughout the day.  Rain also is common, so a waterproof layer is important to bring, even if the forecast calls for no rain.

·    As trees loose there leaves, it can make trails slick.  Add a little rain on top, and it can feel like walking on ice.  Make sure to bring your trekking poles and boots with a good tread.  If you are on your bike, watch your speed in the corners.

www.callwild.com

Packing Tips for Air Travel

Many clients ask me for tips about how to bring their backpack (or soft sided luggage) with them for their upcoming travels. Below are a few suggestions based on many years of client successes (failures) with backpacks, duffels, and air travel.

* Arrive at the airport with your pack “air ready”. Nothing can derail yourluggage more than if you get to the counter to check your bag and it isn’t ready to go.

* Close all buckles, zippers, Velcro, etc. and then tuck in all straps to any pockets so they won’t get hung on the luggage conveyer belt. You want your backpack to look like a neatly wrapped package if possible.

*Bring a large clear heavy duty plastic bag with you. If the airline will let you put your backpack or duffel it in, do it. Some airlines don’t.
Put your name in several places on your backpack. Tags fall off, and then luggage handlers have to dig through your stuff for your name. Put it in multiple places with contact info inside your backpack.

* Travel with all your water bottles, camelbacks, etc. empty. We had a client once who was concerned about having to step of the plane and onto the trail. She filled her camelback up with water and checked her back. When she picked up her bag in San Francisco, her items were soaked. We spent the next 3 hours having a guide go to a nearby Laundromat to dry them out.

* Carry all valuables with you on the plane. Sadly, many items like carabineers, cameras, battery chargers, etc. go missing between the time you check your luggage and the time you collect it.

* Consider using a luggage delivery service. Call of the Wild has had great success with Sports Express. With new fees for checking luggage by the airlines, this expense isn’t so expensive anymore and we haven’t had a problem yet with this service.

www.callwild.com