tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81609592733325807602024-02-12T22:36:22.562+08:00GEAR UP, GET OUTGear reviews and nature nuggetsgearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-45320592486109036972016-07-06T14:23:00.001+08:002016-07-06T14:31:37.381+08:00Gear Review: Altra Superior 2.0<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYkdOTKQBEV6PAy1OiCOIPj6kDl_6ZqDRWP-B7XMVgUYW1RHAgof0H7Ari4Kiku3xQAIi-qRW2t37tBeUsSXoHp2Xrm6xeJD5_3CG0hiVIaaiBfrRbWJK_4hOQm5ZrQp47uxXa_1K6k3W/s1600/IMG_0519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Altra Superior 2.0 trail shoe" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYkdOTKQBEV6PAy1OiCOIPj6kDl_6ZqDRWP-B7XMVgUYW1RHAgof0H7Ari4Kiku3xQAIi-qRW2t37tBeUsSXoHp2Xrm6xeJD5_3CG0hiVIaaiBfrRbWJK_4hOQm5ZrQp47uxXa_1K6k3W/s640/IMG_0519.JPG" title="Altra Superior 2.0 trail shoe" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Altra Superior 2.0</span></td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Introduction</b></span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although <a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/" target="_blank">Altra</a> is a newcomer to the running industry, it has quickly gained a strong fanbase in the ultra trail running community. Altar's unique selling points: zero drop, a foot-shaped toe box and A-bound midsole material, have enabled it to be at the forefront of shoe design. It also caters to semi-minimalist needs as well as to those who prefer a more maximalist shoe (e.g. their Olympus model)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have been training and racing in my faithful pair of New Balance Leadville V2s for some time now and was looking for a replacement pair. Altra's design philosophy caught my attention, and since i have wide feet , i decide to go ahead give the Superior 2.0 a try. Once again, there are many great reviews on the web but this is my own take on it. I also hope to give views from a Singaporean perspective.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have had this pair for 2 weeks and have logged in around 35 km in them on both trails (MacRitchie and Mandai Track 15) as well as speed work in East Coast Park. This review will be based on my initial usage of these shoes. Will do a longer-term review later on. </span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Overview</b></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just holding these in your hands, you can tell these are a light pair of shoes. It comes with a pair of removable Altra Stoneguard rock plates. This is a great idea if you feel that you do not need that much protection on certain trails and want to shed some weight.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Upper</b></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">i love the upper so far. It is light, firm and very airy. You can actually see through it. Singaporean runners will know that all it takes is an hour run in our humidity to totally drench your shoes with perspiration. We are all familiar with the "squish squish" feeling. These shoes do soak up sweat but dries up pretty fast. It also drains out well after running through puddles. The laces are light and stay tied during my runs. The gusseted tongue is nice and thin, with just enough padding. Toes are sufficiently protected from rocks by the toe bumper and extra lamination on the front end of the shoes.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IfGmhgJGNQCYpgxdeYK5xkA7BgCSp5Xl7A4-LIBz2YZABxxwtkHr0pDwG5cv6jS1rwQIHoapnU_ghFR5tEPMm1umzK3DYK37QSlv31VIwf8mZD1_Kbad2izAra00iURX2hXZX6_RwO36/s1600/IMG_0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Altra Superior 2.0 trail shoe" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IfGmhgJGNQCYpgxdeYK5xkA7BgCSp5Xl7A4-LIBz2YZABxxwtkHr0pDwG5cv6jS1rwQIHoapnU_ghFR5tEPMm1umzK3DYK37QSlv31VIwf8mZD1_Kbad2izAra00iURX2hXZX6_RwO36/s640/IMG_0755.JPG" title="Altra Superior 2.0 trail shoe" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Superior 2.0 is a great looking pair of shoes!</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Interior</b></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The removable Stoneguard is a great idea and it works as it should. I have not tried running without it. The foot shaped toe box really does allow your toes to spread out naturally and adds to stability. I do find that the overall volume of the toe box is still very small, the top of the toe box seems to press down on the tops of toes. I hope this will not be an issue on my 50km race next Saturday. I wear Injinji toe socks, so that could explain the tighter feeling I get from the toe box.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSI87C-zoAWkVtKVVbRvx5r4eY4hF3aaoyORhY05RGsI5HM4hg55x7t-kf4RrtP0WEX8DMwS0b3OLNjsGXDTzSF-CEsdgNSNAfR1cn7XIDP1O7gyDdKyi_fqXHpZXE87hsfFVJ_0W0JMm/s1600/IMG_0752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Altra Superior 2.0 trail shoe" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSI87C-zoAWkVtKVVbRvx5r4eY4hF3aaoyORhY05RGsI5HM4hg55x7t-kf4RrtP0WEX8DMwS0b3OLNjsGXDTzSF-CEsdgNSNAfR1cn7XIDP1O7gyDdKyi_fqXHpZXE87hsfFVJ_0W0JMm/s640/IMG_0752.JPG" title="Altra Superior 2.0 trail shoe" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The grey removable Stoneguard goes in under the green insole</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLW5NL78dvV6j7aVOe5Xx979_SEcR4F6pHANOhhrUm8B5DB9YehvmI4oKw-K2Tx2oVzdTFpebwPA2TSybjFZ35L1F-7wHjzuStZM4k_yo2QAcbRgzLEE9D9L0HOzN7u69GFGoKRRL4aY6e/s1600/IMG_0753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Altra Superior 2.0 trail shoe" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLW5NL78dvV6j7aVOe5Xx979_SEcR4F6pHANOhhrUm8B5DB9YehvmI4oKw-K2Tx2oVzdTFpebwPA2TSybjFZ35L1F-7wHjzuStZM4k_yo2QAcbRgzLEE9D9L0HOzN7u69GFGoKRRL4aY6e/s640/IMG_0753.JPG" title="Altra Superior 2.0 trail shoe" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Stoneguard fits very snuggly inside the shoe. It stays in place throughout the run.</span></td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Midsole</b></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The midsole is responsive and offers a good balance between cushion and trail feel. Coupled with how naturally your toes can spread out, you feel more stable on uneven terrain (read: the stretch of trail between MacRitchie Ranger Station and Jelutong Tower). The zero drop profile does feel more natural when you are running, especially switching over from the 8mm dropped Leadville V2.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Outsole</b></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mega grip on dry and muddy trails. I have yet to test it on wet rocks, in the rain. I think that will be the ultimate test to see if a trail shoe can hold its own in Singapore. The outsole tread pattern plus the toe splay really makes you feel like you are able to dig deep and claw your way up anything. The lugs are deep yet clean themselves very well. The deep lugs did not seem cumbersome too when I did a 11km fartlek on tarmac. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9fBBO7A0iZHOntugHwaMQbthRf6_Y7KvQ8lCp0-H3VHL-Si2hE261WEzpneFQxUchA2tPLtH-zJiKJaQq8W17kSYTSRpEXPtRfgb3IsN-FWf5sE2Zndrky73tisRxnXDcMnhh2Q-8QH6/s1600/IMG_0751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Altra Superior 2.0 trail shoe" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9fBBO7A0iZHOntugHwaMQbthRf6_Y7KvQ8lCp0-H3VHL-Si2hE261WEzpneFQxUchA2tPLtH-zJiKJaQq8W17kSYTSRpEXPtRfgb3IsN-FWf5sE2Zndrky73tisRxnXDcMnhh2Q-8QH6/s640/IMG_0751.JPG" title="Altra Superior 2.0 trail shoe" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Super grippy and sheds mud well.</span></td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Sizing</b></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Superior 2.0 is notoriously short in length, so it is highly recommended to at least size up half a size. Some wearers need to up a full size. Best to try these on in person, and in Singapore you can do it at<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FastCorner-runswimtri-705429832852756/" target="_blank"> Fast Corner</a> on the second floor of Queensway Shopping Centre. They are the official local distributor of Altra products. </span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Summary</b></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is trail shoes that is light, responsive and makes you feel fast. Most reviewers reckon the Superior 2.0 can handle distances up to 50miles. Due to the lower stack height and relatively lack of medial support, I think this is a fair view. I will be personally putting this to the test next Saturday at the MSIA Action Asia Singapore 50km trail ultra. Get this pair if you want a fast and light trail shoe that has zero drop and a wide toe box. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IfGmhgJGNQCYpgxdeYK5xkA7BgCSp5Xl7A4-LIBz2YZABxxwtkHr0pDwG5cv6jS1rwQIHoapnU_ghFR5tEPMm1umzK3DYK37QSlv31VIwf8mZD1_Kbad2izAra00iURX2hXZX6_RwO36/s1600/IMG_0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Altra Superior 2.0 trail shoe" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IfGmhgJGNQCYpgxdeYK5xkA7BgCSp5Xl7A4-LIBz2YZABxxwtkHr0pDwG5cv6jS1rwQIHoapnU_ghFR5tEPMm1umzK3DYK37QSlv31VIwf8mZD1_Kbad2izAra00iURX2hXZX6_RwO36/s640/IMG_0755.JPG" title="Altra Superior 2.0 trail shoe" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Will be putting these through the grinder, stay tuned for a longer-term review!</span></td></tr>
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gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-85268960463540497152016-07-03T16:09:00.000+08:002016-07-06T14:33:07.648+08:00Gear Review: Ultimate Direction Scott Jurek (SJ) Vest 2.0<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQsgWOCUofpcUDAW6efTfaiT5oLtaz8d5XyX03JoxESndnf3jzUEqqBSs3qnJqEmUc4QaFGOxR80Jh6fdL04AdOCSDNoa-R6Ubs0eK4iZOSEhdZ1dr_oAF3TrvlXpCWou-R_8c7rw_VoU/s1600/IMG_0635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="Ultimate Direction Scott Jurek (SJ) Vest 2.0. Singapore" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQsgWOCUofpcUDAW6efTfaiT5oLtaz8d5XyX03JoxESndnf3jzUEqqBSs3qnJqEmUc4QaFGOxR80Jh6fdL04AdOCSDNoa-R6Ubs0eK4iZOSEhdZ1dr_oAF3TrvlXpCWou-R_8c7rw_VoU/s640/IMG_0635.jpg" title="Ultimate Direction Scott Jurek (SJ) Vest 2.0. Singapore" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rear of the vest. Small zippered pockets along the bottom "wings" of the vest offer spacious and secure but slightly inaccessible storage.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoeWVnpamuhHah9wj9yne3BXEDHa_aSnoqbILJMajzyO_rnUleSTKOV21WtA4rPxtk5om0LU1qFOdudbLyOiKZdEI0pFwQIznkLZYieTO2WDGgaRkktKBMs6gG-mECs_HAslxqlWa8aGN/s1600/IMG_0636+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="Ultimate Direction Scott Jurek (SJ) Vest 2.0. Singapore" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoeWVnpamuhHah9wj9yne3BXEDHa_aSnoqbILJMajzyO_rnUleSTKOV21WtA4rPxtk5om0LU1qFOdudbLyOiKZdEI0pFwQIznkLZYieTO2WDGgaRkktKBMs6gG-mECs_HAslxqlWa8aGN/s640/IMG_0636+copy.jpg" title="Ultimate Direction Scott Jurek (SJ) Vest 2.0. Singapore" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The front shoulder straps offer ample storage. the top two grey mesh pockets need to slightly bigger to accommodate the size of newer smartphones. This has been addressed in version 3.0</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGEzCuKRYynZrzMl0KU_TRe6APsrCMehr9A600U2T-GfQcgOnZuLieTDPjJQf10ZXO5vaUG601MjXf2bmBBLMOJ_aMbyM54jHvvrptNSc0Ekaod43RAmMZUNXj-xR_17trWKpgrmpLgJO/s1600/IMG_1057+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="Ultimate Direction Scott Jurek (SJ) Vest 2.0. Singapore" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGEzCuKRYynZrzMl0KU_TRe6APsrCMehr9A600U2T-GfQcgOnZuLieTDPjJQf10ZXO5vaUG601MjXf2bmBBLMOJ_aMbyM54jHvvrptNSc0Ekaod43RAmMZUNXj-xR_17trWKpgrmpLgJO/s640/IMG_1057+%25281%2529.jpg" title="Ultimate Direction Scott Jurek (SJ) Vest 2.0. Singapore" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">UD SJ Vest 2.0 fully loaded during the Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> There is already so much written about this amazing vest that I won't say more apart from the fact that it really is a very reliable vest to use in training and during races. Capacity is sufficient to hold compulsory race items such as a waterproof jacket, 3 Clif bars, 4 Clif shots, 1 Clif protein bar, a packet of Nuun electrolyte tablets, an iPhone in waterproof case, 3 x Hydrapack 500ml Softflasks, a battery pack, headlamp, reflective vest and basic first aid kit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once fitted on properly, there is simply no bounce and follows your body's movement while running. The only niggle i have is that the two small zippered pockets at the bottom of the rear of the pack are quite hard to access while wearing the pack. I have occasionally strained my shoulder while trying to get stuff out of them. I believe the latest version 3.0 has addressed this issue.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you are the sort that isn't that fussy on having the latest gear or if you are a runner on a budget, look out for the many clearance sales as Ultimate Direction is clearing the way for the latest version 3.0. This vest will offer you a simple and reliable solution to carrying hydration and gear on your next trail adventure.</span></span><br />
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<u><br /></u>gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-34619891887007285902016-07-03T15:40:00.000+08:002016-07-06T14:32:24.880+08:00Race Report: Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Trail running has been in my blood since I was a school boy running cross-country for my secondary school. The Victoria School boys cross-country team was and still is famous for consistently being one of the top teams. I had the privilege of running for and being part of the team that won the national school championships 3 years in a row. A big shout out has to go to our coach Mr Ho Kiat Chong, who is the one who gave me the love for the sport. He taught us discipline and endurance through distance running, and I treasure these precious lessons till today. Thank you Mr Ho!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fast forward 20 years: I am still loving the sport, but this time cranking up the distance. I have completed two full road marathons and two trail 50km races, but I was searching for something more challenging. My ultimate goal is to race the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) but at 100 miles, over very challenging and vertical terrain, it is still some way more till i can get there. So the plan is to get more race experience over longer distances and also more varied terrain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As part of this journey, I entered the Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon (BUTM) two weeks after completing 52.5km at the MR25 Trail Ultramarathon in December last year. I guess you could say I signed up on a runner's high!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After the MR25 race, I allowed some time for rest and recovery before resuming training in February 2016. My mileage was not as high as I would have liked due to work commitments but I did the best I could. The key was to always head out enjoying my runs , which is vital to running such long distances. Another crucial thing that helped me during the race was doing the back-to-back long runs on the weekend. So I would typically head out for a 3 hour run on Saturday and then do a 2hr+ run on Sunday. This served to let my body and mind get accustomed to working when I was tired. As traditional ultra training wisdom says, it is the time on your feet that matters. I also worked on the stairs (30 storeys x 5 times) just to get used to the amount of climbing we would be doing in the BUTM. I would have liked to have done longer runs and more vert training, but work, travel and illness took away the better part of the training period. I also was very disciplined about foam rolling and stretching, which helped me stay injury free throughout.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRc3TogUQQKDazbf0W0R1GLkAp4ASVUt5X3VBa9duprEiq2RTnXx10IGSLo6px5Evy_hnmgxJV08qM0RLRfnVWsnnxiulrwavMKYqwjUpZwSuGk624Ec3T3BDP9X1cEBmSYYwTRqfh_a1/s1600/IMG_1060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRc3TogUQQKDazbf0W0R1GLkAp4ASVUt5X3VBa9duprEiq2RTnXx10IGSLo6px5Evy_hnmgxJV08qM0RLRfnVWsnnxiulrwavMKYqwjUpZwSuGk624Ec3T3BDP9X1cEBmSYYwTRqfh_a1/s640/IMG_1060.jpg" title="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">BUTM 2016 Start area, Tamparuli Valley (Kota Kinabalu)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016 was held on 4 June and had categories for 12km, 25km, 50km and 100km. I signed up for the 50km. The weather was really nice and cool at the start but we all expected hot sun later in the afternoon and also heavy rain even later on in the day.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvzEx3N2NynQ6vDR9j67SzCqaQKqtR4od19S3jUCTGl8_3Y35B8DJIhOpl7VUPFD9GXuOmyS6s4nWhe7NG0GrvQgQIHPpv4JAV-2jJvGvjNnGHJ0U6ZSvkYtG_kWsdbtxcr066vjpGXIq/s1600/IMG_1064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvzEx3N2NynQ6vDR9j67SzCqaQKqtR4od19S3jUCTGl8_3Y35B8DJIhOpl7VUPFD9GXuOmyS6s4nWhe7NG0GrvQgQIHPpv4JAV-2jJvGvjNnGHJ0U6ZSvkYtG_kWsdbtxcr066vjpGXIq/s640/IMG_1064.jpg" title="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Keeping warm at the start</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOwha97ZSGO5t-nsGxr2qdKAjyNjsANOtyD4SD1CNYQuJ5uPXfF6j1F14ex-Lg20WUSVOH1m2IsgvG0HWqtDrh5B_gLHF0E4IV29d5nhJGFj2InKp19jXKmoO9Vxtjk1UNhz861G9iRN4/s1600/IMG_1069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOwha97ZSGO5t-nsGxr2qdKAjyNjsANOtyD4SD1CNYQuJ5uPXfF6j1F14ex-Lg20WUSVOH1m2IsgvG0HWqtDrh5B_gLHF0E4IV29d5nhJGFj2InKp19jXKmoO9Vxtjk1UNhz861G9iRN4/s640/IMG_1069.jpg" title="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The main tent where all race organization takes place. I am amazed at the grassroots nature of this race and throughly enjoy this simple yet well-organised event. Kudos to the organising team!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WbR3bGz7QwD9cZS7-n09YRoxxLH_m-R2QX_CqL16OmuDVwLOnbWruChQKJuneg4IsvjrgwzZRDzoux7OkIM9wp8YOUq5mdG6_asWa46a8f917HkWyRjJwD0POVdgaWWILhAiWkwcnJeg/s1600/BUTM2016+50K+map+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WbR3bGz7QwD9cZS7-n09YRoxxLH_m-R2QX_CqL16OmuDVwLOnbWruChQKJuneg4IsvjrgwzZRDzoux7OkIM9wp8YOUq5mdG6_asWa46a8f917HkWyRjJwD0POVdgaWWILhAiWkwcnJeg/s640/BUTM2016+50K+map+copy.jpg" title="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">50km Course Profile (this is not the latest map we used, i couldn't seem to find it but the only difference was the naming of the water stations after WS 2)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The 50km course would prove to be a fun but tough one, and by the end of it runners would have climbed a total of more than 2000m. For a Singaporean with no mountains to train on, this is by no means an easy task.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The race started well but things started to go wrong after our group of around 12-15 runners missed a route marker and went the wrong way after leaving WS1. We ended up having to bash through the jungle, desperately trying to head straight towards the nearest 4x4 vehicle main track. By using my compass and map, and also the altimeter readings from another runner's Suunto, we eventually reaching the main 4x4 dirt road in between WS2 and WS3.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8a_mY9heo70a6LPr9Y11v5X_dRRtFGzhZWca3_bcsCa4IXOYip0IlTi4CCD9M-j_DFy8j0Wo_X5T1aO_luhIlT5VnIeneLDXFuo1WzJ3ulD6TxmU0aFQzVIqA8_HQLtHwTW5nTgotrIQ/s1600/IMG_1083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8a_mY9heo70a6LPr9Y11v5X_dRRtFGzhZWca3_bcsCa4IXOYip0IlTi4CCD9M-j_DFy8j0Wo_X5T1aO_luhIlT5VnIeneLDXFuo1WzJ3ulD6TxmU0aFQzVIqA8_HQLtHwTW5nTgotrIQ/s640/IMG_1083.jpg" title="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Strong pace coming out of WS1</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfjoumNXEbHWWqvEx99Vfc-QDA4HK7d9phIWitCS1V_qQPkbu-g6aFON2bWqJdhjwS6o0gzr4gmDmakoAwTpvlToVvfCevuIcrhSC3_lqHuEYC87ynIBXaVBfchYq4pRFJrYP-2Cc-lgW/s1600/IMG_1076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfjoumNXEbHWWqvEx99Vfc-QDA4HK7d9phIWitCS1V_qQPkbu-g6aFON2bWqJdhjwS6o0gzr4gmDmakoAwTpvlToVvfCevuIcrhSC3_lqHuEYC87ynIBXaVBfchYq4pRFJrYP-2Cc-lgW/s640/IMG_1076.jpg" title="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jungle bashing along rubber tapper tracks</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTawIeQdv6CLzOFmyiAPyf48mpz8Qoy4ZNVHe-Ru79pif1apGjRlbbjm4fKCmGguocUBp3emHVacnxWzZeGbkrCf8c_tKjmuabtdm9g_dhpsx7g7CRXe9WBTalvE-ii7RL-ZRYriK2n9EO/s1600/IMG_1088+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTawIeQdv6CLzOFmyiAPyf48mpz8Qoy4ZNVHe-Ru79pif1apGjRlbbjm4fKCmGguocUBp3emHVacnxWzZeGbkrCf8c_tKjmuabtdm9g_dhpsx7g7CRXe9WBTalvE-ii7RL-ZRYriK2n9EO/s640/IMG_1088+%25281%2529.jpg" title="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Crossing streams with refreshing water helped us keep our sanity in our push to get out of the jungle</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We were so thrilled to meet a lady tapping rubber in her plantation, and she told us which direction to head towards WS2. By this time we were more than an hour delayed and around 4km off course. We had to make the mind numbing run backwards to WS2 in order to check in there, otherwise we would be disqualified. We all eventually made it back to WS2 after 30mins of hard running along a mainly upslope journey. After quickly filling up our now depleted water supplies (it is compulsory for all runners to be able to carry a minimum of 1.5litres of water) I was finally back in the race proper.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The rest of race was spent digging deep and reminding myself that I have trained hard for this and this sure beat being cooped up at work back home! I found the steep downslopes tough on my quads and this is something that I need to work on in future training. There was a point when I was actually scared of losing control of my legs when negotiating a steep, muddy slope in the middle of a huge downpour. The slope had literally turned to flowing sheets of mud and gravel, and sustaining grip on such a surface was a painful affair.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGcs5xDvEQ9F8MhEtO_HfbONcdMssybxw2q-DQWv9Bf3aVlh-p5Nlqxsq4euGSfclASuomWPV6k6_3VF8NdaNUK4x0fkLFP7K1l6PFSUbBXNvdZdJy1TBh8a0UTHJILtbuhLGNznbB7yy/s1600/IMG_1098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGcs5xDvEQ9F8MhEtO_HfbONcdMssybxw2q-DQWv9Bf3aVlh-p5Nlqxsq4euGSfclASuomWPV6k6_3VF8NdaNUK4x0fkLFP7K1l6PFSUbBXNvdZdJy1TBh8a0UTHJILtbuhLGNznbB7yy/s640/IMG_1098.jpg" title="" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me managing a smile after the toughest climb of the race: 50 degrees straight up a forested slope to reach this clearing.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Yti5KWuYopPwyh-7gUsUO3dh3AHZAgag0lvw_bV4AfwAOANkgoiDPDbdLoRNU9va63_yotNdDuPeMTxicoEa6eWzrMy9Z-3vVl9ROzzhqrVZIfs_jeN8NHP0Hi61CD1lp0K8fPYREHhK/s1600/IMG_1103+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Yti5KWuYopPwyh-7gUsUO3dh3AHZAgag0lvw_bV4AfwAOANkgoiDPDbdLoRNU9va63_yotNdDuPeMTxicoEa6eWzrMy9Z-3vVl9ROzzhqrVZIfs_jeN8NHP0Hi61CD1lp0K8fPYREHhK/s640/IMG_1103+%25282%2529.jpg" title="" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Typical trail during the race.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the highlights of the race was the many suspension bridges we had to cross. For me these provided a much needed break from the monotony of the trail and also a chance to catch my breath as we had to walk across it instead of running for stability issues. The scenery was also captivating and never failed to lift my spirits and remind me why I enjoy being outdoors.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mBJchzr1CJPIJW3_fr725h6OwB_fgCLXMVKyogUIDFkDoeT4Gd5BttCvd4X2ygQ1h57FyAhSlrt-AllUBknxB3fhhNLB7FmT4_b8CcxzkbKVAzdGDUTQgkbAwKNyZnXkhIZprCwV9ca4/s1600/IMG_1104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mBJchzr1CJPIJW3_fr725h6OwB_fgCLXMVKyogUIDFkDoeT4Gd5BttCvd4X2ygQ1h57FyAhSlrt-AllUBknxB3fhhNLB7FmT4_b8CcxzkbKVAzdGDUTQgkbAwKNyZnXkhIZprCwV9ca4/s640/IMG_1104.jpg" title="" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Typical suspension bridge </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The final 20km were the hardest but fastest kms during my race, partly due to the relatively smaller climbs but also because i was running with a fellow racer who i made friends with. we both were in the group that got lost and we kept each other going for most of the race. We cracked jokes about how we were wearing the same grey Uniqlo running top , and i started calling him Uniqlo. Found out his name, and now Ahmad and I follow each other on Strava!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lSD8rTYN30ryjq1JvBv-Uy02_Z4CVMJ_pGb530mLp24cZM4ygfjI2eUmKICjNiCdCL4eJ8oMF7tCDnVmCB1Hpd-XVVGs752buxyqUy6AaaHrqUtSjoaircdDd4i3haIQOMw35XYfBboT/s1600/IMG_1093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lSD8rTYN30ryjq1JvBv-Uy02_Z4CVMJ_pGb530mLp24cZM4ygfjI2eUmKICjNiCdCL4eJ8oMF7tCDnVmCB1Hpd-XVVGs752buxyqUy6AaaHrqUtSjoaircdDd4i3haIQOMw35XYfBboT/s640/IMG_1093.jpg" title="" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Typical climbs during the race.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As with any race, the final 8kms seemed like an eternity and running through cold rain with heavy shoes made it feel more arduous. I could hear the commotion of the finish area over the river but it was a long way more till the final road that crossed to the other side. By this time, i was on my own having left Ahmad further behind. He had urged me to go on and so i went ahead, determined to go under my 10hr goal. I finished the race in 9 hrs 28mins , with Ahmad coming in just under 10mins later. I finished 19th overall, and 2nd Singaporean. The first was a Singapore lady who totally whopped my a$$ in the final 3kms.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcNg0GjSFNVfGzE7l8Ns8fuKn5nCm5l4RoTSq3hr5LjMsid6-4ox4WiZ_kd6XRd3hqUZaMuoGJyfQDIGwS4WQqJ_5uSSaoOR3Ysm_jCUhKUYyOythTMbxbDayTsoWaKFCqArk883a9zol/s1600/IMG_1109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2016. BUTM 2016" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcNg0GjSFNVfGzE7l8Ns8fuKn5nCm5l4RoTSq3hr5LjMsid6-4ox4WiZ_kd6XRd3hqUZaMuoGJyfQDIGwS4WQqJ_5uSSaoOR3Ysm_jCUhKUYyOythTMbxbDayTsoWaKFCqArk883a9zol/s640/IMG_1109.jpg" title="" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Done! pardon the blurry photo taken by iPhone 4.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What an amazing race and even more amazing opportunity to have experienced Borneo this way. This race has taught me not to give up and I was happy that i remained in control all the time, even after having had to run extra distance due to getting lost. Here's to more ultras in the future !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">[Check out the race stats and follow me on my <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/597785613" target="_blank">Strava</a> account]</span><br />
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<br />gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-74098673204895332562016-06-20T16:57:00.000+08:002016-07-06T14:33:26.748+08:00Trip Report: Yosemite National Park (September 2015) <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It has been way too long since my last post (3 year hiatus), my apologies!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since my last adventure in Xueshan (Snow Mountain), I have been on a few more memorable trips and the most significant was a trip with my wife to Yosemite National Park. A huge tick off my bucket list! This was part of our big annual trip to USA in September 2015. Details are a bit sketchy in my mind now, but here is a quick and dirty report of a place I will never forget. Forgive me too for the grainy photos, due to an iOS update incident, I lost all my US trip photos. The photos here are cropped from my Instagram page. Follow me at @joeyganners.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdsbex4Urosz7wtMIOViJkbDDQGkfILs2XDvJ4x2hfAUTeRg_9232kbKcQwvVFjWXpMhAHeaJ2vYAqL_bHAYQPkpuUrmByQG0vpq2AiIZFHBaAg2KFn9LVkFT3n_XuYHNf9lNsOKf-Wfr/s1600/Yosemite+Valley.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Yosemite Valley, September 2015. View from Panorama Trail" border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdsbex4Urosz7wtMIOViJkbDDQGkfILs2XDvJ4x2hfAUTeRg_9232kbKcQwvVFjWXpMhAHeaJ2vYAqL_bHAYQPkpuUrmByQG0vpq2AiIZFHBaAg2KFn9LVkFT3n_XuYHNf9lNsOKf-Wfr/s640/Yosemite+Valley.PNG" title="Yosemite Valley, September 2015. View from Panorama Trail" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yosemite Valley, September 2015. View from Panorama Trail</span></td></tr>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"The mountains are calling and I must go.." </span></b></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- John Muir , 3 September 1873</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Even as a true blooded, flat-landed, urban Singaporean, my heart truly sings the famous words written by American naturalist John Muir in a letter to his sister. There is something magnetic, magical about being in the mountains, and I answered Yosemite's siren call.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our visit to Yosemite National Park was made on route from Portland, OR (where we did heaps of cycling, we brought our road bicycles with us!). On our drive, we made a stop to view the Redwoods trees, which is another tick on my bucket list. The mind boggles at how a tree can be so big. Amazing indeed is God's wonderful creation.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKcSAmYDmYtdY487jt_CQdbSxAPqOUUSw9YeRJenictsfPaMy66W3e_u7wdr8vhaoH_fpEBTj-V85hTLUeUpFXTuSw77IUGcC6uwcZ-qmaWDEmQShCWc66wRYl2ibuca0fFv9UTj2v7_9/s1600/IMG_0207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Driving down the I-5." border="0" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKcSAmYDmYtdY487jt_CQdbSxAPqOUUSw9YeRJenictsfPaMy66W3e_u7wdr8vhaoH_fpEBTj-V85hTLUeUpFXTuSw77IUGcC6uwcZ-qmaWDEmQShCWc66wRYl2ibuca0fFv9UTj2v7_9/s640/IMG_0207.jpg" title="Driving down the I-5." width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Driving down the I-5. We did not have enough time to take the more scenic 101 highway. Still, pretty stunning scenery. You would never get such a completely flat horizon like this in Singapore!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxvfu1Vqkg7968cbKNXoScsHRDu6OpwRI8S3xgcCcqdXE6Mpy93pABaYmOckXjnnudhTA3gYO8hmjcWh_fW4ou1ZDkkIVfiB9PqNX54tHhb3dtbtE1D61V2ua8tb2zy8DN9MTD-9pnHd2/s1600/IMG_0205.PNG" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Large redwood at Jedediah Smith Campground (Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park)" border="0" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxvfu1Vqkg7968cbKNXoScsHRDu6OpwRI8S3xgcCcqdXE6Mpy93pABaYmOckXjnnudhTA3gYO8hmjcWh_fW4ou1ZDkkIVfiB9PqNX54tHhb3dtbtE1D61V2ua8tb2zy8DN9MTD-9pnHd2/s640/IMG_0205.PNG" title="Large redwood at Jedediah Smith Campground (Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park)" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Large redwood at Jedediah Smith Campground (Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We reached Yosemite National Park's Camp Curry (in Curry Village) quite late at night and we were thankful for a comfy cabin to rest in. Camp Curry is very well set up for the needs of visitors. We would have preferred a more adventurous experience of camping in the outdoors but we were too late in booking camping permits. September is usually the height of hiking season so bookings have to be made almost a year in advance. We also wanted to summit Half Dome, but the same reason prevented us from doing so. Need better planning next time. But not being able to summit Half Dome was a blessing in disguise and we used the time to explore more of Yosemite Valley via the a combination of the Four Mile Trail and Panorama Trail (total journey of 21.1km)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBw_-1hL-GShrqZKNANXVIqKYap_xqKa0LomSMHTHQeJe10RWiyC74UZHupJNIzkiJMRImFEYTcdPTpThifcIjQTWB_pWsLoYzt_01hi7ibIUNCnXHV7KnW25OZd58T5x5HbZH-JzcLp8t/s1600/IMG_0211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Camp Curry. Yosemite National Park" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBw_-1hL-GShrqZKNANXVIqKYap_xqKa0LomSMHTHQeJe10RWiyC74UZHupJNIzkiJMRImFEYTcdPTpThifcIjQTWB_pWsLoYzt_01hi7ibIUNCnXHV7KnW25OZd58T5x5HbZH-JzcLp8t/s640/IMG_0211.jpg" title="Camp Curry. Yosemite National Park" width="546" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Certainly no curry available here</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppbFAURSLq0xMHOYH_rWn51dPt_4Igoujn1iuHOCL6haxfKUBSaKsBSR42pZMcp6KoQyR0GVhaqQEevmJNtpeXjhsRTFgfClJN3Ch7IWiEJZLFiltq4osK_sd6D1zI6fjp8U9ShEgI-Ld/s1600/IMG_0212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Four Mile trail. Sentinel Rock" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppbFAURSLq0xMHOYH_rWn51dPt_4Igoujn1iuHOCL6haxfKUBSaKsBSR42pZMcp6KoQyR0GVhaqQEevmJNtpeXjhsRTFgfClJN3Ch7IWiEJZLFiltq4osK_sd6D1zI6fjp8U9ShEgI-Ld/s640/IMG_0212.jpg" title="Four Mile trail. Sentinel Rock" width="512" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Four Mile Trail offers classic mountain switchback routes and amazing views of Sentinel Rock through the hike up towards the end point at Glacier Point. From Glacier Point, we chose to continue from the trail head of Panorama Trail all the way back down to the Valley.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_87CgBxvjQp_ToFC8PViZUO3bF-iuzlU-uqC8nwB_MARAqRWjXhQfxiJcqczqgmpikt3i6c5Ek3ytLBcvLgSNxSuXCQ7MMA9nZIj7N_an-2Gps0ASdVJl4Kivd-jUFTGPyxqvz-WTFvD/s1600/IMG_0209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Black bear cub. Yosemite National Park. Four mile trail" border="0" height="635" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_87CgBxvjQp_ToFC8PViZUO3bF-iuzlU-uqC8nwB_MARAqRWjXhQfxiJcqczqgmpikt3i6c5Ek3ytLBcvLgSNxSuXCQ7MMA9nZIj7N_an-2Gps0ASdVJl4Kivd-jUFTGPyxqvz-WTFvD/s640/IMG_0209.jpg" title="Black bear cub. Yosemite National Park. Four mile trail" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We saw our very first Black Bear cub. This young one caused much concern among us and fellow hikers: everyone was worried about where is Mommy Bear??!!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_A96JvVK_FUNI8Rnu_H6xJiS5zoDnOBfgPhde9S2kjoWbFuWmnfG1dBnQZNcf2Eltn3E8UNgX7WEQQgTSOBYGiB0s1ZMDhPhzL_aDtV-1LVZn-dClNp36Y1_KIgHWxP5Ebk0OEUfUGry/s1600/IMG_0210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Yosemite Valley. Merced River. Sentinel Rock. Yosemite Falls" border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_A96JvVK_FUNI8Rnu_H6xJiS5zoDnOBfgPhde9S2kjoWbFuWmnfG1dBnQZNcf2Eltn3E8UNgX7WEQQgTSOBYGiB0s1ZMDhPhzL_aDtV-1LVZn-dClNp36Y1_KIgHWxP5Ebk0OEUfUGry/s640/IMG_0210.jpg" title="Yosemite Valley. Merced River. Sentinel Rock. Yosemite Falls" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yosemite Valley and the Merced River from Four Mile Trail. This iconic view of the valley is framed by Sentinel Rock on the left and Yosemite Falls on the left. It was a dry summer so the falls are not visible.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stunning drop-offs next to the Four Mile Trail</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rHaGJ6y4v87gYfVjfdWtLv6Fr9yz3hayshffIT4Y9zkwQ09um1kM5KGcN6MSdKasQ1Z6l54-6X5GGO4ASdmkLatowXKYO2rVsEWMUPjxA6zJ5a9MSNtdi9ab-DVtHhlh1PIlMhHHM18A/s1600/Panorama+Trail.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Panorama Trai. Yosemite Valley. Glacier Point" border="0" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rHaGJ6y4v87gYfVjfdWtLv6Fr9yz3hayshffIT4Y9zkwQ09um1kM5KGcN6MSdKasQ1Z6l54-6X5GGO4ASdmkLatowXKYO2rVsEWMUPjxA6zJ5a9MSNtdi9ab-DVtHhlh1PIlMhHHM18A/s640/Panorama+Trail.PNG" title="Panorama Trai. Yosemite Valley. Glacier Point" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Panorama Trail. The trail head starts from Glacier Point. This trails offered us much peace and solace from the crowds that came up to Glacier Point by bus.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoIT1gWbCqCsFAdbyeCvn4iwKy5dxkdWjDpN_Vpox3jnU7ayX2SBlgbQz8h0efiOHYI88R5Tq5jmyXwWV9uNH9BBE-kYASVBbD7xqs0iUQVvyL_f0mQttcC4dNkMYncch6eVa_TOxsnYm/s1600/Panorama+Trail+1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Panorama Trail. Half Dome" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoIT1gWbCqCsFAdbyeCvn4iwKy5dxkdWjDpN_Vpox3jnU7ayX2SBlgbQz8h0efiOHYI88R5Tq5jmyXwWV9uNH9BBE-kYASVBbD7xqs0iUQVvyL_f0mQttcC4dNkMYncch6eVa_TOxsnYm/s640/Panorama+Trail+1.PNG" title="Panorama Trail. Half Dome" width="518" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The lower half of Panorama were characterised by large size rocks and boulders. Trekking poles offered must needed support going down. We also had great views of Half Dome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-weight: normal;">Our entire hike started at around 8am and we ended the day just before 6pm. It was a challenging but simply awesome hike, a definite must-do if you are visiting Yosemite. It is advisable to have reasonable fitness. Pack sufficient water (at least 1.5 litres per person in summer is good), you can refill your water supply at the water fountains at Glacier Point. Trekking poles are highly recommended and a grippy pair of trail shoes / boots with ankle support is a must. Don't wear new footwear on this hike, it is not a trail to test your new pair of shoes on! We sustained our energy through trail mix and energy bars. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-weight: normal;">Last tip, don't start your hike without a cup of Yosemite coffee! :) It is a great way to start any hike!</span></h3>
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gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-13367505034026648742013-08-06T21:51:00.002+08:002013-10-07T07:25:44.595+08:00La Sportiva Pamir <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-WzIrBn3vvW9XKai-Sk4nTiuACnOQBjp09olcUPbgTn6dgTq7aQ7G320MWVVHYb9UwfUgpD9RjAiyCoSS6KSaA8OjQivYROjtjklNvaK9H8aGNMCD_A5IpSzyJfabSH03JItg2_o-scb/s1600/IMG_0573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="La Sportiva Pamir Gore-tex" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-WzIrBn3vvW9XKai-Sk4nTiuACnOQBjp09olcUPbgTn6dgTq7aQ7G320MWVVHYb9UwfUgpD9RjAiyCoSS6KSaA8OjQivYROjtjklNvaK9H8aGNMCD_A5IpSzyJfabSH03JItg2_o-scb/s640/IMG_0573.JPG" title="La Sportiva Pamir" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">La Sportiva Pamir, post Xueshan.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These words were drummed into my head during national service and my instructors did such a good job that it has never left my being till this day. This heavy duty, well constructed and super-stable offering from revered mountain sports giant, <a href="http://www.sportiva.com/products/footwear/hikingbackpacking/pamir" target="_blank">La Sportiva</a>, definitely took care of mine during my Xue Shan trek. A high quality leather and Gore-tex lined upper, paired with a reliable Vibram sole, made light work of Xue Shan's upper trails which consisted of scree the size of televisions and small cars. The lacing system is also amazing: the fourth highest eyelet will automatically cinch down as you pull the laces up, allowing you to finish off tying your laces without having to maintain tension at the same time.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImhKqo6owYUPgpvVxTHeDQarHSAGcpFVNsYeozt3DtiI3x8gCYRcuE_itBA20nCb9boc6v7sxN6pmHcAmX4FTWi0GpE_tjhZ84G5TUVItOANEcAuodlMSL0DAoCnENop7whrEuPpXmzS-/s1600/IMG_0574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vibram Sasslong Hiking Boots" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImhKqo6owYUPgpvVxTHeDQarHSAGcpFVNsYeozt3DtiI3x8gCYRcuE_itBA20nCb9boc6v7sxN6pmHcAmX4FTWi0GpE_tjhZ84G5TUVItOANEcAuodlMSL0DAoCnENop7whrEuPpXmzS-/s640/IMG_0574.jpg" title="La Sportiva Pamir " width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Vibram Sasslong outsole.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Vibram Sasslong rubber outsole proved to really grippy on the trail and the padded, high-cut upper saved my ankles when I slipped on a patch of icy grass. These boots are indeed on the heavy side and work well when you are carrying a heavy pack. I tried using these boots for work in the forest, but they are a bit hot and heavy for Singapore's weather. Still, the support and traction they provide is currently the best I have experienced in any boot so far. These are pricey boots, as expected from the heritage and quality that La Sportiva is known for. I bought these from <a href="http://www.camperscorner.com.sg/main/index.php" target="_blank">Campers Corner </a> and managed to get a discount through a friend. Overall, these are great boots and are built for heavy duty backpacking and technical trails. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoq7ciuvEsTidm1WZ3wmJSZeJOD-OhS95C6VgYnus76haEOVyjT2XFIlGP_Ta0c_77AYn7q0nfdIg0mh6fWPTvoJpVkhic_tiU23CIxdVINjfVB_LL07RtXh62HZG7yfMJW25e7-uA82Gx/s1600/IMG_3022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="La Sportiva Pamir Gore-tex lining, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoq7ciuvEsTidm1WZ3wmJSZeJOD-OhS95C6VgYnus76haEOVyjT2XFIlGP_Ta0c_77AYn7q0nfdIg0mh6fWPTvoJpVkhic_tiU23CIxdVINjfVB_LL07RtXh62HZG7yfMJW25e7-uA82Gx/s640/IMG_3022.jpg" title="La Sportiva Pamir in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve , Singapore" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On home soil in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-75077222854129001562013-03-23T11:03:00.002+08:002013-03-23T11:26:58.366+08:00Trip Report: Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDMFW5ZQXdvhcU0vGRuqXVhjymEXL0xpooil64jLzk_2zQsKlqHFB-HHE8UPC8INt195dAulYICijyFtCmT5zZVR3MSQPWoHQz9-iZyqHLYnAgmx7mXzHsGf1G4Zc4By5IaghFYz46iQw/s1600/IMG_5545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDMFW5ZQXdvhcU0vGRuqXVhjymEXL0xpooil64jLzk_2zQsKlqHFB-HHE8UPC8INt195dAulYICijyFtCmT5zZVR3MSQPWoHQz9-iZyqHLYnAgmx7mXzHsGf1G4Zc4By5IaghFYz46iQw/s640/IMG_5545.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At 3886m, Xueshan or Snow Mountain is the second highest peak in Taiwan and the highest mountain I have ever summited. And what a glorious adventure it was! It was 3 days and 2 nights of nothing but breathtaking scenery and great company. Here's a summary of how it all went.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Day 1</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is about a 4 hour drive from Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport to Shei-Pa National Park and then into Wuling Farm which is a recreational area within the national park. It is still winter in February and we arrived at the peak of the cherry blossom season. Thankfully we arrived early enough to avoid the crowds but there were already hardcore photographers in position when we drove in around 630am.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtjIpWt71MPNU2qxkYCCezG9cJfVn9lkNSFFXcjPcpJoO5-rh8hsutnWI0rIH3JPUyEFYQdrPPjWOdqUVVAVM-nKt4_fzSzbFpKdn8DZfzEDD1IfxyXkp3pptsHTrEqkWOTAn6GcNPbfo/s1600/IMG_0271+edited.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtjIpWt71MPNU2qxkYCCezG9cJfVn9lkNSFFXcjPcpJoO5-rh8hsutnWI0rIH3JPUyEFYQdrPPjWOdqUVVAVM-nKt4_fzSzbFpKdn8DZfzEDD1IfxyXkp3pptsHTrEqkWOTAn6GcNPbfo/s640/IMG_0271+edited.jpeg" title="cherry blossoms" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyg-uvX6dMrr6-b2nuP4Lv2D8_U8QRmAhtUVEkhTKne5Ugu_vjg-qSVXari7OQ5a-zji6nAlB5M_WZm4SxUkjHEElrIhYI0Z_f08EnzaBq_abcJRBoaLU9CRmnaVwVCg4JGv8X9s48UeT/s1600/IMG_0288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyg-uvX6dMrr6-b2nuP4Lv2D8_U8QRmAhtUVEkhTKne5Ugu_vjg-qSVXari7OQ5a-zji6nAlB5M_WZm4SxUkjHEElrIhYI0Z_f08EnzaBq_abcJRBoaLU9CRmnaVwVCg4JGv8X9s48UeT/s640/IMG_0288.jpg" title="Cherry blossom" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After watching an introductory video of Xueshan played for us by the park rangers, we headed off from the trailhead. Xueshan here we come!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Prior to the trip we were told to prepare for frozen rivers and water sources so we packed about 6 litres of water each and winter-specific equipment such as crampons and ice axes. We were rather disappointed to find out that latest reports from the summit revealed that was no snow at all even past the tree-line. Looks like we weren't going to see Xueshan covered in <i>xue </i>(snow).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The hike started out pretty comfortable for the weight I was carrying, the most i have ever carried on a hike due to the water requirements. But this was just the beginning of course. The first couple of kilometres up to Cika Hut was a series of stepped switchbacks on nicely packed, dry trail.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kLNFSF0RFRcDEFTpZyQ1XMBEotBpP6S-4rdc0k_2elLcExfuNE2LyDkYeF8Ggcy3pGqOp5SHbVe1BL9Szh4xX-FZsQt9ohvspflKsIZoQQqoBp1kJIQQ7TbzYeGtayGKSZmLI-t0I4yW/s1600/IMG_0319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kLNFSF0RFRcDEFTpZyQ1XMBEotBpP6S-4rdc0k_2elLcExfuNE2LyDkYeF8Ggcy3pGqOp5SHbVe1BL9Szh4xX-FZsQt9ohvspflKsIZoQQqoBp1kJIQQ7TbzYeGtayGKSZmLI-t0I4yW/s640/IMG_0319.jpg" title="" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZaKZAIXhAk2HEatbmKGUxSxJGtM4Jpl4OZennSC9DkNEQnf-zGYHhunVQ6CGlt8FkdE2L9OGJGq5wRcrhHtjTIBnAl0IAoAuq0Au7Cdj1ylYcAuh37IsUGsmEcR2vHPtqEwRu67i2pjX/s1600/IMG_0314.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZaKZAIXhAk2HEatbmKGUxSxJGtM4Jpl4OZennSC9DkNEQnf-zGYHhunVQ6CGlt8FkdE2L9OGJGq5wRcrhHtjTIBnAl0IAoAuq0Au7Cdj1ylYcAuh37IsUGsmEcR2vHPtqEwRu67i2pjX/s640/IMG_0314.jpg" title="" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo19yVRzMtkPoIeyZJzGkOVY5X1wQPXmBUK3fnG_-rwL0Fb6YpusWFX4OmjaebPsX1XQE7BLRNS3PIzy7zW-3OG6iiKLrDvUNhhiUfB6YO6dNVkvAOC3lLEbPAVIT8Cb6OFjPY7IBr-QS/s1600/IMG_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo19yVRzMtkPoIeyZJzGkOVY5X1wQPXmBUK3fnG_-rwL0Fb6YpusWFX4OmjaebPsX1XQE7BLRNS3PIzy7zW-3OG6iiKLrDvUNhhiUfB6YO6dNVkvAOC3lLEbPAVIT8Cb6OFjPY7IBr-QS/s640/IMG_0298.JPG" title="Cika Hut" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We rested for a couple of minutes at Cika Hut and then resumed. The plan was to reach the summit by 2pm and then trek down to Cuici Pond for a night a the Hut there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The hike was beginning to take its toll on D and me. J, even with his prior experience on this trail was suffering too from lack of sleep due to his shift work the day before. By the time we reached East Peak at 3201m around 12noon, we were far off the pace to make it to the summit AND back down to Cuici Hut for the night. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmpmqdZyK5Rdz_3FcRRBZKHzWaGtUz1mco7hPEPR6QFoVtzT29qfR9MNSb5-XEy7-Irzi2822FdwZSBHvizrfsyVB_EcunDIcsKD_ntxm1yuLoACfR5KKLFvf8O6hZ8wcXpeZkiTHEkiE/s1600/IMG_0354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmpmqdZyK5Rdz_3FcRRBZKHzWaGtUz1mco7hPEPR6QFoVtzT29qfR9MNSb5-XEy7-Irzi2822FdwZSBHvizrfsyVB_EcunDIcsKD_ntxm1yuLoACfR5KKLFvf8O6hZ8wcXpeZkiTHEkiE/s640/IMG_0354.jpg" title="to East Peak" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading to East Peak</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3X2q7HjXeG_nwzFlxSuaHU3X0l5_hGK7eGnLmG6srAdDX1A1IyPdwDbPiyLZvYiz2MvKlQEAdwtfzmhz3pszDpJ9c0oG-u6JGrfye9CBIDBPw5v68b2mJf-TNsKk-gKdh8BZzAcQTzqvH/s1600/IMG_0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3X2q7HjXeG_nwzFlxSuaHU3X0l5_hGK7eGnLmG6srAdDX1A1IyPdwDbPiyLZvYiz2MvKlQEAdwtfzmhz3pszDpJ9c0oG-u6JGrfye9CBIDBPw5v68b2mJf-TNsKk-gKdh8BZzAcQTzqvH/s640/IMG_0358.JPG" title="369 hut" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once we reached East Peak, the decision was made to head straight to 369 Hut and spend the night there instead of heading to the summit. We would then rest and make a summit bid the next morning. The trek to 369 Hut was by no means easier and I was stoked to finally see the hut through the trees.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">369 Hut<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">369 Hut is a simple elongated single storey cabin with enough room for 106 hikers. Inside are two rows of wooden double deck bunks, on which are lined with thin black rubber mats. These act as rudimentary sleeping surfaces but one must come with your one sleeping pad and bag as the nights at 369 Hut get cold (-1 degrees celsius) in the winter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I do not have any photos of the interior as by this time i was tired out and plagued with a throbbing headache (mountain sickness ?).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A level below the sleeping quarters is a small hut in which you prepare and eat your meals. It is a really simple yet effective little space that provides you a place to cook out of the wind and cold.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIJNrY2eQ17eoLM6irb7W6joxuoa51bekXnwdkqIFqxjrA2aNUS_3Et6V26i7t1T3uJc_msJZya3z2uqCmNKET5AmW8Mou1FKuTLBOgNO-l9js_DCioM-t6_aOWFL7SaoqpUs7uRAn1Je/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIJNrY2eQ17eoLM6irb7W6joxuoa51bekXnwdkqIFqxjrA2aNUS_3Et6V26i7t1T3uJc_msJZya3z2uqCmNKET5AmW8Mou1FKuTLBOgNO-l9js_DCioM-t6_aOWFL7SaoqpUs7uRAn1Je/s640/IMG_0371.JPG" title="369 Hut" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kitchen with a lovely view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdi2OhymvvOdp28M9tylczk2WJl_MUxvMNga6ZQWMG1TC3s8-XB1cXdGd0xhC9VQ5AS8VWYkx64OljQjOUEDZI2qRCOrY9nHBAxCkDnRovFo92TDjJR1NKAXeozL4xNfNZY3yv_SiuxmB/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdi2OhymvvOdp28M9tylczk2WJl_MUxvMNga6ZQWMG1TC3s8-XB1cXdGd0xhC9VQ5AS8VWYkx64OljQjOUEDZI2qRCOrY9nHBAxCkDnRovFo92TDjJR1NKAXeozL4xNfNZY3yv_SiuxmB/s640/IMG_0367.JPG" title="369 hut" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner time!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dinner was a simple affair of dehydrated food reheated with boiling water and some fresh mushrooms and cabbage we bought from 7-11 (yes that's right, Taiwan's 7-11 stores are amazing, a whole separate story for another time!). I headed to bed pretty soon after dinner as my headache was killing me, even after taking two aspirins.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Day 2</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our second day started at 430am, same as the rest of the other hikers in 369 Hut. Breakfast was cooked and consumed, bags pack and we got ready to set off as soon as there was enough light to see the trail. I was looking forward to today's trek as I heard that the scenery would be better. It was unfortunate that there wasn't going to be snow as this winter is unusually warm and dry.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvcg5vdDYFd_peJEHnh_pwQhL-P1zonDvY9ukT6ybI8VB8ULur6UXWpjATvmLKoyeis6rLOQ5z42_vJWmhTcxR7vJCh0bJLtSQvu8Sm1ErOaj2_Z1MHQe5wv-LYTxRo0zBu2SxPewcDYh/s1600/IMG_0402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvcg5vdDYFd_peJEHnh_pwQhL-P1zonDvY9ukT6ybI8VB8ULur6UXWpjATvmLKoyeis6rLOQ5z42_vJWmhTcxR7vJCh0bJLtSQvu8Sm1ErOaj2_Z1MHQe5wv-LYTxRo0zBu2SxPewcDYh/s640/IMG_0402.JPG" title="Taiwan fir (Abies kawakamii)" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The forest above 369 Hut consists of mainly <i>Abies kawakamii </i>(Taiwan fir). It is said that it used to cover a larger swath of land but a fire broke out some time ago and burned through a great part of it, leaving behind charred white trunks as memory to what was once a thriving forest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Above this , we entered the much spoken about Black Forest. CW told us that in a proper winter situation, the area would be blanketed in snow, making the forest seem like a scene out of a Lord of the Rings movie.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Na7YAP_wqNm5UeyipKQZcvY-C50QyNga7uWVBq4JNJHtWnwz7pksm4Gq-1WkO9I-ULTxVxGrYVPo4hkkprDwn5pvdVafVK9Fh3GJTb5gef_U0ixpke7Svwd4rCanooKuWjtyw1Ilv5ce/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Na7YAP_wqNm5UeyipKQZcvY-C50QyNga7uWVBq4JNJHtWnwz7pksm4Gq-1WkO9I-ULTxVxGrYVPo4hkkprDwn5pvdVafVK9Fh3GJTb5gef_U0ixpke7Svwd4rCanooKuWjtyw1Ilv5ce/s640/IMG_0429.JPG" title="Black Forest" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We soon broke beyond the tree line and there loomed in front of us the objective of our quest:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg31G5BrdyYoQMcJ_ryjpfPNDay4uMI30jRSonZIjT-qbz_POYO__1FWvC9bBKvCmcemIGlSxRMcgOK_7foVGoN27mU2zWGwoj_yMnp4hl9WeL8AzXdg0scKQhC3RHbx0OHbnABpTGuE3b/s1600/IMG_0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg31G5BrdyYoQMcJ_ryjpfPNDay4uMI30jRSonZIjT-qbz_POYO__1FWvC9bBKvCmcemIGlSxRMcgOK_7foVGoN27mU2zWGwoj_yMnp4hl9WeL8AzXdg0scKQhC3RHbx0OHbnABpTGuE3b/s1600/IMG_0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKe05JcPRVDzInSt-5L2WnD52epEHZteqmuC5M4xa4Prpt1ggZcJLLJeyEG2IOSoE4KWJaez7Ze8perKP9fp0opD2Go9ji9VeMggIIDKE9lBPL-d11Il9HBh9NQCZPleiNI91k5_wscdbj/s1600/IMG_0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKe05JcPRVDzInSt-5L2WnD52epEHZteqmuC5M4xa4Prpt1ggZcJLLJeyEG2IOSoE4KWJaez7Ze8perKP9fp0opD2Go9ji9VeMggIIDKE9lBPL-d11Il9HBh9NQCZPleiNI91k5_wscdbj/s640/IMG_0459.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The cirque behind me leads up to the peak of Xueshan and is normally entirely covered in snow in winter, but here you can see how dry and warm this winter has been!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bt4Du7QWHgUDOq2fNyK1B0c-2oPGvc0OVITt2NaP11vQtJujIgPohUHq8l91lh0AGL-VaWlbSVYPr-3X6HSsriVgoeqHbUvChIc9e-9ikvado5SkYvOJIF46oyzfYsxBbcGdZ2-IxXzp/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bt4Du7QWHgUDOq2fNyK1B0c-2oPGvc0OVITt2NaP11vQtJujIgPohUHq8l91lh0AGL-VaWlbSVYPr-3X6HSsriVgoeqHbUvChIc9e-9ikvado5SkYvOJIF46oyzfYsxBbcGdZ2-IxXzp/s640/IMG_0469.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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900m more to go!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk6we_xWjs_PZFN06vOl92TAvL9NoI1nDt1Zgn5h3t7ocybOw7yra-i1ko9AKdoRLLKddOmGOk9tv5B6uuLAhIB7-HekZEsuOMdqXKNwke87RMKcrIlnH_rnj0M8dPB3Ge6evED3S2aIl/s1600/IMG_0489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk6we_xWjs_PZFN06vOl92TAvL9NoI1nDt1Zgn5h3t7ocybOw7yra-i1ko9AKdoRLLKddOmGOk9tv5B6uuLAhIB7-HekZEsuOMdqXKNwke87RMKcrIlnH_rnj0M8dPB3Ge6evED3S2aIl/s640/IMG_0489.jpg" title="Ice" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There was still a fair bit of ice on the trail and we had to pick our way carefully to avoid </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">slipping. I figured that since i had already spent money on an ice axe and crampons, i decided to try them out. It was fun to be able to stab the crampons and axe into the ice, but eventually the trail start to become more rocky than icy, so we ended up not using them for the rest of the trek up.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1nO3UUoUZHAuXcOlctj2huBmQZdkoTUV_10NdyMHiN1e6GoqE2gk7KM-w9ikayYJ98ONsSGMo3SewI6u2htP_nTjL63D1FaH-1g2ysE8DY7eOPiQU4QzNNodeZpPVzO2vJ-Tb2EpX6eJ/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1nO3UUoUZHAuXcOlctj2huBmQZdkoTUV_10NdyMHiN1e6GoqE2gk7KM-w9ikayYJ98ONsSGMo3SewI6u2htP_nTjL63D1FaH-1g2ysE8DY7eOPiQU4QzNNodeZpPVzO2vJ-Tb2EpX6eJ/s640/IMG_0492.JPG" title="to the summit" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D powering up the mountain</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Af7fxyLdTMyMGDWHmQbmHNym9Cpg_07dQYYUlbnn3ye2K2o5lp1jkZQNEMQmftuRT746QQuFS5rpwW6v4HnOWubZ2QTWOwIa2seUEe11TPa74r9kkqKwowJ-LVzEeJ6FrW6J2Q2VwamT/s1600/IMG_0494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Af7fxyLdTMyMGDWHmQbmHNym9Cpg_07dQYYUlbnn3ye2K2o5lp1jkZQNEMQmftuRT746QQuFS5rpwW6v4HnOWubZ2QTWOwIa2seUEe11TPa74r9kkqKwowJ-LVzEeJ6FrW6J2Q2VwamT/s640/IMG_0494.JPG" title="Summit" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnI3I0oZhSE6fIyGw4JW1BhzMp_XYBbF_ttGnAOxQAd6RMrhFgZ-zILYB6gxtDVYRf4-SZxJXLy1haJZ2NHzACO2-iUQvCor2kD5u4kLiJXpsGjHkKoTFnezsXaglDVAydTkzs-RgDIjp/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnI3I0oZhSE6fIyGw4JW1BhzMp_XYBbF_ttGnAOxQAd6RMrhFgZ-zILYB6gxtDVYRf4-SZxJXLy1haJZ2NHzACO2-iUQvCor2kD5u4kLiJXpsGjHkKoTFnezsXaglDVAydTkzs-RgDIjp/s640/IMG_0493.JPG" title="North Corner" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of The North Corner from the summit<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We reached the summit around noon and we decided to climb up to the North Corner of Xueshan. This involved trekking down and then climbing up literally on all fours to reach the top. It was a gnarly experience and I am glad we didnt have snow to contend with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">After enjoying the awesome views, we head down and up to the summit to get out packs and then we made the descent down to Cuici Pond</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxBrgEgJXHOxYSlL9mUbXcnvcBydv7LiNueQUPjLdLtgZZd-66_rOVoeBlBHPLMz2pwdbrtugCf0qsasHblajSuf-NtR9kvAOY-dtn-9Sbu5VDdUnnWatiPq6yNTJLhHLxGI2JPS0hu_a/s1600/IMG_0564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxBrgEgJXHOxYSlL9mUbXcnvcBydv7LiNueQUPjLdLtgZZd-66_rOVoeBlBHPLMz2pwdbrtugCf0qsasHblajSuf-NtR9kvAOY-dtn-9Sbu5VDdUnnWatiPq6yNTJLhHLxGI2JPS0hu_a/s640/IMG_0564.JPG" title="Boulder field to Cuici" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will never forget the boulder strewn slopes that bridged the top of Xueshan to the lower valleys of Cuici Pond. In the picture about you can see where the trail starts at the top (the U shaped part of the ridge). The boulders were mostly the size of huge watermelons, with many more the size of couches.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObOrdXPjOdMTIbSaB2hM0_oQnjmXE-E4c4vzc_RkCgQlOBajr0aSUuFhsGPKvPk6ZBfyH31fjgGXjoJ5paZS6aVJQdqzb4jcQpd2Xcv2t5qm3ED2FW5aRgABAlFWQw92nBO-dsqC6V9s3/s1600/IMG_0551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObOrdXPjOdMTIbSaB2hM0_oQnjmXE-E4c4vzc_RkCgQlOBajr0aSUuFhsGPKvPk6ZBfyH31fjgGXjoJ5paZS6aVJQdqzb4jcQpd2Xcv2t5qm3ED2FW5aRgABAlFWQw92nBO-dsqC6V9s3/s640/IMG_0551.JPG" title="Cuici Pond" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuici Pond (Cuici Hut can be seen behind the trees in the centre of the photo)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We reached Cuici Pond around 5pm and we went to check out the pond. We were very low on water and we brought our bottles to collect water. Again, due to the warm and dry weather, the pond has shrunk to about 1/3 its size. Water collection had to done carefully so as not to stir up the silt. We would later clean the water by sterilising with puri-tabs and boiling it. Despite the lost in pond size, it still allowed for pretty spectacular reflections of the ridge behind the hut. The setting sun caused the ridge to change hues as the sun got lower and lower on the horizon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That night in Cuici Hut was the coldest I have ever spent, around -5 deg. celcius. Not funny at all but i would not trade that experience for anything else. Now I know what cold is! It was partly my fault too as I tried to cut pack weight by bringing a three season sleeping bag paired with a liner. The liner I used was a Sea to Summit Reactor and it did as good a job as it could possibly do, without it I probably would have suffered even more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Day 3</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We started out at 630am the next day and we took the exact same route back. Apart from having to climb back up the boulder field to the summit, the rest of the trip back was mostly downhill and we really motored on. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We wanted to get back in Taipei in time to return the rental car and we knew we had to contend with the weekend crowds coming into Wuling to view the cherry blossoms. With this spurring us on, w</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">e reached the trailhead by 230pm, which was super fast. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><u>Summary</u></span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and my advice to anyone attempting this in winter would be to train up with the appropriate load (approx 20-25kg) as you will be carrying a lot of water due to frozen water pipes and streams, in addition to winter/ice gear. Even in a warm and dry winter like this, the extra water we carried was vital to a safe trip. I will be posting reviews of the gear used during the trip soon. Stay tuned!</span><br />
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gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-90022150748254310312013-01-25T06:00:00.000+08:002013-01-25T06:00:05.735+08:00Spiny Hill Terrapin (Heosemys spinosa) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoojQgZH-rdofx7IjaK5_k9b1ygCkAjkz0GPUIkftVq5po1_ez1FS-eDcQvRcMP45Jjg4BanSyr6iyrA62akQW8lrKP1h4gCgVJf1PaXWxk-zdLT6yEG6SYoISSbkEXtd2tP54ZGbL32E/s1600/spiny+hill+terapin+natural.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoojQgZH-rdofx7IjaK5_k9b1ygCkAjkz0GPUIkftVq5po1_ez1FS-eDcQvRcMP45Jjg4BanSyr6iyrA62akQW8lrKP1h4gCgVJf1PaXWxk-zdLT6yEG6SYoISSbkEXtd2tP54ZGbL32E/s640/spiny+hill+terapin+natural.jpeg" title="Spiny Hill Terrapin (Heosemys spinosa). Bukit TImah Nature Reserve, SIngapore" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Spiny Hill Terrapin (Heosemys spinosa), Bukit Timah Nature Reserve</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had the most pleasant surprise of meeting my first Spiny Hill Terapin on 8 Jan 2013. My colleague spotted this beautiful creature after a heavy rain. Knowing that this was a rare sight, we took it into the office to record measurements and to take photographs. Unfortunately I only had my iPhone with me so I apologise for the grainy photos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But before reading on, you might be asking, "what is the difference between a Turtle, Tortoise and a Terrapin?" Well, all three are reptiles and the main differences between each can be generally put as such: Turtles have webbed feet and live in the sea, tortoise have claws and live on land, and terrapins are turtles that live on land and near fresh or brackish water such as streams and ponds.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZs2Hb9kObvNVT_MbpNVz4DNyOcGuBeJUy9H-QzOCulhQdFNvGAbzN380xVHqO_wU4s1DAkCEcsUZelhNAp182u61MPTlMNmG-NhmRFNtXeonHmV3zXMaFVxrg5Yl1JSs3aKHRI8qQa4M/s1600/tortoise+structure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZs2Hb9kObvNVT_MbpNVz4DNyOcGuBeJUy9H-QzOCulhQdFNvGAbzN380xVHqO_wU4s1DAkCEcsUZelhNAp182u61MPTlMNmG-NhmRFNtXeonHmV3zXMaFVxrg5Yl1JSs3aKHRI8qQa4M/s640/tortoise+structure.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All three have similar structures which comprises mainly of the upper shell (carapace) and the lower shell (plastron). These shells are covered in hard protective plates called scutes. The patterns and arrangement of scutes, plus the overall look of the individual are often the first visual sign to aid identification in the field</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the case of the Spiny Hill Terrapin, the distinctive serrations along the margins of the carapace indicate that this is a juvenile. Adults will lose the deep serration for most of the margin, replacing them with a more rounded edge. Only slight serrations are left at the rear of the carapace.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Adult Spiny Hill Terrapin (photo from <a href="http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/turtles/spiny_terrapin.htm">www.ecologyasia.com</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This shy creature is a native of our forests and is the only true forest terrapin we have in Singapore. This terrapin is mainly a land dweller and is encountered on the forest floor sometimes not far away from water. We have not observed any for quite some time so it was an even greater joy to know that they are breeding. I found out yesterday that about the same time, another juvenile was spotted at another part of the Central Nature Reserve. Not much is known about their breeding habits but at least we know that this time of the year is when we can expect juveniles to be around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We took measurements of the one at BTNR and he/she was tiny! (i am still unsure of the sex of this terrapin). The carapace length was 6.5cm and the weight was 48.9g. An adult can attain a carapace length of more than 20cm.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A closer look at the marginal serrations and the vertebral keel that runs down the centre of the carapace. (note the handy Moleskine grid notebook below!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">After a quick round of photo-recording and measurements, we released it back into the reserve. Good luck little one, we look forward to seeing you again!</span></div>
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gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-18100611226142209592013-01-19T13:22:00.001+08:002013-01-19T13:25:33.535+08:00Slaty-legged Crake (Rallina eurizonoides) spotted in Bedok!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: small;">"What bird is that darling?" asks my wife as we were looking out the window of our 7th storey flat in Bedok.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Erm.. looks like a Red-legged Crake! What's this bird doing here in a housing estate?" I replied, peering through my binos which i had hastily grabbed from the living room. Red-legged crakes are pretty shy birds which are usually found in forested areas near water, so seeing one in the middle of my housing estate invoked enough curiosity in me to go down to have a closer look.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Armed with just my iPhone, i followed this bird around the carpark and finally stopped at the Ixora hedge in which it had chosen as cover from this inquisitive human. I stooped low and took a few photos of it. It was a surprisingly cooperative model and i managed to get a decent photo of most of its body. Then it struck me: <b><i>its legs weren't red</i></b>!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photo of a Red-legged Crake (<i>Rallina fasciata).</i> (Taken from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ehmatias/4365030664/">ehmatias</a>)<br />(Note the barring extends to the wings and the bright red legs)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Excited that it might be some other species, I hurriedly sent the photo out to several persons who are well versed with birds. After a few days of impatient waiting, my suspicions were confirmed, the bird I spotted was indeed a Slaty-legged Crake!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Slaty-legged Crakes are migratory birds water birds and are an extremely rare sight in Singapore. It could have wandered from the nearby Bedok Reservoir Park or a patch of <i>Acacia</i> forest that is near my flat. Since it was spotted during the rainy season, it could have found the frequently flooded conditions of these two areas were good to hang out in. According to <a href="http://wildbirdsingapore.nss.org.sg/CPage.htm">Nature Society of Singapore</a>, this bird breeds in the Indian subcontinent, northern Vietnam and SE Chi</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">na. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I tried locating it again a few days later but could not find it again. If you stay in the Bedok area, do help look out for this bird the next time December comes along.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">[Credits: Thanks Benjamin, Krish and Ding Li for helping to confirm the identity of this beautiful bird]</span></div>
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gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-60897324526611223372013-01-12T23:07:00.001+08:002013-03-02T13:55:35.553+08:00Pre-Trip Report: Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan. (photo from <a href="http://www.amci.org.ph/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=122:extremely-high-and-incredibly-cold-xueshan-climb&catid=46:events&Itemid=209" target="_blank">AMCI Mountaineering Club, Inc</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Greg Child</span></span></div>
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Instead of muttering "Because i want to", I should have probably said something as cool as that when my mom asked me "why do you need to go climb that mountain in Taiwan??"<br />
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It is almost 4 weeks more to a long awaited trek to Xueshan or Snow Mountain in Taiwan. It is only the second-highest peak in Taiwan after Yushan or Jade Mountain, but because of its relatively more accessible routes and more picturesque qualities, Xueshan is one the must-climb mountains in Asia.<br />
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With a height of 3886m, it will be the highest summit for me. The only other trek I have done before is to the Crater Rim of Gunung Rinjani at 2639m. And because I will be trekking in winter, it will be my first ever winter mountain trek. This will also be my first totally self-supported trek (i.e. no porters), which is something i have always wanted to do.</div>
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An idea that spawned from wedding banquet table talk, I am stoked that this is actually happening. I am going with 2 good mates, both of whom were part of that same conversation 7 months ago. One of them is CW, who has done this route twice before and a bunch of other crazy routes in Taiwan. He just got back from a 10 day solo trek on the Holy Ridge Trail, so he is probably the fittest of the three of us. I am also grateful to my supportive wife who has let me go on this trip with the boys (thanks baby!).</div>
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I will be journalling our experiences on the journey, which we will embark on in February 2013. I will also be reviewing gear and kit used during the trip.</div>
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Stay tune, and happy trails!</div>
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gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-92116633151486582782012-12-28T15:28:00.001+08:002013-01-13T00:14:07.669+08:00Moleskine Classic Large Squared Notebook (Soft cover)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I love notebooks and <a href="http://www.moleskine.com/" target="_blank">Moleskines</a> are one of the best choices when it comes to scribbling your thoughts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">After using the blank and ruled versions, I find I much prefer the large, soft-covered Moleskine with grids. I have untidy handwriting and the grids help me write neater. It also allows me to make more precise field sketches at work. I also prefer the soft cover as it makes it easier to bring around.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The best place to buy them is online at <a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/" target="_blank">Books Depository</a>, which provides free international shipping without a minimum purchase.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com0Singapore1.352083 103.819836000000010.84410599999999991 103.174389 1.8600599999999998 104.46528300000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-63334829402898524952012-12-26T23:38:00.001+08:002013-01-13T00:10:27.725+08:00Blundstone 500<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Blundstone 500</span></td></tr>
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I have worn these boots for about two years now, and they have proven to be very durable and versatile. They stand up to muck and after a quick rinse, they look ready to rock 'n' roll. Comfy and easy to slip your feet into thanks to the tough pull tabs, the 500s are perfect for travelling. Have to pull off your boots before checking into the departure area? No sweat. Have to put them on while hanging onto your passport and carry-on luggage? Too easy! They are also mighty easy to slip in and out of when you have to make that dash to the bathroom in the middle of your favourite in-flight movie. These were the only footwear I wore on my 2 week trip to Spain in June and it took me from pintxo bars to the mountains with aplomb.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hiking in the Spanish Pyrenees</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The best place to buy them is online via <a href="http://www.sugarriveroutfitters.com/" target="_blank">Sugar River Outfitters.</a> They are pricey but well worth the money (Hint: wait for Christmas and New Year's Eve specials!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>The Good</u>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Classic, clean design</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Simple, sturdy construction</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ease of wear</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>The Bad</u>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ankle support is average</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not easy to get in Singapore</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So go ahead and take the plunge!</span></td></tr>
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gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-78219758673759280832012-08-21T18:48:00.001+08:002012-12-08T22:48:34.367+08:00[iwantthis]: County Comm Split Pea Lighter <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="every day carry" border="0" height="333" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizn2bx6r2SchkFEv8puk1tJDCNJN8IDNZQgkI4w07rX1R1a7e4o1ll5EqXIuWqTvMxQ0xu-T-tX1UJFUJre9kLNeYWALhbvBX7ccikhUEVR8u0Ocb7wlQOhnPwrclsGI0wyfojipNiAyy7/s400/split+pea+lighter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Split Pea Lighter - County Comm" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Split Pea Ligher (Photo courtesy of the </span><a href="http://theawesomer.com/split-pea-peanut-lighter/20460/"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Awesomer.com</span></a>)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Split Pea lighter is the world's smallest lighter. Apart from its amazing size, there are other features that make this a very good addition to your everyday carry (EDC):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Strong stainless steel body. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Screws shut over a rubber O-ring so lighter fluid will not evaporate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Rubber O-ring prevents water from getting in to wet the flint and wick.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Works using regular lighter fuel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Attach it to your key ring, never know when you need a light!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Chapstick for scale (photo courtesy of <a href="http://laurenandlloyd.com/2009/06/01/split-pea-lighter/"><span style="color: black;">lloydandlauren.com</span></a>)</span></td></tr>
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If you want one, go to <a href="http://countycomm.com/splitpea.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">County Comm</a>.</div>
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gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-55190715178869367062012-08-21T11:33:00.000+08:002012-08-20T11:35:07.116+08:00Meet Lucy <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Lucy loves to get out...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sxmQbYrmAwhuMog4beRh5wAQ2L3fPF2vE4j1NlKXYyfjXhENKtePuVB3aK-MBN-5eLXkziFwWSzcYDLlqLiIwmxyAtYiSVsbuHmtY2QqIsV7k25w4C0VO9z-ZoAC9CaAn3JOPFjr_0MI/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sxmQbYrmAwhuMog4beRh5wAQ2L3fPF2vE4j1NlKXYyfjXhENKtePuVB3aK-MBN-5eLXkziFwWSzcYDLlqLiIwmxyAtYiSVsbuHmtY2QqIsV7k25w4C0VO9z-ZoAC9CaAn3JOPFjr_0MI/s640/photo.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rolling in the deep...grass.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Did you say.. Schhooby shnaacks?</span></div>
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gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-47243259329930269732012-08-20T11:14:00.001+08:002012-12-08T22:50:15.234+08:00Pyrrosia piloselloides (dragon scales fern)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoO24TZsRLAVPp9oi502gV5fFf8wzP_o3REfssZSMd9wFCIogBDKMRHud0kd236ApBDg8W7pB2IphkpXkbJ7nwpZhXf2BZxFgsa9__ENUZqr_y9kxNZ71pUq1LFmCmxYtEohZJQWEks2-/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoO24TZsRLAVPp9oi502gV5fFf8wzP_o3REfssZSMd9wFCIogBDKMRHud0kd236ApBDg8W7pB2IphkpXkbJ7nwpZhXf2BZxFgsa9__ENUZqr_y9kxNZ71pUq1LFmCmxYtEohZJQWEks2-/s640/DSC_0041.JPG" title="Pyrrosia piloselloides (dragon scale fern, Singapore)" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Spores on a fertile frond of <em>Pyrrosia piloselloides.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em> </em>Changi, August 2012</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">These native ferns clothe many of our old trees in Singapore, especially rain trees (<em>Samanea saman</em>) which have deeply fissured and crackly bark. Once established on trunks or branches, these hardy ferns create conducive mirco-climates for other less tough ferns to grow in.</span><br />
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<br />gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-22375612896860181512012-08-19T19:40:00.000+08:002012-12-08T22:57:26.556+08:00Leatherman Fuse multi-tool<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After the dog, the multi-tool is man's next best friend. As its name suggests, a multi-tool is basically an assortment of commonly needed tools condensed into a single, compact unit. Knowing what tools are needed and how small they can be made without losing functionality is an art, and this is something that Leatherman is a master of.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I have had this <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Leatherman Fuse</strong></span><span style="color: black;"> for around two years and it has been a joy to carry around and use. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ldO9iBfoX2VB-cllJaUxs4ahhNWx2pwkP8OT3j6-Rn4Tip7MFsD7xYsOtWwlev1w0fBJubWJrvr25ICl8ZlYhfACVEyFYryoWB-1xhtMgyqHXsIfNMMwgFgMPqGwQiZzy89aILMh-uZZ/s1600/DSC_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ldO9iBfoX2VB-cllJaUxs4ahhNWx2pwkP8OT3j6-Rn4Tip7MFsD7xYsOtWwlev1w0fBJubWJrvr25ICl8ZlYhfACVEyFYryoWB-1xhtMgyqHXsIfNMMwgFgMPqGwQiZzy89aILMh-uZZ/s640/DSC_0048.JPG" title="Leatherman Fuse multi-tool review" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Leatherman Fuse</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There are thirteen tools in the Fuse:</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">420HC Clip Point Knife</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">8 inch / 9 cm ruler</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bottle opener</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Can opener</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hard-wire cutters</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Large screwdriver</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Needlenose pliers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Philips screwdriver</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Regular pliers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Scissors</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Small screwdriver</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Wire cutters</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Wire stripper</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The one I use the most are the pliers, knife, wire cutters, scissors and the screw drivers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It comes with a leather case but i have recently swapped them out for a slimmer and lighter Gregory SPEAR Series Como Case.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm53SwGYk-DJcizr0NInKRdwRTWgAIRsgpsmh2P4_vRfLmg_2q-pbrdxWN6wZohKrTx1JElmEyBp4au1T8Y7LWECLe7c_3zEzRgzDVjXff5VVanR-dFDqK5x0_0I5rrrEhVZndZiEidyK/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm53SwGYk-DJcizr0NInKRdwRTWgAIRsgpsmh2P4_vRfLmg_2q-pbrdxWN6wZohKrTx1JElmEyBp4au1T8Y7LWECLe7c_3zEzRgzDVjXff5VVanR-dFDqK5x0_0I5rrrEhVZndZiEidyK/s640/DSC_0053.JPG" title="Review: Gregory SPEAR Como Case with Leatherman Fuse multi-tool" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fuse with Gregory SPEAR Series Como Case</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong><u>Verdict:</u></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Great multi-tool to own and does most jobs well. Knife is very sharp and can be easily sharpened. Pliers are well made and stays tight and stiff even when torqueing hard on objects.</span><br />
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<br />gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-13938934913653388172012-08-18T15:58:00.001+08:002012-12-08T23:00:01.210+08:00Vasque Sundowner GTX Hiking Boots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img alt="Singapore gear up" border="0" height="424" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbSULkgLbPphCR7nDcr8Pp29KCHuyKWLERk7v0fQ17NLLMJoR878sW0DKYnnGI2UUaibJ90wmfu3bzemukD9ZUC0KDI2DAvKUxAg8MHILvKiXLWtlPIT5K-8s_UlsUW1KojXlaazhuxNz/s640/Vasque+Sundowner+_overall.jpg" title="Vasque Sundowner Gore-Tex, Gunung Rinjani" width="640" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The </span><a href="http://www.vasque.com/vasque-shoe/7142-vasque/7142-vasque-mens-sundowner-gtx-burgandy" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Vasque Sundowners</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> are classic full- leather boots that have been around for more than 25 years. Their longevity is probably due to their no frills, one-piece leather design and their retro-cool look (love those metal lace eyelets!) that can possibly take you from the trails to the city with a quick polish. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I purchased this pair online via </span><a href="http://www.endless.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Endless</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> shoes as I was searching for a simple looking, hardy, Gore-Tex lined boot for work. Working in the forest means having to have your feet soaked when crossing streams and having to bash up muddy slopes, which makes the waterproofness and the ankle-rigity of these boots very useful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><u><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Quick Facts</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Weight: approx 1.5kg per pair</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Made in China</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One piece full grain leather</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Gore-Tex lined</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Vasque brand rubber sole</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Comes with brown laces</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><u><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Design and Construction</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The one-piece leather construction ensures less seams for water to find its way in. The baffled tongue extends all the way to just above the second highest eyelet. Gore-Tex fabric lines the entire inside of the boot.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSsbEmJ2489L7YkZWStmu4_iUhPBzJ-tCOmNfK2kMckQ17Eh7sV_ZS4Ehr-2TEHyJPKRI0eP_tb-1hfYrO_g8WicaLKht06gCfpSto5EmMBajuMewiFhUY401RRc3Nvw6HUCO-pOvO9Az/s640/baffled+tongue.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Review of Vasque Sundowner GTX" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Tongue extends high up the boot , good for crossing shallow streams.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSsbEmJ2489L7YkZWStmu4_iUhPBzJ-tCOmNfK2kMckQ17Eh7sV_ZS4Ehr-2TEHyJPKRI0eP_tb-1hfYrO_g8WicaLKht06gCfpSto5EmMBajuMewiFhUY401RRc3Nvw6HUCO-pOvO9Az/s1600/baffled+tongue.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dOgqHIM6k5MFX3RxeaoAqevpfXo-RjH0nPLZibX6h6W0LANvr93YP13jRNkeIMgiiqiXmdyJCbFk80iFZqpGoRyRNm6FHJuiNtDGvi2SG0-rtQ8guRAfObuBZ71KWJYvqIk_Fey1pVqi/s640/GTX+lining.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Gore-Tex lining on the inside. Blue Sof Sole insoles</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dOgqHIM6k5MFX3RxeaoAqevpfXo-RjH0nPLZibX6h6W0LANvr93YP13jRNkeIMgiiqiXmdyJCbFk80iFZqpGoRyRNm6FHJuiNtDGvi2SG0-rtQ8guRAfObuBZ71KWJYvqIk_Fey1pVqi/s1600/GTX+lining.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><u><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fit and Comfort</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Full-grain leather takes a while to break in and what i did to hasten the process was to first wear them in the shower. The warm, soapy water somehow helps to soften up the boots a little bit. After that, it is a matter of gettin some thick socks on and putting them through their paces on the trails. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">These boots are on the heavy side. This is undoubtedly due to the thick and firm rubber soles as well as the full grain leather and lining. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA4V0io9yLOx9vavXE6OPk7jAFbyPH4wjaFXNX9QUWRmoPDhtTLnXfGkrLgINsWYNKSovCpZFUVoLarZ7Nk9UFvyU6E8w7B8vV7_q6czbNtpWq-BXORT5RLo_nqg-Cdn0i1qXs8kCc8Py/s640/sole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="424" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">Aggressive thread pattern for reliable traction</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA4V0io9yLOx9vavXE6OPk7jAFbyPH4wjaFXNX9QUWRmoPDhtTLnXfGkrLgINsWYNKSovCpZFUVoLarZ7Nk9UFvyU6E8w7B8vV7_q6czbNtpWq-BXORT5RLo_nqg-Cdn0i1qXs8kCc8Py/s1600/sole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have used these boots for 8 months and they continue to be very comfortable, especially on rough trails. I wore them when I hiked up to Gunung Rinjani's crater lake and I was surprised that they did not feel heavy. I bought one size larger than my regular street shoes, so that i could wear double socks. I did not suffer a single blister or blue toenails, so buying a size larger is something to bear in mind when choosing hiking boots. For daily use, i find them a bit on the warm side due to the Gore-Tex layer. During the hotter months like July and August, I have switched to using an unlined pair of Timberland Earthkeepers as my feet get too warm. Another niggle is that the leather 'squeaks' when you walk, especially when they are newly polished or wet. It is not a deal breaker but it is something to bear in mind if you know that such little things will bug you out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Oh yes, I found the stock insoles to be very thin, so i swapped them out for a pair of </span><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=sof+sole&rls=com.microsoft:en-sg&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Sof Sole</span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> insoles. Adds more cush to the boots.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><u><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Verdict</span></u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I use these boots for field work in the forest, climb trees, to meetings, running after buses, on holidays, and even out on dates with the missus. They have proven to be overall very reliable and easy to care for. They look fine with outdoor pants, jeans and chinos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ge these boots if:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1. you like simple, timeless designs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2. you want a heavy duty boot that doesn't need to be pampered</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">3. you want solid ankle support and killer traction</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Drawbacks:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1. weight</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2. warmth (for our tropical weather)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">3. unvailability of these boots in Singapore</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMkRyal-K8BBM3KEq_pnAgMJboV2YVckuR9BDeI2FCVE6anBkXjXi5wgE8ft7FWm6rVyE2A8gnVew1NBTE5eZbeUPgsbQ6nlEFApXJXAjnz7RuTmc7effTyvA3t82xNWQxRT4SlRLG3aA/s1600/red+laces.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMkRyal-K8BBM3KEq_pnAgMJboV2YVckuR9BDeI2FCVE6anBkXjXi5wgE8ft7FWm6rVyE2A8gnVew1NBTE5eZbeUPgsbQ6nlEFApXJXAjnz7RuTmc7effTyvA3t82xNWQxRT4SlRLG3aA/s640/red+laces.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Red or brown laces. You decide!</span><br />
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gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160959273332580760.post-68806770344624549022012-08-18T15:52:00.001+08:002012-12-08T22:54:45.888+08:00It's time.... to Gear Up and Get Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC458L3-QRfcrr5W6o84oMTVSokcgv5pH8RtN3iT0VRWhfepUD7f_9jNIkFrtQuEsVTeRKnCxfOH6eZo_3W7Fl2fm6v6wzlZ18v9kJ3TKQuU3wwzsiHiKepa0JoIWfXVup8w8fO55jDQxp/s1600/DSC_2209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC458L3-QRfcrr5W6o84oMTVSokcgv5pH8RtN3iT0VRWhfepUD7f_9jNIkFrtQuEsVTeRKnCxfOH6eZo_3W7Fl2fm6v6wzlZ18v9kJ3TKQuU3wwzsiHiKepa0JoIWfXVup8w8fO55jDQxp/s640/DSC_2209.JPG" title="Gunung Rinjani -Crater Rim trek" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #274e13;">Gear Up, Get Out</span></strong> is an avenue through which I will review gear that I have personally used. I will strive to conduct objective reviews so that you may have that extra bit o' info before you gear up for your next adventure. Most of the items reviewed would have been used and tested during the course of my daily work or on trips I took. Questions and constructive comments are most welcome. </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">And because I get excited about the natural world around us, I will also share cool stuff that I encounter while out in the field. So...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">Happy reading and happy trails!</span></div>
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gearupgetouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240850124117556492noreply@blogger.com0