So you've been waiting. You've read early reviews of our product. You've seen the hype on social media. Now you're at our website unable to make a purchase and wondering what gives? Trust me when I tell you that we're more irritated than you are. You might feel like silently cursing at us in your head, but we feel like smashing our computers with baseball bats. Our socks were supposed to arrive late August but with one delay after the next, we are now expecting to receive them in early October.

     So what's the big deal, you might ask. It hasn't been cold enough to wear a thick thermal sock anyway, so who cares? Well let me tell you that a lot more goes into launching a product than simply receiving the goods. Weeks have been spent building a website, working on a blog, creating a Facebook and Twitter page, and working with various bloggers for reviews and giveaways, all set to release on September 1st. Weeks designing packaging, creating advertising strategies, contacting wholesale customers, all spent building hype. Blue Flame Thermal Socks were supposed to arrive about a week early, so I was sure to leave plenty of time for a delay. Or so I thought...

     Now three weeks after the launch was supposed to happen, here we are with no socks. We've got angry wholesale customers demanding their Blue Flame Thermals and I really can't blame them. I'm thankful we had the foresight not to accept online back orders or my headache would be multiplied. Based on the amount of traffic our website has received over the last few weeks, I'd be looking at about 1000 more rightfully angry customers. We've got bloggers posting reviews nearly every day, with people unsure when to post or even whether to post or not. With our social media going nearly silent as no news had been available, people were growing concerned as to whether or not we were still even releasing Blue Flame Thermals. The stressful situation of launching a new product line has taken its toll and the failed product launch has all but made us give-up.

     But when everything that you knew might go wrong has gone wrong, its time to focus on what it is that you still have. What we still have is a great product. We still have a group of loyal supporters. We still have a website that rivals that of any of our competitors. We still have the drive to bring about change in a marketplace where too many companies are focused on high mark-ups rather than high quality. So the launch might not have gone off the way we had hoped, things rarely do. We are a couple weeks away from stocking what is one of the highest quality and warmest thermal socks available today, for a price no one can compete with. We might be down but we are not out. The world's warmest socks are coming, even if it hasn't seemed that way. Just bare with us as we maneuver through these obstacles and I can promise you that you'll be glad that you did.

     Ever thought about going on a solo-hike but questioned whether it would be fun or just lonely? It's no secret that going on a long hike alone can be dangerous. Your at greater risk of injury and there's always the remote possibility of a backwoods mugging. Even regardless of the added risks, what fun is it to go out into the wilderness alone, without a partner to describe the latest Game of Thrones to you down to every last spoken word, or have them remind of the reasons you really should try kale over, over, and then over once more. Okay maybe that is a reason to go on a solo-hike and a good place to start.


Reason #1: Get lost within your own thoughts
     It might seem counter intuitive that the same reason solo-hiking seems like a bore is one of the main reasons many hikers really enjoy it, but its true. Going on a hike without a partner leaves you alone with only your thoughts as company. It's a great time to think through whatever stressful situations you might be dealing with in your day to day life. 

     I remember the stress of trying to determine whether I wanted to change my college major or just stick with what I had already started working towards. It seemed the more I thought about it, the less clear the answer became until it got to the point that I could no longer even think about school without immediately feeling knots in my stomach. It wasn't until I went on a solo 10 mile day-hike that I really had an opportunity to clear my head and just enjoy the moment. Upon my return I was able to sit down and work out what the best decision and I discovered that it really wasn't nearly as big of a task as I had built it up to be in my own head. There are times in life that are stressful and it can be truly rejuvenating to just get away from everything and go on an adventure of your own.


Reason #2: You can go at your own pace
     When hiking with someone else, you are often stuck to the pace your partner wants to walk, meaning if they are going in a straight line, it can be hard to convince them to break off and explore. One of the things I hate about hiking with groups is that all too often I'll want to go off-trail but they'll be completely against it. There's nothing I enjoy more while hiking than venturing off the beaten path to follow a river or stream and see where it takes me. You'd never find some of the most beautiful scenery by simply following a trail. The problem is that it can be pretty hard to convince others to take extra time to look for something that may not even be there, especially when your reason is 'because its fun!' and they blatantly disagree. I'm sure I'm at fault too though. While I complain about wanting to explore and being dragged along, I'm sure a good number of you would be annoyed by a hiking partner just like me. Someone who is constantly slowing you down and killing your forward progress. The beauty of a solo-hike is that this doesn't even matter. You can hike at your own pace without any annoyance.

Reason #3:  You have no one to impress
     When hiking alone, there is no one for you to feel the need to impress while your out. There's no reason to feel embarrassed by the sweat soaking through your clothing or the speed at which you are going, its only you and the wildlife around you. This can go hand and hand with going at your own pace, but if you want to sit down, sit down. There is no one else who will be judging you when you feel like relaxing and taking a break. Whether you are very self-conscious or not, there's something freeing about just going out and doing your own thing. You can dress in what feels comfortable, listen to what you want, and do whatever feels right. You don't have to shower before leaving either. ;)


Reason #4: It's the perfect place to read
     One of my favorite places to read is about 3 miles into a hike. About an hour or so into a journey I can sit down, pull out a good book, lean back and relax. Just because someone might be off hiking all day long doesn't necessarily mean that they traveled very far. They may have only been walking about half of that if they were on a solo hike and packed a nice book in their backpack. Solo-hiking was always a secret weapon of mine when it came to knocking out my schoolwork too. After going out, finding a nice view, and getting my blood pumping, it was always much easier to focus on my work. ADD? Maybe. But hey, it worked. And it could work for you too!

     Be sure to pack a cell-phone, first-aid kit, and an adequate amount of pepper spray and there's no reason why you can't enjoy a nice solo-hike of your own. So what do you think? Do you enjoy hiking alone or not so much? If you do, what do you enjoy about going off on your own adventure? Comment below and let me know! :)

Keeping your feet warm while hiking in frigid temperatures can be crucial to enjoying your trip. I can still vividly remember setting off on a small day hike right after fresh snow had fallen. Without thinking it through, as tends to be my problem when it comes to hiking, I went out in a nice pair of trail shoes. As you can imagine, within minutes my feet were completely soaked.  Quickly thereafter my toes felt all but frozen to the touch and were losing all feeling. Take it from me, the only thing worse than numb toes is the painfully cold temperatures they endure before they get there. Fortunately, all is not lost. There are plenty of ways to take special care of your little piggies and keep them warm and toasty.

    Tip #1: Wear properly fitting boots
No matter how well you've insulated your feet, if your boots are too tight, you'll suffer from cold feet. Circulation is vital to warming your feet, but tight footwear and circulation do not get along. If you feel coldness in one part of your foot but not the rest, or if you don't have enough room to wiggle your toes, you are likely wearing your boots a bit too snug. Loosen the laces to make room so that your toes no longer feel cramped or pinched and make sure that they do not rub against the front of your boots as you walk. However, be sure to keep your boots tight enough that you can roll onto your toes and back on your heels without your feet sliding as this will help prevent blisters and ensure a proper fit.

     Tip #2: Eat something and stay hydrated
A well hydrated body circulates blood and body heat much better than one that is dehydrated. Although you sweat less in the cold, more water is lost through urination in winter weather as opposed to the summer, so dehydration can still sneak up on you quickly. Less water intake means less blood flow, which can lead to a rapid loss of body heat and quicker onset of hypothermia and/or frostbite. Eating food also helps to keep you warm as you are supplying your body with the energy needed to create heat. Ginger, cinnamon, and whole grains are all foods that help to feed the body and fuel your inner furnace. Remember, clothes don't provide heat but simply retain the heat of your body.

     Tip #3: Wear less breathable shoes
Mesh top trail shoes can be great for warm weather wear. They allow for constant air flow and help to keep your feet cool while you work up a sweat. But when frigid temperatures come around, its time to trade out those Merrell Ventilators for a pair of Polarands. It's more important to trap your warmth during cold hikes making it very important to wear shoes that prevent the escape of your body heat. Even if there isn't snow on the ground, breathable shoes should be left in the closet and replaced with a pair of heavier winter hiking boots when hiking in frigid temperatures.

     Tip #4: Keep your feet dry
Boots with leather uppers that are combined with rubber shells are great at keeping feet dry and warm. Its always important to wear waterproof boots when snow is on the ground or might soon fall. Although snow might be packed in the morning when first embarking on your hike, don't forget that by mid-afternoon that nicely laid snow can become a slushy mesh. When it comes to foot heat, you can take it from me, moisture is your worst enemy. Allowing your feet to get wet can accelerate the speed at which your body heat escapes through your feet. This can then lead to numb toes and less blood flow. It's also important to wear a nice pair of moisture wicking socks. Although you can try your best to keep water out of your shoes and away from your feet, you will likely start to sweat as the hike continues on. A nice pair of moisture wicking socks can pull sweat from your feet and keep you warm.

     And Finally, Tip #5: Don't overlook the socks
Wearing a nice pair of $200 hiking shoes will be all but completely in vain without a nice pair of thermal socks to go with them. It's very important to wear a pair of thick and moisture wicking socks to help keep your feet dry while providing sufficient insulation. Merino wool is a common choice among hikers because of it's insulating and moisture wicking properties, however, a pair of brushed acrylic socks can work even better when dealing with water and ultra-low temperatures. Brushed acrylic is great at sucking up moisture and also dries very quickly which is why it was the fiber chosen for our Blue Flame thermals. It really comes down to insulation, warmth, and fit when choosing the right socks. Its important to make sure that they keep you dry, insulate your feet, and don't have too much stretch because that can lead to rubbing and blisters. Brushed acrylic and merino wool can both be great options for ultra-low temperatures. 

Combating cold feet can often feel like a losing battle, but it doesn't have to be. Make sure you are wearing properly fitting boots, are properly hydrated, and wearing a nice pair of socks and you should be good to go! Have had an experience similar to mine where you suffered from cold feet on a walk or hike? Do you have any other tricks to keep yourself warm?  Please share by commenting below! 

     Buck Nelson spent nearly two and a half months hiking over 1000 miles across Alaska on a solo-hike. I stumbled upon his blog a month or so ago and was immediately drawn to his story. Before the hike even crossed his mind, Buck was a smokejumper who parachuted out of airplanes with his team to fight Alaskan forest fires, doing so for 20 years. Before that? He was fighting fires in Wyoming and Oregon. Buck was born and raised on a family farm in Minnesota, so it begs the question, how does a Minnesotan farm boy end up going on so many great adventures? I had to ask, and I wanted to learn more about his hike too. Check out our Q and A below. 
  

DB: As a child growing up on a farm in east-central Minnesota, was it a childhood dream of yours to one day live in Alaska?

BN: I was fascinated with Alaska and it's wild animals and wilderness. I certainly wanted to visit Alaska someday, but it seemed so exotic that I never really thought about actually living here. 


DB: So what changed? Was it simply luck that you ended up where you are today or was there something else at play?

BN: I fought fire in Wyoming one summer and saw smokejumpers parachuting to a fire. I talked to them later. It seemed like a really cool job. The next year I was fighting fires in Oregon and ran into someone that had been fighting fires in Alaska. They told me that Alaska was THE place to fight wildfire. I fought fire in Alaska the next season and that winter I applied to the Alaska Smokejumpers and was accepted into training. After that, I knew smokejumping and Alaska was where I wanted to be. 


DB: Working as a smokejumper and fighting wildfires is what you describe as the 'Greatest Job in the World.' I'm sure it was a tremendous adrenaline rush to jump out of airplane next to roaring forest fires. In 20 plus years, you had to see quite a bit. Tell us a story!

BN: We parachuted to a wildfire about 100 miles from Fairbanks. A crew of smokejumpers was working up one side of the fire, another planeload of us were working up the other side. There was a strong, dry wind and the fire was burning hot in black spruce. Suddenly there was a wind switch and we had to retreat. "Fire whirls," 100-foot fire tornadoes, formed on each side of the fire. I was running and watching a buddy of mine who was trying to escape the fire whirl. He was leaning hard, the wind was so strong, I was afraid it was going to pull him off his feet. We made it to a big open area, a safety zone, and laid face down in the dirt. I remember cargo that had been dropped, still under parachute, getting sucked back up into the air. A smokejumper on the other side of the fire was hanging onto a tree to keep from getting pulled into the fire whirl on that side. He suffered burns on his ears and arms but recovered completely. 

DB: Would you say it was a fulfilling experience and if so, would you do it all over again?

BN: My Alaska Traverse was one of the most fulfilling adventures of my life. If I hadn't already done it, I'd definitely tackle it. But I enjoy new adventures. Next time I'll explore a different trail.


DB: Any idea where your next adventure might take you?

BN: I'm planning a hiking route from Mexico to Canada through Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Idaho that I hope to do next summer.


DB: Most important of all, what was the first thing you ate as soon as you got back to the comfort of your own home? I'm sure I'd be dying for our local Marion's pizza within only a week or two... after two and half months you had to be craving something!

BN: Last summer I went on a 70 day trip where I brought no food at all, I subsisted solely by foraging, hunting and fishing. The first day back I had a big plate of pancakes and butter and syrup, a half gallon of ice cream, and a large pizza with everything on it!


A big thank you goes out to Bruce 'Buck' Nelson for taking the time to answer all of my questions. You can learn more about his many adventures through his blog at www.bucktrack.com. Also check out the documentary he filmed of the entire Alaskan hike on Amazon by clicking here!