Guest Authored By: Becky Giovagnoni
Despite the atypical gloomy, wet weather over Memorial Day, summer is indeed upon us. (And actually, given our history of summertime wildfires, we say, bring on the rain. We’ll take as much moisture as we can get, right Colorado?)
With the advent of summer and the easing of COVID restrictions finally, hiking is bound to be a popular pastime for Coloradans in 2021. In fact, a recent post in the Colorado Springs Indy by Bob Falcone, a.k.a. Hiking Bob, highlights 10 Essentials for Hiking. We’d like you to take a second, jump over to the post, and give a quick read. (Don’t worry … we’ll wait.)
Done?
Okay, cool. Now that local expert Hiking Bob has educated you on what you’ll need for a successful hiking experience, we want you to know ... we’ve got you covered. Routes Outfitter can set you up with all the things!
Hiking Footwear
Whether you’re brand new to hiking or on a quest to bag all 54 fourteeners, we have the shoes you need. You’ll find a wide variety of styles and colors to choose from, everything from heavy duty hiking boots to lightweight trail running shoes. Brands include Altra, Lems, and Salomon.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Not only is the Colorado air dry, it’s also high (as you may have heard.) At high altitudes, hydration is absolutely critical to keeping your physical performance at its peak and keeping altitude sickness at bay. From our Routes Outfitter branded stainless steel water bottle to a variety of hydration packs, we’ve got all your hydration needs covered.
Stay Dry
There’s a saying around here … If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change. This is not actually a joke. Whether it’s the cold, freezing rain found at the top of a fourteener or the warmer rain of the Colorado ritual of late summer afternoon thunderstorms, we have the perfect jacket for every hike.
Protect Your Skin
At 6,000 feet, the air here is thin which means the sun is more intense. And with 300 days of sunshine, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get sun. Protect your skin from sun damage with our sun care products.
At Routes Outfitter, we are all about equipping you for the adventure. Visit one of our two stores in person to see all of our gear and prepare yourself for a summer full of outdoor fun.
Happy hiking!
