REVIEW - HI-TEC V-LITE FLASH HIKING BOOTS

Quathlamba

“A mass of Spears. Named thus by the Zulu warriors before the white man came. Today called the Drakensberg, Mountains of the Dragon, a name given by the Voortrekkers. Evocative names, both equally applicable to South Africa’s mightiest mountain range with its spear-like peaks – reminiscent of the saw-toothed spine of a gigantic dragon.”

Panorama April 1966

“Listen to the streams as they gurgle from their cradles and you will hear the story of the mountains. You will hear fascinating tales if only you listen! Lie next to a stream and listen to the song of the mountains. The smiling faces of the flowers, dancing in the wind. Venture into the remote valleys or stand on a peak at sunrise or sunset, after snow has fallen, and you will hear a song that you will never forget - the Song of the High Mountain".

DRAKENSBERG WILDERNESS PHOTOS © WILLEM PELSER

“USE YOUR FEARS….IT CAN TAKE YOU TO A PLACE WHERE YOU STORE YOUR COURAGE

AMELIA EARHART

REVIEW

HI-TEC V-LITE FLASH

HIKING BOOTS

On my quest for the perfect hiking boots I happen to come across the Hi-Tec V-Lite Flash Hiking boots and I promptly obtained a pair. When I received the boots I was quite impressed with them as they are indeed a very good looking pair of shoes. My needs however go way beyond good looking. I do solo hiking off the beaten track deep in the wilderness areas and I therefore need a boot which will be able to withstand the rugged wild terrain I move through. The boots should be able to do exactly what the manufacturer claim they can and should be designed for a specific purpose.

   Because I solo hike I cannot afford a bad pair of boots or boots which will fall apart during a hike. Hiking through the Drakensberg Wilderness will subject hiking boots to rain, wet grass, rocks, rivers, streams, and all sorts of other tests.

   In all probability my boots will be wet inside and out for the greater part of my hike. I have learnt the lesson by know: there is no such a thing as a waterproof hiking boot. In the Drakensberg Wilderness your boots will get wet sooner than later. What is important then is whether the boot can deal with being wet most of the time and if it can survive such an ordeal. Which then also become very important is how long it will take the boots to dry out again.

   I take exceptionally good care of my hiking boots, but, on a hiking trip I have no mercy for them; they are an important part of my kit and will have to go where I go and last the distance. (That is why I buy specialized boots and not sneakers)

   Back to the boots: When I received the boots, my first thought was that the leather is never going to last beyond their first hiking trip. The leather felt very thin and soft, too soft to handle heavy hiking. I was really greatly concerned about the leather and I could imagine myself in the wilderness being stranded by a pair of ripped apart boots.

Manufacturer Product Specification

Technologies:	Dri-Tec, i-shield, OrthoLite® Impressions, V-Lite, Vibram®, Vibram® RollingGait System
Product Type:	Boot
Product Use:	Hiking
Gender:	Men's
Features:	·         V-LITE lightweight design, perfect for walking ·         Stunning, glove soft Pittards leather upper, delivers breathability, durability and comfort during wear ·         i-shield repels water and dirt, and is resistant to stains ·         Versatile lacing system provides a secure fit ·         Dri-Tec waterproof, breathable membrane keeps feet dry ·         Gusseted tongue keeps debris out ·         Padded collar and tongue provides extreme comfort ·         OrthoLite® Impressions sock liner with slow recovery foam delivers superior cushioning and has anti-odor and anti-microbial properties ·         Vibram® RGS midsole supports the natural roll of the foot ·         Vibram® RGS rubber outsole provides durability and outstanding traction

   I started using the boots at home to get them walked in for a couple of weeks before using them on a hiking trip. From the onset I was very impressed with the boots. They were very lightweight indeed and exceptionally comfortable. The Vibram soles of the boots gave a superior grip on rough surfaces and my confidence in the boots grew, even though I was still apprehensive about the soft leather uppers. The boots walked in very quickly and was a pleasure to walk around with.

   About 2 months after receiving the boots I was of on a 5 day hiking trip into the Cobham Wilderness area in the Drakensberg. I decided to give the boots their first outing and see what happens. Right from the start the boots proved to be very comfortable and easy to live with. It was a pleasure to walk with them and the grip of the soles proved to be very good indeed. The boots did get wet inside and outside not long into the trip but the boots did dry out reasonably quickly. The lacing system is good and no issue at all. Scuff marks on the front of the boots appeared very quickly but, as I walk through rugged terrain, any boot will scuff very quickly. After the trip I arrived back home with a pair of boots well scuffed and some minor scratches and cuts on the leather uppers. After a good wash, clean and treatment I put them away for the next trip.

The boots have now done close to 400 kilometers of hiking and has passed my stringent requirements quite easily. The very soft leather uppers are still in one piece, although now well worn. Nothing on the boots up to now has fall to pieces.

   My hiking consists of walking through very rough terrain of the path and includes scrambling up and down hills as well as climbing cliffs and mountains and I carry on average a 22kg backpack. It means that my boots are put to the ultimate test on every hike. On my last 7 day hike in January 2017, the boots were wet for 6 out of the 7 days. And not just wet, but soaking wet! The weather was bad and it constantly rained. Long, wet grass added to the influx of water into the boot, as did wading through swollen rivers and streams. I am very happy to report that the boots came through with flying colors and is no worse for the wear. The boots today look like a pair of well-worn and used boots. There are now more scuff marks and cuts and abrasions on the leather, but not to the extent that it causes a problem. The leather is now even softer than before and still withstanding everything that the wilderness throws at it.

   The only problem that I experienced with the boots was the grip of the soles on rocks. If the sole is dry and the rock wet, there is no grip and the boots become very slippery. If the soles are wet and the rocks dry, the same apply. Other than that the soles offer a superior grip on all surfaces and I have learnt to be just very careful when walking on rocks, dry or wet.

   After the last trip, the boots being wet for 6 days, they did dry out completely after 2 days of tender care.

   I am not a person who cares much about the technical specifications of equipment. I am more interested in what the boots do in the wild rugged wilderness and if they can last the distance and be totally reliable under all conditions.

   I have to say that I am now very impressed indeed with the Hi-Tec V-Lite Flash hiking boots. They have now proven themselves over hundreds of kilometers through very severe terrain.  The very soft leather uppers have proofed that they can deal with anything and will not fall apart.

   Hi-Tec has come up with a very good boot indeed and well worth the expense. Nice boots indeed and they have become my trusted hiking friend.

The End.

Safe Hiking.

References and Acknowledgements

From the book – Article by Willem Pelser

Photos – Willem Pelser

Compiled by Willem Pelser

THE LAST WORD - BORN AT THE WRONG TIME

Quathlamba

“A mass of Spears. Named thus by the Zulu warriors before the white man came. Today called the Drakensberg, Mountains of the Dragon, a name given by the Voortrekkers. Evocative names, both equally applicable to South Africa’s mightiest mountain range with its spear-like peaks – reminiscent of the saw-toothed spine of a gigantic dragon.”

Panorama April 1966

“Listen to the streams as they gurgle from their cradles and you will hear the story of the mountains. You will hear fascinating tales if only you listen! Lie next to a stream and listen to the song of the mountains. The smiling faces of the flowers, dancing in the wind. Venture into the remote valleys or stand on a peak at sunrise or sunset, after snow has fallen, and you will hear a song that you will never forget - the Song of the High Mountain".

DRAKENSBERG WILDERNESS PHOTOS © WILLEM PELSER

“SOMETIMES DREAMS CAN BECOME REALITY. IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHETHER WE HAVE THE GUTS TO ACT OUT OUR DREAMS.”

WILLEM PELSER

THE LAST WORD

BORN AT THE WRONG TIME

An unedited chapter from my as yet unpublished book: The Drakensberg Wilderness – A Journey through Paradise. ©

Writing this book brought back many memories, all of them good. I would love to have all those moments and discoveries all over again. I have become a wild man at heart, at peace in the wilderness.

The Drakensberg Wilderness holds no fear for me; it is my sanctuary, a place where I do not have to pretend. I belong there, part of a life far removed from civilian life.

Solo hiking a wilderness means that you rely on yourself and your capabilities. Your longevity depends entirely on what is between your ears and in your backpack. Hiking a wilderness is also not about survival; if you have to ‘survive’ it means that you are in trouble, that you did something cardinally wrong. I live in the wilderness, I do not survive. Respect for the wilderness and for the force of Mother Nature and being well prepared will always prevent you having to ‘survive’.

Childhood dreams of becoming a wilderness explorer came to fruition, although very late in life. My dreams have not told a lie, but proved to be even more than what my wildest imagination could come up with. How I hate those wasted moments and years in between. But, I am still alive and I am breathing; that is enough to act on my dreams which have now become a reality. For me it would be the ideal world if, one day, when it’s time for me to depart this world, that at the instance of my last breath, I will be able to close my eyes in the wilderness I so love, my last image of life one of spectacular beauty; that my last breath will escape from me and softly disappear over the long grass of a hill in front of me. That the last voices I will hear will be the song of the mountain which I have heard and listened to on so many occasions during a hike.

I do not hike the wilderness just for the beauty of it, for the splendor, for the photo opportunities or to prove how strong I am, how far I can go; there is a deeper meaning, a spiritual connection, an unbreakable bond. Very few people will understand what I am saying, but they are there; those who trespass in the wilderness and experience a unique life.

Today, in the modern age, we humans are just trespassing in the wilderness when we hike, and we have to leave again. Hopefully when we leave, we leave only our footprints behind. Gone are those days when earth was mostly a vast wilderness and man could find paradise, built a shelter and live happily ever after. Man very early on started off on a path of destruction, greedily exploiting the resources of earth which took millions of years to be created. The more we had the more we wanted. Our vast intelligence was never used for protection and preservation. Even today, knowing the consequences of our actions or of an action, we still go ahead and do it. How on earth did it happened that wilderness areas had to be proclaimed as parks or reserves, fenced off and some even having armed rangers to protect it from no less than other intelligent humans? It makes no sense at all.

Today, as have been the case for many years, people still hunt, mostly for trophies in this modern age or for “fun”. Why? All you have to do is to go to the nearest supermarket or butchery and you can get all the meat you want at less of an effort than hunting. Hundreds of years ago man domesticated animals to feed themselves and to have an easy meat supply. Today, there are millions and millions of cattle, sheep and pigs’, there are no shortage of domesticated animal meat anywhere in the world, yet we still have to hunt down wild animals. Trapping animals for their fur still carries on to this day, why? Man has the machines and technology to make available a similar looking piece of fake fur with no effort. Yet we have to hunt down and kill a fur bearing animal with no mercy at all. What does it do to a person to drape a piece of fur around them, is it a feeling of power? Is it a feeling of ‘I am the greatest being in the world’? Or is it simply that deep down his little brain acknowledges that one day it will die and what happens to earth is of no consequence at all, for I will be dead in any case? Somebody once said that hunting is not a sport, for it to be a sport; both sides should know they are in the game. Can you imagine what would happen if we look after and care for the wildernesses and wild animals in the same way as we look after our gardens at home and our domestic animals?

Once man moved out of the wilderness and started living in cities, and his life no longer depended on the preservation of that wilderness, his psychological make-up changed. Today man gets up in the morning, moves out of his 4 square walls of a home, get in his car, travel to his workplace, and sit between four walls for the day. Once the day is done he gets back in his car and travel home where he spends the night between four walls and so he will repeat the process day by day. Weekends will have you stay between four walls for 2 days. It is therefore no wonder that man has become this opinioned, frustrated, and destructive force. Because life has now also became very easy; food can be had anywhere, man no longer have to walk anywhere and shelter can be paid for and comes in all shapes and sizes, nothing else in lives matter anymore. They have become lazy and suffer all sorts of ailments because of it. The human body was never designed to sit for 24hrs a day. Should calamity one day strike earth, very few people will be able to survive; they just do not possess the inborn capabilities to survive outside of civilization.

Humans are unexplainable beings. They use their intelligence in a very counterproductive manner. He has become this sensitive insecure person whose well-being depends on the opinions of others. It so happens that those who are strong, independent people, going about their own business; are normally the outcasts from society as they do not fit into the acceptable norm. Society views those who are strong enough to stand on their own and who do not have to be part of a group or cult with great suspicion. They are labeled anti-social and become outcasts. The irony is that to those ‘lone wolf’s’ it does not matter as they do not need society. There is a saying: “No man can be an island”. Really? I totally disagree; a single man can be a continent. Not only does man harm the wilderness and wildlife, but seek to destroy the well-being of fellow humans.

In some people however, deep inside of them, you will still find the adventurer, the explorer, the protector of nature. There is this age old voice which calls to them and most will heed the call.

Life in a wilderness, even though it is for just a few days, is a totally different experience to today’s civilian life. All of a sudden all your senses start to operate again, you can breathe again, and we use our bodies for the purpose it was designed for. Walking in the wilderness you can feel life cruising through your veins.

The Drakensberg Wilderness was created millions of years ago. If today it is paradise, imagined what it looked like then. Again, because of the actions of man it is a sliver today of what it was then. Nature is one thing man cannot create. He cannot even recreate it. He can only conserve and protect it. One need not destroy in order to protect. You can only really enjoy it if you are appreciating the wilderness and appreciation is inextricably linked to conservation.

I so envy those who first set foot in the Drakensberg hundreds of years ago and found paradise, a place rich in plant and wildlife. What was their reaction when they first said foot in the wilderness? Was it one of awe and inspiration? With the arrival of the Voortrekkers and the Settlers we now know through historical accounts that it was one of greed and destruction.

Today the Drakensberg Wilderness is still an exceptionally beautiful place. It is one of the most beautiful places in South Africa. It has it all; mountains, peaks, valleys, forests, its own weather system and the song of the mountains. It is rugged and remote.  In winter she puts on her robe of white, in summer she paints it all green and flowers burst forth and clad the hills in a riot of color. Rivers and streams dance through the lost valleys, finding their way through rocks and boulders, singing an age old song as they go along.

The Drakensberg Wilderness has become my place of refuge; a place where humans and their iffy self-created problems and opinions does not matter at all. I can disappear for days into this wilderness and have it all to myself, living an uncomplicated life.

     Once I started walking the Drakensberg Wilderness, doing the day walks only, I dreamt of long solitary hikes, where I could make my own way and rely on myself. I acted out that dream and I found Paradise. Paradise is indeed a place on earth. I still dream today. I still dream of lost valleys. I still dream of lofty peaks and the lairs of Dragons. I can see the fairies, trolls, and angels in the little Gardens of Eden’s deep inside a secret forest.  I still dream of days gone by hundreds of years ago.

When I first heard the song of the mountains during my first hike, I was convinced that there were people around me somewhere who were doing the singing. I soon realized however that it was the song of the mountain, clearly audible, a companion. Today, sometimes when I sit between my four walls, staring out the window, I can hear that song again, softly singing to me, calling me, and I feel that stirring in my soul, responding to the siren call of the Drakensberg Wilderness.

The End.

Safe Hiking.

References and Acknowledgements

From the book – The Drakensberg Wilderness – A Journey through            Paradise – W Pelser (Unedited Version)

Photos – Willem Pelser

Compiled by Willem Pelser

WALKING SKILLS IN THE WILDERNESS

Quathlamba

“A mass of Spears. Named thus by the Zulu warriors before the white man came. Today called the Drakensberg, Mountains of the Dragon, a name given by the Voortrekkers. Evocative names, both equally applicable to South Africa’s mightiest mountain range with its spear-like peaks – reminiscent of the saw-toothed spine of a gigantic dragon.”

Panorama April 1966

DRAKENSBERG WILDERNESS PHOTOS © WILLEM PELSER

“TRAILS ARE NOT DUST AND PEBBLES ON A HILL

NOR EVEN GRASS AND WILD BUDS BY A LAKE

TRAILS ARE ADVENTURE AND A HAND TO STILL THE RESTLESS PULSE OF LIFE”

WALKING SKILLS IN THE

WILDERNESS

  

How hard can it be to put one foot in front of another until you get to the top of the hill? And then reverse the process on the way down? Well, that might be the case if we were climbing to the 19^th floor, but in the wilderness country the terrain, the exposure and the altitude can all conspire to make your journey a little more taxing. With a bit of thought though, you can prepare your body and mind to deal with the conditions that you are likely to encounter in the wilderness.

Make efficient ascents

   However fit you are, the speed of your summit bid is dictated by how out of puff you get. Teach yourself to breathe efficiently and your performance on the hill will improve.

Mastering the correct technique then training the right muscles is straightforward, but the results are impressive: a fit athlete trained to breathe efficiently will be capable of breathing a maximum 350 liters of air per minute; the average couch potato mages a maximum level of just 50 to 60 liters per minute. So if you only act on one snip of advice, choose this one: it’ll make walking uphill a whole lot easier.

One

   First, you need to understand how you breathe. Lie on the ground and place one hand flat on your stomach and the other across your chest. Relax and breathe normally. Now, which hand moves most? Most of us find that the chest hand wins the contest. This means that you are contracting and expanding your rib cage muscles to pump air in and out of your lungs. These muscles are just like most other muscles in your body: work them hard and they will get tired.

Two

   Try the exercise again, taking deeper breaths so your chest hand stays still and the hand on your stomach moves up and down. Breathing like this also uses your diaphragm. This muscle is unique: it contains an almost equal level of fast-twitch fibres (for short duration power) and slow-twitch fibres (for endurance). This means it’s more resistant to fatigue: take deep breaths using your diaphragm when you are walking uphill and you can breathe harder for longer. The result? Far fewer rest-stops to catch your breath.

Three

  But we’re not finished yet. Lie down again, relax and think about what takes the most effort: inhaling or exhaling. Average humans among you will report that breathing in requires the most energy. So try this: take a deep breath and concentrate on exhaling instead, emptying all air from your lungs. You’ll find that your body now automatically triggers another breath: go with the flow and let your lungs be filled with air – it requires much less effort.

Four

   Try breathing in through your nose: this warms the air before it hits your lungs, so it’s less likely to trigger an asthma attack. Now breathe out through pursed lips. This creates a level of back pressure, which keep the alveoli open as you exhale, enabling them to continue extracting oxygen for a fraction longer.

Five

   The muscles you use to breathe are just like the others in your body: train them and they’ll get stronger. Now you won’t master this technique overnight – after all, you’ve some pretty ingrained breathing habits to break – but the more that you practice, the more natural it will seem and the stronger those muscles will become. Any exercise requiring you to breathe hard will help your performance in the wilderness.

Stand straight, Walk further

   If your hands are free, keep them that way. On the hill, arms are for balance: and if your posture is correct, they will swing freely at your side and do this job just fine. Holding on to your backpack straps, clasped behind your back and in your pockets are unnatural positions that impede circulation, resulting in swelling or uncomfortable pins and needles. Your arms should be bent at a 90-degree angle when walking, but in practice 50-60 degrees is fine.

   Many boot manufacturers design their soles to reflect the expected foot movement: the Scarpa SL for instance, has a markedly curved sole to role the foot heel-to-toe as you walk; the smoother your step, the less wear on your shins and ankles, so aim to hit the ground with your heel, roll forwards onto the ball of your foot, then push off from there.

Avoid looking at the floor unless you are on dangerous ground. Keep your head up and towards the horizon at its natural angle; allowing the strong vertebrae to absorb impact and bear the weight of your head which, averaging about 8 per cent of your bodyweight is a deceptively hefty burden. If you want proof, relax your neck muscles and gently let your head slump forwards – feel the back of your neck burning? That’s muscle being stretched by the weight of your head.

  ‘Sway-back’ is an unnatural arch in the in the lower back; it’s common when descending, compounded by a heavy pack, and truly agonizing over long distances. Tense your abdominal muscles, pull in your stomach and clench your buttocks – this puts your pelvis into a more ‘neutral’ position and places your back into a strong posture. Apply this technique on the hill and feel the difference.

   The first thing to remember is to stick to shorter, comfortable strides – overstretching can strain your quads, hamstring tendons and calves, and you will feel pulling in the back of the leg and calf if your strides are too long.

   When descending a rocky path, be careful to keep descent steps small so as to not overstretch. Try to position your knee in line with your second toe as you step.

The End.

Safe Hiking.

References and Acknowledgements

Photos – W Pelser – Injasuthi Wilderness - Drakensberg

Compiled by - W Pelser – Information – The Ultimate Hiking Skills by A Hinkes & C                            Bagshaw