Booted!

A great pair of boots is going to be absolutely critical for our journey on Kili. If you don't already have a good pair, for everyone in Van/Vic, I recommend to go to Robinson's in Victoria (one of our sponsors), or if you're unable to make it there, to Mountain Equipment Co-op in Vancouver. It's good to try on at least 3-4 pairs to get a good idea of which feels best - although you'll likely know when you try the right one. Here are my tips when choosing a pair of boots:

- My personal brand preferences are La Sportiva, Scarpa, and Asolo (I have a pair of each)
- For socks, I recommend a thin base layer (they'll point you in the right direction when you go to one of the stores mentioned above), and then a thick wool sock overtop. You'll also want to get a couple spare pairs of each for the seven day journey.
- For enhanced fit, you may want to try replacing the sole that comes with the boots with this one: http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442622532&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302734275&bmUID=1256525903703

- When trying on/testing the boots, it's important to test them on an incline (both up and down) - watch for heel slippage on the way up, and toe jamming on the way down (both will cause blisters and toe jamming can cause bruised toenails - if either of these occur, after 5-6 hrs of hiking over multiple days, this can get EXTREMELY painful to the point you will want to hurl the boots off the mountain and never wear them again.
- Your foot should be snug, but not uncomfortably tight. You don't want your foot swimming/shifting around in the boot (will likely cause blisters), or too tight that it cuts off blood circulation in your toes.
- I also recommend a boot with a Vibram sole.

You'll be glad you took the time to find the right pair - it's like being in 4x4 while you're walking!

Check out this link for further info on boots:

http://www.mec.ca/Main/content_text.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673220787&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302886150&bmUID=1256525798893

-MS