Tag Archive for: Muck Boots

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Feb.19)

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Big News For Our Subscribers, Resort Reviews, Stretching Advice, Boots and a Ski-From-Home Apartment in Borat-Land.

PromotiveWe are extremely excited this week to announce a fantastic and exclusive discount deal for SeniorsSkiing.com’s subscribers.  Now you guys can sign up with Promotive.com (using a special access code you will receive shortly in a separate email), and get discounts on top brands in ski equipment, clothing and lots of stuff.  We know this is important to you because our reader surveys have revealed that discounts are critical, really.  So, there you go, have at it.  Free.  No charge for subscribing to SeniorSkiing and no charge for signing up with Promotive.com. Look for the subscribers-only email with access instructions very soon.

Stories this week include reviews of Mt. Baker, snow catcher of the Northwest, by our newest contributor John Nelson.  Great ticket deals there, seniors. There’s also a guide to skiing easy ways down Mt. Mansfield, Stowe’s magic mountain, by correspondent Tamsin Venn. We remember beautiful, long runs down the Perry Merrill, many, many years ago. Stowe is a special place in the pantheon of skiing., and Tamsin does a great job of introducing seniors to its charming, blue runs. Paul Foy also shows us some lightweight gear that might encourage you to visit the backcountry, a segment of snow sports that is really growing.

We asked Salt Lake City correspondent Harriet Wallis to investigate the stretching challenge we discovered in our recent poll.  We found that 60 percent of you do some level of stretching and 40 percent don’t.  What she found when she consulted with her physical fitness advisor and others surprised her, us and it will you, too.

Co-Publisher Jon Weisberg has a report on Muck Boots, hearty footwear for snow country. Curious how a boot originally designed for cleaning horse stalls has made its way into snow country fashion.

Finally, we have a bit of fun with a most amazing architectural design: An apartment building with a built-in ski slope. Yes, this is legit; it even won an architectural award. Think of the implications for Saturday night parties.

Preview

Because this week was so busy with our Promotive announcement, we weren’t quite able to get the Washington Birthday race story in press.  It is interesting that our queries around the ski industry into that race’s history resulted in little information.  The Washington Birthday race was a “people’s race”, like the Vassalopett in Sweden.  Everyone lines up in a giant, snow-covered field, and off you go.  Was great fun back in the 60s and 70s.  Anyone out there have memories or pictures to share?

That's what Borat says.

That’s what Borat says.

More Resort Reviews, product ideas, and ideas for making snow sports rewarding.  Remember, if you want to communicate with other readers, find people to pal up with or ask questions, use the FORUM.  Click the menu in the upper right, blue bar.

Thanks again for subscribing to SeniorsSkiing.com.  There are more of us every day, and we are not going away.

Jon Weisberg

Muck Boots: The Toyota 4-Runner Of Footwear

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Rugged, Waterproof Snow Boots E-Z On/Off.

If you know horses, you'll know what "muck" means. These boots are warm and tough. Credit: Muck Boots

If you know horses, you’ll know what “muck” means. These boots are warm and tough.
Credit: Muck Boots

My wife and I just returned from a pleasant hike in the snow, among cliffs and monoliths; sagebrush and Ponderosa pine. She wore sturdy hiking boots and gaiters. I wore the Muck Boot Arctic Commuter, a high-rise (mid-calf) fleece-lined neoprene boot. They were an ideal choice.

For a hike on snow-covered, uneven, though generally flat terrain, I’d typically wear Sorels or Kamiks—sturdy felt-lined winter boots combining warmth, good traction and protection from a foot of snow. They’ve been my go-to’s for snow shoes.

Muck is a good alternative. I’ve used them to drive to ski areas, especially when snow is really deep in the lot. They accompanied us on a recent ski/road trip to Colorado. In Glenwood Springs, a lovely town not far from Aspen, the town fathers and mothers are snow clearance challenged. Walking from the hotel to one of the multiple excellent eateries requires navigating frozen snow and patches of ice. Muck handles these conditions well. A slightly longer walk to Glenwood’s public hot springs (about a football field in length) was more complicated with a variety of frozen obstacles. Muck was warm, comfortable, and gripped effectively.

The company makes a variety of boot designs for men, women and kids. The Arctic Commuter is listed at $150, although some Web-based “sole searching” may deliver them for less.

I’ve worn them with and without socks. Comfort reigns. The website claims comfort to -40F. I have no intention of testing that one, but I do look forward to using them during mud season. Not a chance water will get inside, and they’ll wash clean with the garden hose. Their material and construction make them the Toyota 4Runner of footwear. They look good and will get anyone wearing them through the elements in comfort and basic style.