Living in Boulder and being so close to the mountains, it's easy to squeeze in a quick hike at the drop of a hat.  But when you're going on a short hike close to home it's even easier to head off on the trail unprepared. 

When the sun is shining and it's 80 degrees at the base of the trail, it's easy to feel like an extra layer is the last thing you need.  I can't tell you how many times I've headed off with just a T-shirt and shorts and quickly regretted it once the sun ducks behind some clouds or you start gaining some altitude.    Colorado is definitely known for its quick and sometimes drastic weather changes, but no matter where you are it's easy to get caught by surprise by a storm or a temperature drop. 

Here's a few insulation tips courtesy of Trailspace.com:

- Extra socks can be used on feet and hands.

- Don't judge by how you feel hiking uphill; you'll cool off once you stop moving.

- Anticipate whether you're likely to warm up or cool down and adjust layers in advance; your clothes will stay drier and your temp better regulated.

(From The 10 Essentials: Insulation)

I have a great Capilene pullover from Patagonia that I usually take with me on all summer hikes now no matter how warm it is when I head out.   It's thin and definitely won't keep me dry in a downpour, but when that chill sets in it provides just the right amount of warmth to keep me comfortable.  It's lightweight enough that I can wrap it around my waist or stuff it in a day pack and I hardly notice it's there.   Unlike cotton, the Capilene doesn't lose its ability to insulate when it gets wet which is important to remember.   Your favorite long sleeve shirt may be a comfortable hiking companion, but if it gets wet from sweat or rain it becomes useless as an insulation layer.

What do you bring on your day hikes for insulation?

Some good news for those visiting National Parks this year without an annual pass, there were a number of planned entrance fee rate hikes that won't be happening for the time being:

"National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, in a decision she calls "in the best interest of the NPS," has frozen park entrance fees at 2007 levels. However, some amenity fees, such as the nightly cost of a campsite, are going up as planned."

National Park Entrance Fees Frozen at 2007 Levels [National Parks Traveler]

I've never been a huge fan of Trails.com.   There's just something about charging for online reviews and descriptions of hiking trails that seems so 1990's to me.  I noticed they recently published their list of the 'Top 100 Trails in North America' and, while many of the trails that made the list are beautiful, it pains me to see the Kalalau Trail in Kauai so low on the list:

#68. Kauai: Kalalau Valley & The Na Pali Cliffs

and

#94. Kalalau Trail on Na Pali Coast Hanakapiai Beach to Hanakapiai Falls

Theoretically, these trails probably belong on their own list since there's no good geographic reason to lump Hawaii in with North America, but I still can't believe it barely made their Top 100.   The views, terrain, wildlife, smells, colors, sounds....the Kalalau Trail is one that remains firmly etched in my memory two years after I hiked it.  (The fact that I have such fond memories of the trail even though I had one of my Teva sandals break on me part way through the hike also says a lot, I was in a quite a bit of pain by the time I made it back.)

Check out some of the trails and let me know if there are any more you agree or disagree with.  Don't bother clicking on the internal links for more info on the trails unless you're ready to spring for a membership.

Top 100 Trails | Best Trails in North America

Brent Thomas and Lee Briggs, founders of the eLIFELIST.com site, are currently riding their bikes from one side of the country to the other to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Cancer Foundation. They are only able to bring with them the few items that they can pack in the small bike trailer they pull behind them and needless to say every ounce counts when you're going to be biking up and down hills across the country in the hot sun.

We're happy to know that they chose to bring two Trek Light Hammocks on the trip with them and they've been using them to camp out under the stars and get some much needed rest along the route. Trek Light Hammocks really are the perfect companion for your next bike ride, whether you're going across the country or just out on your local bike path, and we're happy to be able to sponsor Brent and Lee on their quest to raise money for cancer research.

Be sure to check out the blog for their trip and support their efforts any way you can. Also, be sure to check out their main site, eLIFELIST.com, it's a great new social network that allows you to not only track your own life goals, but be inspired by the accomplishments of others as well. Here's a recent video showing them putting the Trek Light Hammock to use on their trip:

eLIFELIST.com Bikes Across America 7/8/07 from Lee on Vimeo.