RTR - FootWear

[QinReno]

Yes, and watch out for the little sharp pointy prickly humans with rocky rough edges, too.

Looking at a video in the Parker area to the north they indicate Ocotillo and Cholla cactus. Maybe Quartzsite is free of those, ha. Good boots are always nice if need to kick at those little sharp pointy prickly humans too. I like ankle-high hiking boots and jeans that come over the tops, since I am always seeming to head off the nicely landscaped roads and into the boonies.

 

[lenny flank]

Hey, don't anybody be dissing Birkies, or I'll have to go all flower-child on you .......

 

[QinReno]

While you're picking the Cholla needles out of your big toe, I'll just leave them in the outside of my boots, in case a wild dog attacks my foot.

 

[B and C]

I wore Jesus Creepers back in the day. Leather uppers and tire tread for soles, they lasted a long time.

 

[lenny flank]

Alas, I do recall the chollas. Since I was a desert newbie I didn't know what they were at first (how can anyone NOT like something called "Teddy Bear Chollas"?). Was soon amazed at how they seemed to jump right out at me and get me.

But since I spent most of my time outside looking (mostly unsuccessfully) for snakes and scorpions (this was wintertime, though, so I had socks on), I was already being pretty careful about where I put my feet.

But if you think chollas are bad for sandal-wearers, I invite you to Florida so you can experience the Sandspur. Jeebus. It's like walking over broken glass. I'm an environmentalist and I love our local flora and fauna, but if Sandspurs were to go extinct, I might not actually mind very much.

 

[QinReno]

In Florida, I'd be more afraid of a Coral snake mistaking my big toe for a nice juicy worm. A big toe is about all they can get their mouths around. Lucky for you, Coral snakes do not have heat sensors on their faces.

 

[AJ452]

Red touches black, friend of Jack; red touches yellow, deadly fellow. Hey, I still remember that from being a kid! (That's how to tell a Coral Snake from it's harmles mimicker for anyone that doesn't know)

 

[lenny flank]

I have actually found Coral Snakes--they tend to get flooded out of their burrows when it rains hard. They are not aggressive, and it takes quite a lot to provoke a bite--usually getting stepped on.

The Cottonmouths are a lot more dangerous--there's more of them, and they can be hard to see.

 

[QinReno]

When you're walking through a grassy area, and you accidentally step on a Red-on-Yellow Coral snake, you'll be glad you were wearing your ankle-high hiking boots instead of your birkies. When we used to canoe on the rivers in North Carolina, the lady-folk were always afraid the Water Moccasins would be jumping out of the overhanging trees into the canoes. They swore they knew people it had happened to. Water Moccasins "are" pit vipers.

Rule of Thumb: always protect your big toe, from Cholla or Coral.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I would think it would be risky to try to find your way back to your van in the dark with birkies or any other open footwear.

 

[Mechelle]

What's a 'hobbit'?

:huh:

Lord of the Rings... small humanoid that loves food with very large hairy feet.
    
birks are big not really attractive, German made...  sooooooo comfortable

 

[Bohemian scout]

I would think it would be risky to try to find your way back to your van in the dark with birkies or any other open footwear.

Footwear is the least of my worries if trying to find my way back to my van in the dark at the RTR!

 

[RVTravel]

Trail runners

 

[tx2sturgis]

Footwear is the least of my worries if trying to find my way back to my van in the dark at the RTR!

I dunno, you could install a couple of tactical NightRunner shoe lights, and kill two birds with one stone.