Kirk suggested I could find a replacement pair of shoes at Performance Footwear in the town of Wenatchee, so we headed there after saying goodbye to our friends.
Kirk's recommendation was a good one because we found the staff to be helpful and attentive.
The pair of shoes I was replacing were Altra Lone Peak 4s. They were the second pair I had worn on this hike, and I had been wearing them since I left Hiker Heaven. That was 470 miles ago, which isn’t horrible mileage for hiking shoes. It’s about what I got from the previous pair.
Still, the way they wore out was a little troublesome. In both pairs, the right side split in the upper of the right shoe. This opened a wide hole, which allowed water, dirt, and everything else on the trail to get in. The hole caused a hole to wear in my sock.
I was unsure if I wanted to stay with the Lone Peak model. When my first pair wore a hole, I thought it was caused by wearing microspikes. When the same hole appeared on the second pair, however, I began to think they weren't sturdy enough for the trail.
In the end, the decision was made for me when I learned the store didn’t have my size in stock.
The clerk suggested I try Altra Timps. This seemed like a good option. The fit was similar and they appeared to be a little more durable.
Although I was mostly satisfied with the Lone Peaks, I had started to feel some foot pain. Or I should say, I started to feel more foot pain than normal. Let’s face it, when you walk 15-20 miles day after day, your feet are going to hurt.
We considered options of insoles that might help with that. I had worn Superfeet Greens before, including the last half of the AT. Greens have a high arch, deep heel cup, and take up extra volume in the shoe. That didn’t seem like a good fit, if you will, this time. The clerk suggested I try this time a pair of Superfeet Blue insoles.
By the end of that long shopping session, Ralph and I were hungry and thirsty, so we walked down the street to Saddle Rock Brewery.
