Stonz Boot Review

Stonz Rain Boots
Stonz is probably most known for their outdoor baby booties, but they are branching out into rain bootz as well as winter bootz as their clientele grows. They sent us a pair of their Rain Bootz to try out. Here's what we thought...

Overall Rating: Perfect boot for Southeast Alaskan kids!

Features:

• 100% Natural Rubber
• Durable and tear resistant, yet flexible and comfortable
• Quick dry 100% cotton liner
• PVC-free
• Phthalate-free
• Lead-free
• Formaldehyde-free
• You can purchase a pair linerz for these bootz to boost their insulation = warmth
• Come in sizes for kids 4 years to 10 years of age or 4t to youth 4
•  Come in a wide array of colors that range from gender neutral to more gender specific if you like.

Here's a great video from the company's website : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU5rExuYiho

While we haven't tried the boots with the liners, we think the combo makes the perfect boot, giving kids options for every season in our rainforest climate. Pull on wool socks and add a foot warmer and you have a solution for even the coldest of winter days in Southeast Alaska!

From the Stonz Website

Taiga Trekkers Around the Globe

It's been just over a year since our last Trek and my family moved down to Juneau for my husband's work. Just this week I had the pleasure of meeting up with one of our Dads for breakfast as he flies through Juneau, literally... He's an Alaskan Airline pilot. We also hope to see a TT alum family that recently moved to Haines when we sail up there this weekend for the State Fair.

It is wonderful to reconnect with such great people we've met on the trail over the years and even more amazing to see how the kids have grown and how they've remained connected to the outdoors and feel so comfortable adventuring around in it!

If you and your family happen to be visiting Juneau please connect with me. The boys and I would love to see you! We'll do the same if we happen to be in your neck of the woods. Right now we have families who have trekked with us now living in Scotland, Trinidad, Australia, Denmark, Costa Rica, Japan, Hawaii, Texas, California, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, France, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia!  We're taking over the world:)! It's fun to keep up with everyone through the magic of social media!

Farewell Trek at Beach Lake, Our Favorite Trail

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. 

~ John Muir

This has always been the Taiga Trekker motto, and no truer words have been written. My children and I have discovered so much about the world and ourselves during the miles we have traversed across the Anchorage area trails with all of you. I have seen my oldest son sign his first "pleases" when he saw the pack come out of the closet. Watched him cover his first mile on his own two feet. Welcomed my second into a community of friends who have become family. Learned about my own strengths and weaknesses, found a confidence in myself I never knew I had, and honed skills I know will serve me well in my future.

Today's trail was gorgeous, but a testament to our group's tenacity! Those skeeters were FEROCIOUS! We had hoped that when we made it to the inlet on the other side of the lake, that there would be a strong enough breeze to keep them at bay. There wasn't, so we turned around with out much chance to take in the stellar view. If you haven't been out there you must! End of August is a great time! There was a little rain on the way that slowed the buggers down a little. The best place we found was right at the lake near the parking lot. There's going to be a lot of benadryl, home remedies, and calamine lotion tried tonight to sooth the bites! It reminded me of a scene from one of my favorite Alaskan memoirs, Two in the Far North, written by Margaret Murie, about their time spent on the McKenzie river in northwestern Alaska and the swarms of mosquitoes that plague that area. A must read, by the way, of adventuring around the state with little ones, back in the days before planes and cars dominated travel!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for being part of this journey with us, whether you joined us this spring for your first hike or have been with us over the years! How crazy is it we can say years! 

Many happy trails to you!

Harmony and the Boys

Coastal Trail from Westchester

We were supposed to do Bird to Gird today, but it was closed off due to work on some water damage. Instead I swapped it out for an easy favorite - the Coastal Trail from Westchester Lagoon! What a busy place it is on a gorgeous summer morning. I had to keep reminding my son to follow the rules of the road and stay to the right because of all the foot and bike traffic.

Next Thursday is the last TT Hike as my family and I are moving to Juneau for the next 3 years. We'll be taking the Taiga Trekkers all time favorite trail around Beach Lake. To get there take Beach Lake Rd. all the way down to the lake and the lodge (not the ski chalet near the high school). This is not a stroller friendly hike... we've tried. It is a picturesque place so bring sure to bring the camera and a lunch. Hopefully the weather cooperates!

Picture Perfect Day at Eklutna Lake

It just doesn't get any better than today's Trek. I don't even know how to choose the pictures... so if they weren't blurry they are being downloaded!

We headed north of town and took the trail around Eklutna Lake. The temps were in the high 60's but to us Alaskans, who saw snow stick to the ground less than 2 weeks ago... it seemed a LOT warmer!

Over 35 parents and 60 or more kiddos joined us today to bask in the sun and enjoy the stunning beauty of this valley. Some faster moving families made it much further down the trail than ours did. Throwing rocks into the glacier blue water was the agenda for the day. Everyone seemed perfectly content letting the kids dictate the pace, and just soaking up the vitamin D while we can.

Most of the trail is dry though we did have to brave one sloppy spot. Some chose to "portage" around it. I found if you kept moving through it and didn't stop, it wasn't that bad.