Mike Asimos - New Shoes for Christmas?

It is coming up on the holiday season and as usual I am filling up my list of requests for Christmas. I learned in high school that the best thing to do in my family was to give a list over and leave the element of surprise out of it.

This year I need a new pair of trail shoes. Currently scattered around between boxes and my closets I have:

Waterproof sandals:

Keene Waterproof Sandals

Keen makes great shoes for outdoor wear, from very tonka like sturdy to lightweight. They take a little longer than I'd like to dry if the air is damp but I can usually make it work by putting them into a stream of sunshine for a few hours.







Winter Boots: Lowa Renegade

The Mike Asimos Top Choice - Lowa Renegade

I have always trusted Lowa boots. I got my first pair in jr high and have continued to buy them when they wear out. They are warm and stay dry. It doesn't get too cold here in South Carolina, but that doesn't mean the warmth is not needed when doing overnights in late fall and into winter.
My only complaint is that they are not resoleable which means that when the boot starts to separate from the sole, a new pair will be in order.

They are affordable though, and with the speed laces have always been easy to get on and off quickly.


Every day trail shoes:

Merrell Moab Trail Shoes

I have had this pair of Merrell shoes for the past two years and they have done me alright. The ventilation aspect works when it isn't too warm out, but I suppose not much can withstand the dampness of our climate.

It is a comfortable shoe and does well on rocks as well as sand. They are also surprisingly easy to clean.











I am asking for a pair of Ecco trail shoes this year.

I have gotten to try on some eccos before and found them to be really comfortable. At $190 they are not the most affordable, but they aren't the most expensive either. Top of my Christmas list - are you reading this, Big Mike? 

So these are my favorites of my current inventory. Do you have a favorite trail shoe or boot? I am always lookin for recommendations. 

Discounted winter camping rates in SC

Most of you know I take every opportunity to get outdoors and camp on weekends and holidays.

I came across this article: http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/

According to the website you can hit many coastal campgrounds for half off if you book quickly. More details are below:

The South Carolina State Park campgrounds at Colleton, Edisto Beach, Givhans Ferry, Hunting Island,Huntington Beach, Myrtle Beach and Sesquicentennial (in Columbia) would like to offer you a 30-day campsite reservation at half price!  50% OFF!  This special is valid for reservations that encompass the period of December 1, 2014 through February 28, 2015.

There’s beautiful weather during this time of year in South Carolina and still so much to do on the park and in the nearby area.

To take advantage of this offer, here's what you need to do:

• Call one of the seven parks that you are interested in reserving your campsite, and make your reservation. You cannot make your reservation online or via the toll-free number.
• Mention you are interested in the 30-day snowbird camping special.
• Pay for your entire month (30 days) at the time of registration.
• There are no refunds for early departure.
• Arrive and enjoy your stay!

I have been to all of these campgrounds except Givhans Ferry.

Edisto Beach is the kind of place you can really stay for an entire weekend and not tire of it. The sand is soft and makes setting up camp really easy.

You can sleep so close to the beach that it is hard to stay awake with the sounds of the tide.









Hunting Island gives you the opportunity to have more placid water.
If you enjoy fishing, this campground is a win for you. I have spent many hours with my headphones on casting my rod without seeing another human.

What is your favorite SC park to camp?

Mike Asimos Vacation Plans

So I have a busy schedule the next few months and want to share those with my family and friends.  I actually just got back from LA on Tuesday.  It was a Dad and Daughter trip.  We did a celebrity tour and even took a trip Disney Land.  I continue to notice how grown up she is getting.  It amazes me because she will always be my little girl.

Phoenix, AZ 8/29/14.  I do some telecommute work and need to visit one of the bosses in the company.  It could be a good opportunity to win him over and perhaps move up in the company.

Miami, FL 9/2/14.  It's going to be a hot one but we're having a small family get together.  Also my cousin is having a small backyard wedding and we will be attending that.

Portland, OR 9/15/14.  Our final destination before going back home is Portland.  This is just a vacation trip with me and my Wife.  She LOVES Portland and while I honestly don't understand why, I'm going to support here wishes on this one.  Happy Wife happy life right?

That is the plan for now.  We are going to be super busy but will try to keep in touch on our social media sites and this website.

Later friends.
Mike Asimos

Social Media gives Mike a headache

I did not realize how much time it took to actually keep up with people on social media. In some ways it is super cool to be able to keep up with people even though you don't see them but in others I find myself missing the interaction. I created a bunch of profiles hoping to be able to catch up with people that I have met but I've forgotted half of the passwords at this point. Too much environmental science taking up all of my brain space, man.

Mike Asimos has a headache!

I will be finishing up school earlier than expected hell yes! Every time I talk with my friends they're discussing a social media observation of other friends instead of seeing them.

I think the only way for me to actually feel good about my friendships is to get back into the music show scene as quickly as possible after I graduate and have a little bit of time.

Foraging for Edibles

I just added an example of an edibles guide on my pinterest Michael Asimos Camping board. Understanding what mushrooms, berries, leaves, bark, etc that are safe can keep you alive in an emergency. That aside, I enjoy cooking with fresh ingredients that I find while on my outings.

The time to educate yourself on what plants in your areas are safe and what aren't isn't when you're starving after dark. Take the time to learn about indigenous plants and mushrooms that are specific to your geographic region before you need to. There are plenty of resources online and at the library, and a small field manual isn't a bad idea either.

I have a small emergency sheet that's laminated that goes inside my backpack.

If you plan your camping trip in areas that you know are abundant with edibles, you can pack less and use it fresh when you get there.

One word of advice -- don't eat anything that you can not identify 100%. If there is an extra band on the stalk or the leaf is "almost" identical, it isn't worth the risk.

Once you become familiar with the wild plants that are available in your area, you will feel more confident lightening your pack and it's a lot of fun to share your knowledge with other people who are hesitant or haven't been exposed to foraging before.

And if you ever come across a cache of Huckleberries --- let me know!

- Mike

Travel Towels - Get One

Maybe I am the only one who has seen a sham wow commercial and wanted one for camping, but they are heavy. I have invested in some REI multitowels and gotten way more than my money's worth out of them. The 36X16.5" is 4.3oz. I also got a PackTowl Ultralight which is only 1.8oz for the 36X20.


The REI multitowel feels more like a shamwow would - it's soft and absorbent, vs the PackTowl which is more like a squeegee on my skin. That said, the PackTowl dries much faster hanging from a tree branch or across my tent or even hanging from the corner of a bunkbed in a hostel!

Travel towels are an important part of my hiking and camping pack for several reasons. Listed below are just a few:
1. While couch surfing you don't need to dirty someone else's towels for a shower or quick rinse
2. If you come across a stream/lake/river on the trail you can dry quickly
3. Most campgrounds don't have towels
4. You can dry yourself and gear off before settling into your tent
5. If it is long enough you can use it to secure bulky gear atop your pack
6. It can double as a pillow
7. With a quick swipe of your knife you have tourniquet strips

I tend to go light and take the Ultralight with me and I have just the large, not the XL or XXL.

Travel towels vary in cost but a good one will last you several years and many adventures (if you're livin right!)

I also posted on my other blog about hang drums. I suppose that a travel towel large enough could provide some travel cushion for the drum.

Hot Water Without Electricity

This is only one way to do it, but he does a sufficient job in explaining the basics of how and why it works. I've seen a few of his videos and while I think there are some basic safety issues overlooked, he seems to master the basics. I think most of us could figure out alternative ways to do this, given his basic explanation.