My First Lowa Boots

It has come time to say goodbye to my first pair of Lowa boots. I knew sooner or later this day would come, but looking back at all the good times I had in these boots it makes for a difficult goodbye.

It was early spring of 2005 and I was getting ready to head over to Europe for two months of backpacking with my best friend. Knowing I would need a pair of boots that would hold up and look good enough not get me kicked out of a nice restaurant I began my search.

Surprisingly it took awhile to find all of the above along with fitting my feet.

Finally I stumbled across some Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid boots. Not only did they meet my criteria, but they were also not made in some Chinese sweatshop.

After four months backpacking around Europe on three separate trips (‘05,‘06,'07), many hikes in my home state (Utah) and relegating these boots to my mountain biking mud boots. I must finally let them go. I went through three sets of laces and two sets of insoles before the boots even started to falter.

I saw many amazing places in these boots and stood in the footsteps of brave soldiers and tyrants. I walked on the sands of Omaha Beach on the sixty first anniversary of D-Day. Stood where Hitler once stood in Nuremberg and at the Eagles Nest. Walked the streets where once a musical genius by the name of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart strolled. Hiked high up in the Alps of Switzerland and Bavaria. Stood in the ruins of castles, walked the shores of Loch Ness, took in some culture (König der Löwen: Hamburg, The Phantom of the Opera:London, Wicked: London), strolled through palaces and red-light districts, fell in love (not in the red-light district), worked on a film set and hiked numerous miles all over Europe in my first pair of Lowa boots. 

 

My Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid Boots

I purchased a new pair of Lowa Renegade GTX boots for my trip back over to Europe in 2008. Those boots got me through three trips over to Europe (‘08,’09,’11) and many more hikes around Utah. I also worked on several movies while wearing these boots, biggest one was The Lone Ranger. Seven years later these boots are now my mudders. 

Working in Moab on The Lone Ranger 2012

Low and behold my original boots are still found in my garage. It was just too hard to say goodbye to them. Finally some of the seams started to blow out on the boots. Nothing a little boot glue won't fix!

Ten years after buying my first pair of Lowa boots I picked up a new pair of Renegade GTX Mid boots for yet another trip back over to Europe. This go round there were several color options to pick from, I went for all black. 

 

After Hiking in the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Bernese Oberland 2015

My First Amtrak Ride: December 2011

I have been on hundreds of trains over in Europe, but the only train I had ever ridden here in the States besides the light rail systems is the Heber Creeper in Heber, UT. So when my buddy Dave suggested a quick DEN-SLC Amtrak ride I jumped all over it!

        

Leaving behind Salt Lake City and the Inversion as I head East to Denver on Delta

After a very quick flight on Delta I met up with Dave at DEN. We take a bus into the city; a Denver Broncos game just ended and the traffic was  a nightmare.

The Next day we jumped on the California Zephyr heading westbound at 08:05. We have coach tickets so once on the train we pick out two seats. Then it was off to the Sightseer Lounge car to enjoy the views as the train heads up the Rockies towards the Moffat Tunnel.

Sightseer Lounge Car

I found that the best side of the train to sit on is the right side on the way up then once into Fraser Canyon the left side is the ideal side to sit on.

The views along this ride are phenomenal! How this train is not jammed packed with people is beyond me.

I treat Dave to lunch in the Dinner car and once again was surprised by Amtrak. The food was quite good and the prices were reasonable. The seating in the Dinner is community seating, which is a great way to meet fellow travelers.

Dinner Car Table View

 Back in the Sightseer Lounge car we settle in taking in the views and talk travel. We brainstorm some ideas for future trips over to Europe. With no rush in getting to our destination the journey becomes quite enjoyable. Plenty time to write, read, talk, nap and just watch the countryside go by. 

Interstate 70

This being December the sun starts to set once we are in Utah. By the time we are heading up towards Price, UT we are in the dark. From time to time out of the darkness emerges the lights city.

The train makes several stops along the route, some are long enough to jump off the train and stretch one's legs. Unless one is a smoker, I would recommend going upwind from all the smokers that use these stops to get in a quick smoke. Take the time at the stops to walk the train and snap some pictures of it.

  

                                                             California Zephyr Westbound

Back in Salt Lake City fifteen hours after leaving Denver I say goodbye to Dave and head home. What a great first ride on Amtrak! I know this will be the first of many travels on Amtrak. 
I recommend printing out this AMTRAK Route Guide to refer to along this ride.