Greenville Business Magazine 2010 June issue : Page 46
››executive lifestyle recreation outdoor BY KRISTI KEENAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY COMMERCIAL IMAGING W ith the Greenville Hospital System Swamp Rabbit Tram Trail open for business and the city’s close proximity to the mountains, Greenville has become quite the haven for folks who enjoy a hike in the great outdoors. As a non-hiker myself,I was surprised to find that hiking is often more involved than just going for a walk – hikers are serious about the trek and have specific, and often costly, gear to enhance the trip. Even more surprising to me was the fact hikers have their own lingo. The website abc-of-hiking.com sheds light on many of the terms I never knew existed. For example, approach shoes are “lightweight hiking boots often used for lighter terrain conditions.” What? You mean I have to carry an extra pair of boots in my pack for other terrain conditions? Think you know how to tie your shoes? This site even details the best way to lace your boots and explains to the uninitiated that something called a “scree collar” is a padding in Trailblazing
>>executive lifestyle - Outdoor Recreation
Kristi Keenan
With the Greenville Hospital System Swamp Rabbit Tram Trail open for business and the city’s close proximity to the mountains, Greenville has become quite the haven for folks who enjoy a hike in the great outdoors. As a non-hiker myself, I was surprised to find that hiking is often more involved than just going for a walk – hikers are serious about the trek and have specific, and often costly, gear to enhance the trip.
Even more surprising to me was the fact hikers have their own lingo. The website abc-of-hiking.com sheds light on many of the terms I never knew existed. For example, approach shoes are “lightweight hiking boots often used for lighter terrain conditions.” What? You mean I have to carry an extra pair of boots in my pack for other terrain conditions? Think you know how to tie your shoes? This site even details the best way to lace your boots and explains to the uninitiated that something called a “scree collar” is a padding in your hiking boots that protects your Achilles’ tendon from chafing. Aside from abc-of-hiking.com’s impressive dictionary of hiking terms, travel directory and in-depth articles on hiking tips and trails, I have to admit I was most impressed that the site has an entire information section dedicated to blisters.
Intrigued by the evolution of hiking into a business, I took a trip to Sunrift Adventures in Travelers Rest to find out what popular items people are buying to make their hiking experience longer, more enjoyable and safer.
Matt Craft, Sunrift’s marketing manager, was my guide through the world of the latest and greatest products for which hikers yearn. One section of the Swamp Rabbit Trail runs right beside Sunrift’s building, a coincidence that Craft says has done great things for their business.
“Since the trail opened about six months ago, our foot traffic in the store has been phenomenal. People often stop in as they walk by just to see what new items we have. Our bike sales have greatly increased because of the trail,” he says. On a Saturday morning with good weather, Craft says the store has seen upwards of 50-100 people coming in from the trail. An average weekday brings in an extra 25 customers. A recent 5K Run brought over 3,500 to their doorstep.
So what does he see hikers buying most? Sunrift sells a ton of sandals and the new Vibram Fivefingers shoes that allow you to experience barefoot running are flying off the shelves. Perfect for “light trekking,” they make a big splash with people hiking along the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
While people trekking the 14-mile trail don’t need major hiking equipment, those who venture into the nearby mountains find certain kinds of gear to be essential. Greenville’s Aaron Giard says, for him, hiking poles are a must-have. “You can walk twice as far with poles,” he says. Sunrift’s most popular brand is a Black Diamond, the top of the line model the Alpine Carbon Cork trekking poles runs $139.99. “Black Diamond products are the Rolls Royce of gear,” says Craft.
Of course hydration is essential when you are expending energy and sweating the water out of your body. George Holcombe of Ard Wood Holcombe & Slate, an avid hiker, says he can’t live without a water bladder when he heads out for a hike. Most hikers also agree that a high quality water purifier is essential on trips where you may run into questionable water sources. The MSR Miox purifier which, “makes water microbiologically safe using salt and an electrical current and destroys viruses and bacteria in 15 minutes,” is a best-seller at Sunrift at $139.99.
Because a hiker’s pack is relied on to carry everything he or she needs to stay alive on a long hike, quality is paramount. The Osprey Aether 70 is one of the best selling men’s packs at Sunrift. It comes with a customized belt that is heated and molded to fit your body on site, ensuring the perfect fit. It features a pocket that holds a “3-liter and smaller hydration reservoir,” and a top pocket that converts to a small lumbar pack with a built-in hip belt. The Aether 70 retails for $259.99.
If your hike is likely to take you from daylight to dark, you need a watch that can be read in any light. Craft says, “the one everybody wants is the Luminox. It’s the official watch of the Navy SEALS, works up to 300 feet below sea level and is nearly bombproof.” Not that you really expect to come across bombs or need to dive into ultra deep water during your average hike, but even aside from those super cool properties it’s quite a watch and it comes in men’s and women’s sizes.
Looking to outfit yourself for an upcoming trek? In addition to Sunrift Adventures, Greenville is also home to Appalachian Outfitters, Mast General Store and SC Outfitters, all of which can help you stock up on the most appropriate gear for your outdoor adventure.
The Jones Gap Trail, according to trails.com, is, “a relatively easy day hike along the scenic Middle Saluda River from Jones Gap State Park to Caesar’s Head State Park. The Jones Gap Trail is full of delights, chief of which is the relative ease of the hike, surprising in a trail that ascends 1,600 feet over its 5-mile length.” You can find trail and topographical maps of this hike on that same website.
The Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve Trail is a “moderately difficult, out and back dirt trail that will take you up the south side of Squirrel Mountain and down the north side to the South Pacolet River,” according to sctrails.net.
The hike to Raven Cliff Falls, one of the state’s most scenic waterfalls, is moderately difficult and offers two options - 1.5 hours for the observation platform or 3 hours for the suspension bridge.
The Greenville Hospital System Swamp Rabbit Trail currently runs from Greenville Tech through Cleveland and Reedy River Parks through to Travelers Rest. Download a map of the trail at greenvillerec.com/parks/swamp-rabbit/map
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