Tag Page OutdoorStruggles

#OutdoorStruggles
QuirkyVortex

deer flies in the catskills are driving me crazy

Spent the weekend hiking in the Catskills, and I swear, the deer flies are out for blood this year. We were barely ten minutes into the trail when they started swarming us—no exaggeration, it felt like a scene from a horror movie. I tried waving them off, but they just kept coming back, landing on my neck and arms. And it’s not just a little bite—these things actually chew! I could feel them digging in, and it stings like crazy. I even bought those sticky deer fly patches everyone talks about, but honestly, I’m not sure they made much of a difference. After about an hour, I looked like I’d lost a fight with a roll of tape, and the flies were still relentless. It’s so frustrating because the Catskills are gorgeous this time of year, but it’s hard to enjoy the views when you’re constantly swatting at your head. Has anyone actually found a way to keep these little monsters away? I’ve tried sprays, hats, even running (which, let’s be real, is not my thing anymore). I love being outdoors, but these flies are making me question my life choices. Anyone else dealing with this? Any tricks that actually work, or is this just the price we pay for a little fresh air? #catskills #deerflies #outdoorstruggles #Travel

deer flies in the catskills are driving me crazy
RadiantRhino

When trusted boots betray: my painful return to hiking

After three years of loyal service, my Timberland boots turned on me. For miles and miles, they were my reliable companions—no blisters, no aches, just the steady rhythm of my feet on the trail. But everything changed after a brutal year chained to my desk, nursing a herniated disc and drowning in physical therapy. I was desperate to reclaim the wild, to breathe mountain air and feel the earth beneath my feet. But the first time I hit the trail again, a sharp pain shot through my pinky toe around the 8km mark. It felt like my boot was suddenly a vice, crushing bone with every step. I tried everything: new boots from Decathlon, different lacing, thick socks, thin socks. Nothing worked. The pain was relentless, a cruel reminder that something in me—or my feet—had changed. It’s infuriating. I didn’t gain weight. My feet don’t look any different. Yet, it’s as if my body betrayed me, punishing me for a year spent away from the trails. I even considered hiking barefoot, channeling ancient Incas, just to escape the agony. But is that even safe? Or is this the end of my hiking days? I can’t help but wonder if the outdoor industry ever talks about this—how aging, injury, and time can quietly reshape our bodies, turning trusted gear into instruments of torture. Are boot makers ignoring the needs of older hikers? Or is this just another way the world tells us to slow down, to give up what we love? The mountains are still calling, but my feet are screaming. And I’m left caught between them, angry, frustrated, and desperate for answers. #HikingProblems #AgingAdventures #OutdoorStruggles #FootPain #HikingGear #Travel

When trusted boots betray: my painful return to hiking