It started with a small tear—just a scuff on the toe of my hiking boot. Nothing to worry about. But by the time I hit mile 12 of my trek through Glacier National Park, the signs of wear were impossible to ignore. The seams were fraying, the sole was peeling, and every step felt less like hiking and more like a test of survival.
Hiking boots are supposed to be tough, but so are we. And yet, just like us, they have breaking points. The elements take their toll—mud, rain, rocks, relentless miles. I thought about all the places these boots had carried me: mountain summits, desert trails, river crossings. Every scrape and worn-down tread told a story of a challenge faced and conquered.
By the time I reached camp, my boots were barely holding together. But I had made it. That’s the thing about hiking—you push through, even when things start falling apart.
Have you ever had gear fail on you mid-hike? What did you do?