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Data Geek Special

ByMichael Goatbells

Getting things set up for 2026, but for those data lovers a look back at just hiking data first.

Carbon Karma Bank

For every 1 hour driving to hike, 3 hours of hiking is “net zero” carbon karma; I’m balancing the environmental cost with sufficient time in the woods. I started tracking in 2024, but too loosely; that was corrected in 2025 and tracked diligently.

For 2024, 129 hours were banked, for 2025 200 hours banked. Monthly carbon karma banked – hiked more than 3 hours for each 1 hour driving.

Miles Hiked

Sadly, I only tracked miles until 2024 and then started tracking other data. For the 5 years, 5,863 miles hiked.

In 2025, the hikes accumulated 188,463 feet of elevation gain, and 441 actual hours of hiking January thru December 2025.

Those miles are mostly divided between 3 types of hikes: Backpacking, Day Hikes and Urban Hikes. Urban Hikes are those hikes around town >10 miles with a pack and gear. My backpacking miles declined recently. I found day hikes from campgrounds (base camps) provided more flexibility to experience the woods rather than focusing on logistics for thru backpacking trips on PCT.

Shoes and Packs

My most important gear for the miles I do at my age – Shoes. The list of shoes and their miles were tracked from 2022. I have changed brands, styles and practices several times to keep my feet and knees healthy.

Here is the full list. The shoes with * are currently worn. The others all retired. The Altra WP Boots 1 will be retired soon.

My current ‘default’ shoes: Wet, tough conditions = Altra WP Boots; typical cascade hikes = Altra TIMP-2; summer hikes around Mt Jefferson = Altra WP low 2 (the volcanic and B&B Complex fire ash seeps thru mesh uppers – dangerous)

Packs are selected to match both the hike itself and weather conditions. Through 2025 the pack miles looked like this for the packs currently used.

  • Yar.gear 38 Mountain Drifter – 2,073 miles (now retired for ‘in town’)
  • Gossamer Gear Fast Kumo 36 – 991 miles (default wilderness pack)
  • Gossamer Gear Mariposa – 964 miles (default backpack)
  • Gossamer Grit – 99 miles (default day hike pack non-wilderness – new this year)
  • REI Flash 18 – 20 miles (default urban hike pack for limited gear)