2nd Annual Hi-Tec 12 Days of Giveaways - Day 9

It's Day 9 of the “12 Days of Giveaways” contest!

In the weeks building up to Christmas, Santa, his elves and even his reindeer pitch in to help get all the toys made, wrapped and on their way. With the North Pole a buzz, Santa realized he didn’t pick up any new boots for his trip around the world this year. So off Mrs. Claus went to pick up any pair she could find at nearly midnight.

Everything was done and the sleigh was packed up. Toasts and cheers all around to a job well done and well wishes to Santa on his journey this year. As Santa sets off into the silence of the night away from the hustle and bustle of his toy factory he notices a slight, squeak, squeak. After landing his sleight to double check the reigns, he finds everything is locked up tight and once again hears squeak, squeak and then some pain in his feet! “Ugh oh”, he thinks, “How am I to sneak with a squeak and a blister at my feet.”

Jolly ‘ole Saint Nick continues on to his first stop. He slides down the chimney, puts the gifts under the tree and heads to the table for some gingerbread cookies and milk when suddenly, squeak, squeak and ouch! So on went the entire night with a squeak, squeak, ouch at every stop. At one stop in Portland, Oregon he nearly got caught with a narrow escape that left him out of breathe and with really bad blister forming on his sore feet.

Upon his return to the North Pole, he soaked his aching feet and vowed to Mrs. Claus, “Never again will I get caught without my Hi-Tec boots again.”

Tell us a short story about one of your hiking or camping trip snafoo’s and you are entered to win a pair of Men’s Capri 200 WP boots.

For an added entry post this message on Twitter;

This is why Santa wears @Hi-TecUSA boots. http://bit.ly/tUVNRM #giveaway #boots #hiking, #backpacking

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Day 9 - WINNER: Sheila W.

jen

We were on our way to the campsight when the tarp blew off the truck. It was pouring rain and everything was getting soaked. We pulled into an underpass and started to get the tarp back on but didn't have enough bungees. I tool the ropes off of the river floats and used them to tie down the tarp. I didn't know my friend had used the ropes as tie-downs for other stuff because I was in a frenzy trying to get the tarp on. We only lost one float and a pillow. It was a good trip.

December 14, 2011 04:14 pm

Janice

tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/cappytweet/status/146816352756310016

December 14, 2011 04:58 am

Janice

I was pretty young at the time so I didn't know where we were going (or I simply didn't pay attention. Heh). Wore my usual sandals. The road was blocked so we couldn't continue. I walked around in the snow in my sandals and my toes were turning blue. My family will not let me forget that. Lol!

December 14, 2011 04:58 am

Lanieekat

I have a camping story. One yr we were camping and my hubbys Bday was midway thru the trip, so I thought I would make a Bday cake in the trailer stove. I snuck everything necessary to make a cake in the trailer w/o the hubby noticing, so I thought all w/b well. The night of his Bday everyone(our family and our friends) sat around the campfire while I made cake inside the trailer. I'm not used to cooking in such a diff store and it heats really fast. Needless to say the edges were beyond burned(scorched was more like it) but the rest of the cake was fine, so I had to scrape blackened edges all around the cake(thats really messy). I made his fav powdered sugar frosting, so that was a plus. The cake actually tasted pretty good for the 10 of us that were there, especially after swimming at the beach all day. We fondly called it "trailer cake" and now laugh about the year I made "trailer cake" every time his birthday rolls around.

December 14, 2011 04:55 am

Amelia

A friend of mine and I did a 3 day backpacking trip in Alaska a few summers ago. We weren't expecting 90 degree temps and sun so brought no sunscreen. My fair-skinned friend ended up crying the last 6 miles out because the back of her knees were burnt so bad. Learned our lesson that time!

December 14, 2011 03:19 am

Sharon

My exuberant-about-camping new husband convinced me to accompany me on a week long camping/hiking trip, packing everything in. The night I exited the tent to pee in the wee hours of the morning only to find myself nose-to-nose with a black bear on the side of the tent was the last night for me.

December 14, 2011 01:44 am

Trin R.

My family was out on our usual fishing trip on the banks of the Myakka River in Florida. My younger brother went walk about and made a hidden hive of hornets very upset. He dove into the river only hesitating a second about the gators. He was fast but not fast enough, but recovered nicely.

December 14, 2011 12:30 am

Eugenie

Three of us took a hike after work on a trail that we had been on many times before. We didn't realize that the sun would set before we were off the trail. We didn't have a flashlight. We hoped that the moon would provide some light but the heavily wooded trail didn't allow any light to reach the ground. I couldn't believe that it was so dark. We finally did manage to find our way back, but I always carry a flashlight with me now when I go hiking.

December 13, 2011 10:26 pm

Paulo

On a hiking trip several years ago I had no hiking shoes/boots so I took some regular running shoes. Within half an hour they were already soaking wet. I put them near the fire and the next morning woke up to see that a coal had landed in them and burned a hole right through by the toe. I still have them and they are a constant reminder of the importance of good, waterproof footwear!

December 13, 2011 06:55 pm

Tim Bruce

I like to only bring the bare essentials when backpacking. On one particular hike I only brought one pair of socks, and of course they got wet. Not to be too discouraged, I hung them close to the fire that night to dry them out. We spent the evening hours cooking dinner, pumping and refilling our hydration packs, and hanging our food. As I was wearing my base camp flip flops I didn't even think to check on my socks, until I found them in a charred pathetic heap in the coals. The wind had blown them from where they were hung directly into the fire - and none of us had noticed! I had to hike out several miles the next day without any socks to cushion the blow from my boots. I don't think I wore shoes of any kind for at least a week after that trip and now I always bring at least 2 pairs of socks on each trip!

December 13, 2011 06:37 pm