Woman hiking all Colorado 14k summits in sandals with 3 inch heels

[p1ng74]

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/erin-ton-colorado-fourteeners-high-heels

I’m particularly impressed she is in sandals.     Mink has created custom heels for her and I guess they hold up to the job!

[Shyheels]

I remember seeing this story a while back. It’s certainly an impressive feat - as indeed climbing all the 14,000 foot peaks would be in any sort of footwear. But I don’t see what is being accomplished here in any broader sense. I don’t see how it’s altering or challenging stereotypes or doing much of anything besides getting her some odd-spot publicity. I like wearing heels, but I just don’t see the desirability of climbing mountains in them.

it would be like me deciding to perform the Swan Lake Ballet in my Scarpa Mountaineering boots. It might be possible, but what would be the point?

[Cali]

I smell an advertising campaign.

Glad to see p1ng74 posting again.

[at9]

I've heard stories of climbing Helvellyn (just over 3000 feet) in stilettos for a dare. Coming down again in heels sounds truly daft. At least this woman in Colorado changed into trail shoes for the descent.

[pebblesf]

1 hour ago, Cali said:

I smell an advertising campaign.

Glad to see p1ng74 posting again.

For sure!  Don

[mlroseplant]

Hasn't had any problems with the ankles, but the blisters sure do suck. Yup, been there, done that. I carry bandaids with me at nearly all times, and sometimes even then, it doesn't work. 2024 was the Year of the Band-Aid, but this year, not so much, despite the fact that my walking mileage is nearly 50% more than last year. I have some theories about why, but no concrete evidence to back it up.

The article did not really go into specifics about the negative feedback she got from "mostly male" commenters, but I can imagine. Some guys just love to tell a woman what to do. It's part of some people's culture. "Oh, that's really stupid, hon, you're going to get hurt." You know what else will get you hurt? Playing American football. This is the same conversation I had with my "sports medicine" chiropractor when he told me that wearing heels was super bad for my body in general. Not as bad as playing football. I would advise your patients to quit that immediately. End of conversation. It's never come up again.

[Shyheels]

That’s an excellent point! A lot of sports are - or can be - bad for you. And yes, heels have risks like any sport or form of exercise, but they have benefits too: filter calves, better balance, and easing of back spasms (I’ve found) if you suffer from them. One can’t look just on the debit side for heels, and just on the credit side for sports and exercise 

[mlroseplant]

Back to the question of what does it really accomplish. I personally get it, but I also can see your point of view. I mean, I'm kind of guilty of the same thing on a much smaller level. Why do I keep track of how many miles I walk in heels? What does THAT really accomplish? My answer to that is that it's just fun for me, and if nobody else gets it, that's fine. Nobody except for you guys even knows about my record keeping, so I definitely don't do it for the fame! On the other hand, I wouldn't want to work my job in heels, even though it would be a bit of an accomplishment. I'm not sure what the qualitative difference is, but there is one to me personally.

[higherheels]

Quite interesting and impressive, but also probably one of the worst acticities to wear heels.

Hiking on uneven terrain requires a very good support and tight fit of the shoes, which certainly any sandals won't offer.

I do many things in heels but I won't try that, at least not in sandals 😉