Originally posted article is really interesting, and then I see the article about women settling Orkney and the persistence of ancient DNA, and that leads to the canoe burial in Patagonia.

I’m never going to get to my chores at this rate!

Glad I got half of that stuff done yesterday. Today I have to buy a pair of hiking boots and that's all.

And what do you like for boots?

Something that is going to cover all the ground I plan on covering without getting trashed over the next six to eight months but I expect whatever I get to last me over a few summers, two at least. And I'm not easy on them. I have totally destroyed, and it pissed me off too, the best pair of Merrell hikers I've had in a long time in one summer.

So I have high demands from my footwear, I live in the Rockies so everywhere requires hiking boots because I don't live in a city. The back country is in my line of sight from my front porch just a few miles off. I go with the better brands. I like Merrell because I have high arches and a short foot, fits my feet better but Scarpa (wish I could afford those again), Asolo have served me well in the past. I have a pair of winter Asolo hikers that I have worn for 12 winters and have to give them up this year. I have orthopedic inserts now so I can broaden my options. My biggest issue of late is the closing around the ankle, the top is too thick. A good pair will snug your leg just above the ankle and be thin from lining to outer material. I had a pair of Merrell boots that I got a couple years ago and they may last another few years for me but I donated the damned things so I would have to go get another pair. When I spend over $100 on a pair of hiking boots, they better be what I want.

Where do I go? Everywhere around here. I live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem so I have options. But those are decreasing with the influx of new arrivals who build trophy homes in the mountains, on the river banks and way out in the woods. But it's springtime and I have to go outdoors. I have a dedicated hiking buddy, you don't go out alone around here, bears, and so we are getting ready to go explore place where we used to hike along the river to see what's accessible after the flood last year. We rafted some of it shortly after the flood but a lot of work has been done in some places.

I could go on but I have a basic need for good boots. I may have to go over the pass to a city for better selection but that's the plan for today. It will take a good part of the day but it's raining so can't do much outside.

Where do you go?

I’m in Maine, and getting on in years, so my hiking, never in your league, is not very rigorous. Baxter Park has some fabulous trails, easy to access, including those for Mt. Katahdin. I doubt I’ll climb that again, but will do lesser heights. The area of Maine’s western mountains where I spend most of my free time was once hyperbolically called The Yellowstone of the East; it’s beautiful, and rugged enough, but very much miniature compared to what you’ve got.

My current boots are Keens, although I had Merrells and Sorels I’ve liked really well. Keens shoes are, I recently discovered to great relief, the most comfortable for my ancient toes. For toughness and winter warmth I like Sorels. I still use the Sorel winter boots that I’ve had for 21 years, cracked and leaky as they are, for snowshoeing in.

Used to be called the Yellowstone of the east. There are many tales of people going there and not coming back. I spent much of my childhood on the coast of northern Casco Bay and the south shore of West Barnstable in Massachusetts. Then I did most of my running around in sneakers out on the rocks along the shore!

My expedition range is greatly reduced as well, late 60s, short hikes of five to six miles, less with a pack. Depends on the destination, most of the terrain of choice is not all that rugged for out here. The bears are my biggest concern, really. I spent some time, back before retiring, as an official wildlife safety tech and me getting beat up by a bear would be a big deal so I make sure I take all the precautions. Other than that, we look at it more with regard to how much time was spent hiking rather than how far. And usually there is an objective reward involved like a pack full of mushrooms, cool rocks or a picture.

I think I’m going to rush through these chores and get those boots on and get out to play.

My late partner was a wildlife biologist. He had some good bear wrestling stories, too !

Little to wrestle them thangs! I do carry bear spray, though, it's a big whack on the nose for anyone who has a nose.

Wildlife work is the best line of work I've ever had, no matter what the job was.

that I have been noticing is the similarity in the shapes and representations of these figures with those found around North America, rock etchings. There are some in the SW desert areas, even up here in Montana, that look very much like those found around the Mediterranean. They are doing different things in them but the figures are similar.