Happy Wednesday friends!
The hubs and I had such a nice weekend last week. We even got to go for our first hike of the summer! We went up to one of our favorite places along the parkway, Craggy Gardens and Craggy Pinnacle.
The Rhododendrons were just starting to bloom and it was absolutely amazing! They peak in mid June and should be in bloom for a few weeks, so I highly recommend getting up there if you are local. I’m planning a full post on our hike next week, including where to go, but here is a sneak peak of some of the pictures.
MY LATEST VIDEOS
If you want a little more information on Craggy Pinnacle, but can’t wait until next week, check out this post.
Other than the obviously crazy pretty scenery, the highlight was trying out my new hiking shoes! To be entirely honest with you, I’ve always just hiked in my old running shoes. I’ve felt for awhile though that I could really use the extra stability and traction that real hiking shoes provide. The rocks you have to walk over to get to these pretty places are always tricky to maneuver.
Luckily my new Ahnu Sugarpine Air Mesh hiker worked to perfection!
They are an athletic-inspired shoe, so they feel very comfortable and similar to running shoes. However, they are better than my running shoes for hiking because they are custom designed for trails. They have a waterproof upper, Vibram slip resistant lugs that provide grip and traction on any surface AND Numentum Hike technology to keep my foot from rolling on the rocks. They are also a lighter mesh shoe, perfect for this time of year.
To see the full list of awesome reasons why this shoe rocks for hiking, click HERE.
I felt more confident than ever with my footing and couldn’t be happier with my Ahnu Sugarpine Air Mesh hiking shoes!
So now for the fun part!!!
One lucky reader will win a pair of the Ahnu Sugarpine Air Mesh hiking shoes!
To enter, follow the prompts below! The contest starts today and will run until June 24th. I will announce the winner on Running in a Skirt on Friday June 26th. The contest is open to residents of the US only, simply for shipping purposes.
Good Luck!
Come back tomorrow because I’m celebrating National Running Day in style! I’m sharing the Ultimate Running Roundup. Perfect for everyone from newbie’s to marathoners. I hope to see you then.
*Ahnu footwear sponsored this post and is handling the giveaway. As always, all opinions are my own and I only feature products I believe in on Running in a Skirt, regardless of how I got them!*
Your turn!
Go to this website and tell me which color you would pick if you won 🙂 Come back (please :-)) and let me know in the comments.
[…] a little blog business today. Maggie Anders won the hiking shoe giveaway! Congratulations! You will be receiving an e-mail shortly. Thanks for everyone who […]
Definitely the dahlia / purple!
Would love to win this for my daughter. She is trying to get out of an abusive relationship and I think this would help her self esteem.
I love all the colors! Loved this post!
I love the Viridian green and the astral aura!
I couldn’t walk much less hike for a lot of years. After have double knee replacements done, I am getting back to doing outdoor things. Needless to say, I don’t have a pair of good shoes. I would pick the Virdian Green or Dahlia. Either works for me.
I would love to get Dahlia!
love the green 7,5. Thanks!
I think my wife would like the purple (DAHLIA).
the MONTARA BOOT is really cute.
I would choose Dark Grey
Dark citron
I would love the Dark Citron!
I would pick the Dark Blue color. Looks like a really comfortable shoe and a great excuse to go hiking to break them in!
I love the dark grey!
I would pick Astral Aura
always on the lookout for great hiking shoes! Thanks for reviewing these.
…and I’d choose Dahlia if I won.
I like the Dark blue ones
I like the blue ones called Astral Aura
I’d choose the DAHLIA color
I love the teal but would get the citron. I like being able to see my feet.
Love the dark citron!
It’s a toss up between the vibrant dark citron and the more subtle dark grey.
Nice looking place to hike! Great looking shoes!! I’m a fan of the Dark Blue and the Viridian Green.
I would choose the dark blue. They look like amazing shoes. I’m glad you posted this because I was just starting to look for hiking shoes.
Blue is my favorite color, so I’d go with the Vallarta Blue! I haven’t gone hiking in ages, and I really miss it! *-*
A new pair of hiking boots would be AWESOME! The view on your hike was beautiful!
the dahlia is really pretty
I love their shoes. I have a pair and I’ve had them for years. I would pick the VIRIDIAN GREEN color.
We’d love to do more hiking, but I hate wearing my running shoes for anything other than running. And let’s face it. I primarily own running shoes…
I would pick dark grey if I won.
Dark blue. Super cute and would be just in time for hiking in July!
I think I would pick the Dark Blue — can’t really decide!
I love the gray! And the Parkway is one of my favorite places in the world. I love the mountains and miss them every day!
I love the VIRIDIAN GREEN.
Those are super cute and I need a lower pair of hiking shoes. My boots get heavy and aren’t super necessary for short hikes.
Vallarta Blue!
I love the color green, so I think I’d pick Viridian Green as my hiking shoe color!
Love them!
Great Giveaway – Dark Blue is my choice
This would be great to win my shoes no longer have any tread. and I was about to go out to buy a new pair. I love the Villarreal Blue.
I like the villari blue it is supposed to be cheerful without being too fflashy. this would be perfect if i won since my current hiking shoes need to be retired and have no tread left. and I have places to go and people to see good pair of hiking boots would make safer.
The Astral Aura are nice.
I Would Choose The VIRIDIAN GREEN
Those shoes look and sound awesome!! Hiking in running shoes can be rough….especially if there are some wet areas!
I like the Dark Blue
I like the Viridian Green! Looks like the forest colors. 🙂 and I REALLY enjoy trails. I’m like you hiking in old running shoes but I’ve twisted my ankles too many times… I’ve been wanting a pair of either trail running specific shoes or hiking but can only afford one new pair of shoes a year lol so I opt for my marathon road running shoes. 🙂 but I LOOOOOOVE trails too..
I would really like to choose the Dahlia color!
I love your blog! I love to hike with my dog Scout – he is a shiba inu :)! Thank you for sharing! great post! I love the Astral Aura color
I’d want the ASTRAL AURA color.
I think I’d choose the Dahlia color.
I love the dahlia color! My mom once accidentally stepped on and killed a snake with her hiking boots. They were tan, so I’m hoping that a brighter color will keep the snakes away from the hiking trail and me!
Special shooes just for hiking! I love the dark blue.
VIRIDIAN GREEN my favorite color!
Looked like a fun and beautiful hiking trail. Loved doing lots of hiking in the national and state parks when we were RVing. Enjoyed seeing the pictures as well.
With so many pretty colors it was hard to choose just one. But I’d probably choose VIRIDIAN GREEN.
Craggy Gardens is my favorite place on the parkway but I haven’t hiked it-yet! I love astral aura and the dark blue.
Ahnu Aura are so beautiful. I would love to go hiking in them. Thanks for the opportunity.
This is an awesome give away! Dark gray is so pretty!
Going with the Dahlia! In May I started my “take a hike Tuesday” with my mother-in-law where we pick a different location to hike. Always looking for ways to spend time outdoors. Would love these and would chip in and get her some, too! Love your blog 🙂 …..here’s to the great outdoors of WNC!
I would choose the dasrk blue
I like the dasrk blue
I like the teal color
Ohhhhhhhhhh, great post, I love giveaways! I always like black ones! – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
These are wondreful! I like Dark Citron!
I like the dark blue.
Would love the dark gray.
ASTRAL AURA or dark citron… super cute- love them!
I would love to have a pair of hiking shoes.
Dark gray as well
My friend is actually wanting to go hiking in Greenville soon. I’ve never been before, so I welcome all the tips you have! haha
Love your shoes, and craggy gardens. Any color will do for me!!!!!!
It looks so pretty up there! We used to hike some when we lived in Arizona… not so much hiking in Louisiana. Looking forward to the outdoor stuff again once we’re in Reno!
I love your information on good places to go and see. Miss seeing you on the morning news too. Any color would do for me. I am not to choosey.
Love and would totally use these! I like the grey and the dahlia!
I would love to take this hike! Beautiful pictures. The Astral Aura is my favorite.
This looks like a beautiful hike. Now that my foot is healing from my surgery I am excited to hike again, but sadly I can’t do anything too strenuous yet. I posted about my hike to Looking Glass Rock recently. I think the Astral Aura shoe color is my favorite!
These are awesome! I love the dark gray ones like you have!! I could really use these on my weight loss journey!
I have literally NEVER seen a cute pair of hiking shoes before, but these are awesome! I’m hoping my husband and I can get somewhere to do some hiking this summer!
Love the Viridian green colour! I need to proper hiking shoes, I have my trail runners but would rather save those for running!
I like the ones you have on…I usually think hiking gear isn’t that ‘attractive’ but I like these a lot!!!
Dark blue definitely.
Super cute! I have trail shoes for when we go hiking in the Adirondacks but could use a new pair. It’s a toss up between the dahlia and the gray!
The Astral-Aura are awesome!
Looks like a beautiful place to hike! I don’t do it often enough-maybe if I had new hiking shoes I would 🙂
Nice hiking shoes. Nice outfit too.
Enjoyed the pics of the flowers.
Glad you enjoyed your hike.
Love the dark citron!
I love the rhododendron this time of year. I want to do this hike soon I also really like Ahnu shoes and like the navy blue ones. Thanks for this post.
The black ones would be awesome!
I am a big fan of Craggy. It so close to town and easy to get away and lose yourself in nature. I love your shoes, I would chose the navy shoes.
Thanks Julie for your adventures
Would love a low ankle hiking shoe- their astral aura and viridian green colors are great!