I love REI. We spent some time there on Sunday. I've become obsessed with the idea of hiking myself recently (real hiking, like in the mountains). I went to REI last week to look for a good hiking pack, and the ones I kept trying on were too long (I'm really short), so I asked one of the sales guys if they had any packs for short people. He said "Well, we do have children's backpacks." :noway:

yeah, that's the hiking i used to do. weeks at a time through actual mountain ranges :-) like the tetons. it's awesome! i highly recommend it! when i was younger i used to say that i had to be able to spend 2 weeks, in a tent, backpacking, with a guy before i would agree to marry him. if i could make it two weeks and not want to kill him and still want to be intimate i would know he was the guy for me, LOL!!! i should have listened to my younger self when i was proposed to by my ex......... spent a week on a cruise ship with him instead. :-/ not the same thing AT ALL!!

as for short people and backpacks. i am short 5'3" i have an internal frame. REI outlet . com is a great place to find deals!!! and you don't need a child's pack. i have always been short, and i've always had an adult sized pack. i used to use an external frame, but prefer the internal frame ones. i can check what the model of mine is called..... i don't know that it's still being sold though. it's a couple years old.

REI has an awesome return policy too. you basically can use it for awhile and then change your mind and return it!!!! i never knew that, but WHOA!!!

i was back home ( first time in almost 3 yrs) it was awesome!! friday night i was w two friends and we were doing some serious reminiscing. it might not sound like fun, but we had an awesome time! saturday was my day to head back to VA. so, i spent saturday driving, 12 hours :-)

sunday i did met up with a fellow MFPer and went for a hike on part of the AT. my plan is to start hiking for realz again soon. while in chicago i picked up a pair of new hiking boots at the REI store i literally used to live in, LOL!!! so, sunday was a great start to getting back into hiking. now, to find the time to do it without the kids :-)

--- missing-- I'm sorry to hear about your mom too. :-(

I love REI. We spent some time there on Sunday. I've become obsessed with the idea of hiking myself recently (real hiking, like in the mountains). I went to REI last week to look for a good hiking pack, and the ones I kept trying on were too long (I'm really short), so I asked one of the sales guys if they had any packs for short people. He said "Well, we do have children's backpacks." :noway:

lol @ mountains. You should have said "Outside of Texas"

REI has an awesome return policy too. you basically can use it for awhile and then change your mind and return it!!!! i never knew that, but WHOA!!!

Which people take advantage of. If you use it more than once, you shouldn't return it.

oh i completely agree! however, when i was there, i shopped the "garage sale" section and i did end up getting a pair of north face kids winter boots that were fine other than being worn. for 14.00 i have a pair of really nice boots that two of my girls can wear for the next two years. i would have spent more on a pair of target winter boots, so i figured it's somehow a win win for REI to have that policy. i mean, they made 14.00 off me for buying a used pair of boots!! LOL

I had lost the transmitter on my HRM and went to REI because I had a 20% coupon and the guy had an extra strap and transmitter that someone returned because there was something wrong with the watch. They gave it to me for free. LOVE THEM!

The bad my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic and liver cancer and has her first chemo treatment today. She is going to the Mayo Clinic for her treatments which is the best in the world but no matter the treatment it is only trying to contain it as it will never go away.

So sorry to hear about your mom! {{{{hugs}}}}