@hikermor wrote: Evidently the M word has connotations of AGE.  Reminds me of when I was in my 50s and I went into a McDonalds to get a cup of coffee. The server asked me if I wanted a "Senior's Coffee." I wasn't sure if I should take offense or take the discount. (I went with the latter.) ... View more

@Chrisfox " The nice gentleman who checked out my items kept referring to me as ma’am. Over and over he used this term, which I happen to find offensive. " The terms "sir" and "ma'am" are honorifics, i.e. they're signs of respect. Referring to the person as a "nice gentleman" suggests that Chrisfox acknowledges that he used the term in that way.  So if Chrisfox finds the term "offensive" and wants REI to discourage its use, then it's incumbent on her to explain why she feels it's offensive and how she would prefer to be called by REI associates in the future. BTW: 1. This is a longstanding issue that has no easy or pat solution. See for example this piece on NPR from a decade ago: Please Don't Call Me 'Ma'am' (https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129727777) [I can't seem to get URL linking to work without getting error messages] 2. The etymology of the contraction "ma'am" is from the French, "Ma dame" or "My lady" which is clearly a sign of respect. ... View more

Some more info on Baffin: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/featured-reports/article-bootmaker-bets-on-new-traction-technology-to-hike-sales/ And it’s rare for companies to do moulding in Canada anymore, as Baffin does, Mr. Sully says, noting most footwear marked “made in Canada” includes significant work done overseas. Baffin says it moulds and finishes its “Canadian-made” products in Hamilton’s east-end, while cutting and sewing for those boots occurs offshore, including factories in Italy, Turkey, China, Myanmar and Cambodia. Marketing manager Jessica Liut says the amount of its product made in Canada versus offshore changes each season based on factors such as style, collection and materials. “This makes it very difficult to quantify, but we maintain as much of our production as possible from our Hamilton [headquarters],” she says. ... View more

@Noonyiez @REI-JenK  Re MEC, it originated as a co-op in the early 1970s after college students in Vancouver who had been going down to REI in Seattle to get outdoors gear got the idea of starting a similar co-op in Canada. While MEC recently ceased being a co-op, membership is still required. But now it's free: Membership | MEC. ... View more

@BlacqueJacque  Welcome aboard! >  I am based out of southern Ontario Where? Waterloo region here. ... View more

@Evelyne78 and @REI-CarterC Note that some brands have restrictions on where REI can ship their products. For example, "Arc'teryx products can only be shipped to U.S. addresses."  You can however order and pay with a Canadian address and Canadian credit card, then have the product shipped to a friend in the US or to an REI store for pickup. I've been doing that for years. Of course that's impractical until the border reopens.    ... View more

Waterproof boots, gaiters and traction devices as above can be essential. If you venture further west into, say Tioga or Potter counties, you might even need snowshoes 😉 ... View more

To add to the excellent advice you've gotten already, keep in mind that weather in the Highlands can be unpredictable year-round. When I was last there, in June 2019, it rained all week with snow, sleet and wind near the mountain peaks. OTOH the last time I was there in September (some years ago) it was warm and sunny the whole time. So in addition to lots of layers as mentioned above, bring waterproof rain pants, gloves, a fleece cap, etc. You never know.  ... View more

>  Has anyone our age/ability level done this? Everyone is different. I'm older than you are. I routinely hike at altitudes of 10,000 feet without any symptoms. On the other hand some years ago, after two weeks in Colorado climbing 14teeners almost every day, the only time I experienced symptoms was the last day. So obviously this depends on the individual and even how they feel on a particular day. In addition to what others have already said, keep in mind that modern airliners with pressurized cabins cruise at what is effectively 7,000 to 8,000 feet. So you'll be exposed to comparable altitude for several hours on your flight(s) to Africa.  Whether you experience altitude sickness symptoms on your trek may also depend on the amount of physical exertion you do to get to the gorillas. The risk will be higher if you have to hike some distance and especially if the trail climbs upwards. I would discuss your concerns with your family doctor. They will be able to take your medical history into consideration. They may also prescribe medications, assuming they think any are necessary. ... View more

Sunrise.  I love sitting on a mountain top watching the snow-covered peaks start to glisten like Christmas lights in the semi-darkness as the sun begins its daily rise.  ... View more

Another way to do this would be to make each dimension a "mouseover" field. When you hover your mouse pointer over the field the other unit(s) would display. So for instance a field that shows a dimension of 1" would display 2.54cm when hovered over. (This is similar to what happens when you hover the mouse pointer over a link; the target URL appears.) Programming this to work universally on the REI site would take some effort I imagine but it would address the issue automatically and everywhere. ... View more