BÄR Hiking Shoes on a Tour of the Americas – Carmen’s Journey from a Torn ACL to Tierra del Fuego
From Canada through Chile to Tierra del Fuego, the ‘End of the World,’ in the BERGKOMFORT HIKING SHOE and the TRAIL ADDICT WR
After many hikes in Baden-Württemberg, the Alps, and other places in Europe, the challenges had run out for the athletically ambitious and travel-loving Carmen Eberhard. In addition, the paths, trails, and scenic points in North and South America were especially enticing to every ‘outdoor enthusiast,’ particularly in Canada, the USA, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. During the last year before Carmen’s departure from Germany, the travel preparations intensified. Alongside exploring the routes and destinations, careful consideration had to be given to the equipment, clothing, and, above all, the choice of shoes.
The BERGKOMFORT HIKING SHOE is the perfect companion on a great journey!
But there was a serious setback during the winter before last. The ambitious travel plans were suddenly called into question in February 2023! A skiing accident caused a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in Carmen’s left knee! Carmen’s injury was successfully operated on at the end of March 2023, and the knee joint was stabilized again with ACL reconstruction using a semitendinosus tendon. A lengthy rehabilitation then followed. Would it be possible to keep the departure date at the beginning of 2024?
Carmen trained hard. Through intensive rehabilitation, she slowly increased the strain on her knee. After around four months, she was able to go hiking again and manage short jogging routes. After several more weeks, the joint and leg could withstand full weight-bearing. Would the knee hold up to the enormous challenge of trekking hundreds, if not thousands, of kilometers across the Americas?
Carmen had also worked as a testimonial for fair2feet, the Institute for the Quality and Certification of Shoes. She therefore contacted the institute and sought medical advice on healthy and suitable footwear. After intensive testing and comparisons, she ultimately chose the certified and award-winning BERGKOMFORT from Bär in a stylish red, along with the professional TRAIL ADDICT WR, a new addition to the BÄR ‘Joe Nimble’ collection. The TRAIL ADDICT WR is intended to prove itself especially on the ‘Pacific Crest Trail,’ scheduled to begin at the end of April and extending 4,280 km across the heights of California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia (Canada).
Nothing now stood in the way of her departure at the end of January 2024. In the meantime, Carmen has left Niagara Falls behind, crossed the fjords of the Chilean coast southward aboard an extraordinary ship, and completed her first demanding tours in the mountains of Tierra del Fuego and other parts of southern Argentina.
Carmen has now arrived in Bolivia. Wearing the BERGKOMFORT, one of Bär’s flagship products, she went ‘bärgauf’—uphill—to an altitude of 4,151 meters above sea level!
The most important thing is that Carmen and her knee are fit, thanks in part to the suitable, orthopedically tested shoes from Bär. We are keeping our fingers crossed that it stays that way. She is managing longer distances and climbs without impairment, and the shoes are proving themselves exceptionally well.
