Book Review: Portland City Walks

Portland City Walks: Twenty Explorations In and Around Town is the newest book by local walking expert Laura O. Foster. Like her first book, Portland Hill Walks, this book of all new urban adventures explores 20 neighborhoods and towns in depth, from their geology, to their architecture, to places to eat, shop and even, on a few walks, walk a river beach. Fifteen Portland, OR neighborhoods are covered, with walking routes (all loops) that range from 2.5 to 6.5 miles; they include walks beckoning readers to explore the Irvington to Sullivan’s Gulch Loop, the Goose Hollow to King’s Hill Loop, the off-the-beaten track Buckman to Kerns Loop and the epic Kenton to Swan Island Loop. Five other walks explore nearby historic towns such as Forest Grove, and Oregon City, OR, and Vancouver, WA.

Foster’s expertise is in bringing readers to little-visited back streets of the city, and combining an eclectic mix of experiences in each walk, as well as explaining some of the small, wonderful minutiae of the city scene. Ever wondered about those small squares of glass in a city sidewalk? Have you picked chestnuts in the city park that once housed a home for delinquent boys? Have you explored South Portland, a “stopover neighborhood” in the early 1900s for immigrant Jews and Italians? Its history, including old synagogues, libraries, and corner markets, lives on. With so much history and lore, the book is an entertaining read even if you never actually lace up your shoes.

All walks are accompanied by a map, transit information, and restrooms and food info. The book, published by Portland’s Timber Press, is available at local booksellers or online for $19.95.
Foster is also the editor of Metro’s Walk There! 50 Treks In and Around Portland and Vancouver guide book, which was released free in summer 2008. It will be available again in bookstores in spring 2009.

New Knee Support System

Taking proven knee bracing theories and technology and applying them to general wellness and injury prevention, Opedix has developed a line of Wellness Gear™ that helps keep active people enjoying the things they love to do longer. Designed specifically to “unload” the knee joint during knee-action activities such as skiing and running/walking, the S1 and R1 models comfortably help keep the knee positioned correctly, improving stability and function, and reducing the stresses on the knee joint that can cause pain and do long term damage.

Tested and proven effective at the world-renowned Steadman Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation, Vail, CO, the Opedix Knee Support System combines bracing technology, fabric technology, and comfort into product that you’ll want to exercise in.

The Opedix Knee Support System S1 and R1 models also use compression as a stabilizing force, and to keep muscles fresher longer. The underlying tights are breathable, moisture wicking, anti-bacterial/microbial, machine washable, and comfortable.

“Certainly people with knee problems will appreciate the Opedix Knee Support System, but they’re also designed to be preventative. They’re for any active person who cares about their knees and understands that they need to be taken care of to last as long as possible,” said Kim Gustafson, founder of Opedix. “Every knee-action activity, including skiing, running, walking, aerobics, etc. can benefit from wearing the Knee Support System. Even walking creates thousands of pounds of load on your knees every mile,” Gustafson continued.

Available in men’s and women’s ski, snowboard, and running/walking specific styles, the S1 and R1 models are also available in lightweight and midweight fabrics for comfort in any climate.

An Official Supplier to the National Ski Patrol, all Opedix products are designed, sourced and manufactured in the U.S. For more technical information, visit www.opedix.com.