Tread and Traction

A heavy hiking boot stood near the base of the entryway shoe rack. The sole featured deep, geometric rubber lugs. Step one: determine traction. I pushed my blade into a tread channel to measure depth. Four millimeters of clearance. Step two: ascent. I braced one foot into the lowest transverse groove and shifted my center of gravity forward. The rubber compressed slightly, locking my joint in place. I pulled myself onto the heel platform and gained line of sight over the first wooden shelf. Stable purchase established.@ron_mays