[at-l] Start dates, snow, and trail runners

[greyowl at rcn.com (greyowl@xxxxxxx)]

I would not actually expect you to suffer from frostbite 
unles the temperatures got really low.  Heck, I have hiked 
barefooted in the snow with just a pair of hiking shorts on 
(the air temperature was in the 50's).  On the other hand I 
would be very concerned about wet feet.  This is a problem 
with any type of foot gear that will allow water around ones 
feet.  One develops that wonderful condition called trench 
foot.  There are a number of variations, but the cold weather 
variation is really nasty.  Go with the trail runners, 
carefully dry your feet at the end of the day (foot powder is 
very useful) change socks often (I carry two pair of socks 
for a day hike)and sleep in dry socks.  One should be kind to 
ones feet if one is planning to walk 2100 miles.

Grey Owl

>If you're wearing trail runners, you'd lose some toes to 
frostbite if you 
>hiked in the snow in those, wouldn't you?   Do you slip some 
kind of 
>modified trail Wellie over your shoes?  Or wear heavier 
hiking boots until 
>you can swap those boots for warmer weather gear (where do 
you do that)?
>
>Kelly Whitman
>INTP