[at-l] all this boot camp talk! :)

[icw at esisnet.com (Clark Wright)]

Our relationship with our boots/shoes when walking a loooonnnnggg way 
is, indeed, a major thing to figure out for each of us.  I've read a lot 
of interesting stuff the past few days, and yet I still struggle with 
the fact that the good Lord made our feet perfectly capable of walking 
thousands of miles with NO shoes (I sure recall the famous "Barefoot 
Sisters" from Maine in 2001, who essentially did the Trail sans shoes; I 
also recall one of my hiking friends - "The King" - who walked over 
1,000 miles in his cheap sandals because his feet outgrew his other 
shoes . . .)  anyhow, with all the struggle over firm orthotics, versus 
cushiony tennis shoes; soft smartwools, versus much firmer, longer 
lasting (and to me mucho better) Bridgedales; big boots, versus cheap 
tennis shoes . . . I wonder if the real story is which of the above fool 
each of our particular feet into thinking they are closer to being 
barefoot? :)

thru-thinker
[who has played many a beach volleyball tournament all weekend long, 
running/jumping/turning while barefoot in hot sand, and would prefer 
walking that way on the AT if I could just glue a pair of superfeet or 
somethin' on my soles!]