[pct-l] Wet feet and blisters

[leo-spencer at comcast.net (leo-spencer@comcast.net)]

Thanks Ken,

I have been wearing trail running shoes and sock liners while hiking since 2001, but have always forded streams while barefoot.  This coming season will include a I-R section hike with multiple water crossings, so your advice is much appreciated.  BTW, did you try using duct tape on sensitive foot areas while in the desert?

Thanks again,

Leo.
-------------- Original message -------------- 

> The part you are missing is that running shoes dry very fast. We have also 
> found that our feet generate a tremenous amount of heat when we are hiking. 
> This contibutes to the shoes drying fast. We only wear sock liners which 
> also dry fast. It seems that most of the moisture fon our feet is generated 
> from sweat. 
> 
> In our experience of over 8000 hiking miles we had fewer blisters when 
> crossing frequent streams than in the heat of the deserts. We had quite a 
> few big blisters in the southern CA deserts. After wallowing in snow and 
> deep streams in the high sierra we found our feet as soft as babies skin and 
> without blisters. On an extremely wet AT trek I don't remember ever having a 
> blister. It wasn't what we expected. 
> 
> Ken 
> www.GottaWalk.com 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: 
> To: 
> Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 8:36 AM 
> Subject: [pct-l] Wet feet and blisters 
> 
> 
> Hi, 
> 
> Most hikers at one time or another ford streams and rivers while wearing 
> their hiking shoes. It would seem that doing would invite blisters. Any 
> advice on how to avoid blisters when your feet/shoes are constantly wet? 
> 
> Thanks. 
> 
> Leo. 
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> From aztazer at netscape.net  Thu Dec  2 12:17:29 2004
From: aztazer at netscape.net (aztazer@netscape.net)
Date: Thu Dec  2 12:27:29 2004
Subject: [pct-l] Pack Design Help
Message-ID: <11666E90.19F05071.001E4A91@netscape.net>

Marshall Karon wrote: "On the PCT, you really won't need a compass, GPS, etc. very much, or at all." 

Hi all: 

I hiked for a while with a couple of section hikers who loved their GPS units.  They each held them in their left hand and were constantly reading the data and verbally comparing the readout information.  

I remember we once rounded a corner and had an incredible view of snow-covered San Jacinto to the north.  I said "Hey guys, that's where we're headed!  Look"  And they replied, almost in unison, "Just a minute, we're trying to figure out how many miles per hours we're hiking."  By the tome they had a chance to look up from their GPS units, the view was gone.

While intended to be a humorous story, I share it to illustrate that tools can sometimes become toys and may distract from the overall hike experience.  If you hike the PCT, I encourage everyone to have maps (guide book), the data book, Yogi's book, and a compass (and know how to use them).  I thought the altimeter watches were very helpful in matching the databook elevation to your current location.

I agree with the other posters that 95% of the time you won't need that stuff.  Most of the time you just follow the footprints of the herd.  But being careful when you get to an unmarked trail junction or unclear road crossing can save invaluable time.  Also, I noticed quite a few thru-hikers who spent a few minutes every evening reading the guidebook/Yogi pages and maps related to the trail they were covered the next day so they knew what to expect and knew where the questionable junctions would be.

I took a wrong turn on San Jacinto and spent 3/4th of a day post-holing through deep snow trying to get back to the PCT (and yes, I know Yogi warns you about that turn!  lol).  I heard numerous other stories of thru-hikers who got "temporarily displaced" because they didn't take the two minutes it takes to stop and check their maps and compass.  Some hiked 10 miles or more on the wrong trail in the wrong direction before realizing their mistake.  If vertern thru-hikers can get lost, it can happen to anyone.  This can be a serious problem if it causes you to run low on food.

If you're not proficent in map and compass work, then plan to take an orienteering course before your hike.  When hiking, if you're not 100% confortable that you're on the right trail or know which way to go - then stop, sit down, and figure it out.  Make sure you keep your navagational stuff handy and easily accessable.

Lucky

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