[pct-l] PCT Barefoot

[Stephen Adams]

Oh come on Ned, let's meet up on Muir Pass and see how he's doin when he comes thru...and if he aint wearin shoes by then...???   Nothing like dry cracked feet to make wakin up in the wee hours an exciting thing.  Ever burned your feet on hot ground?  I have a few times after surfing in the summers.  Tales a few days to enjoy walking again.  And nothing like barefeet on icy snow, or better yet, the challenge level on big sun cups goes way up on skins.  Don't really need gaitors either.  And hopefully our barefoot enthusiast wont have an allergic reaction to all the mule crap ground into all the trail dirt.  Seen it on sensitive folk.  But lets's not be hasty in suggesting our man is "Crazy".  Lots of folks get around pretty well barefooted.  Don't know that they are dealing with crushed rock hammered out on the trail in certain areas by trail crew.  Granted, most of this will be under snow in June, but some of it will have to be walked on.  THe north sides of Glen and Mather Passes come imediately to mind, but there are others rough sections I'm sure in 2500 miles.  But hey, there just feet.  You can always walk on your hands right?        
On Dec 11, 2009, at 9:19 AM, <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com> wrote:

> Personally, I think this idea is crazy!
> 
> Mtnned
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Austin Williams" <austinwilliams123 at gmail.com>
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 6:02 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] PCT Barefoot
> 
> 
>> I love the idea.  I think I've heard of a couple of women who hiked the AT
>> barefoot.  I'm worried about your feet in the desert sections, and in the
>> few lava-rock sections.  You may consider taking some moccasins with you 
>> for
>> those areas.
>> 
>> Also, having done a SMALL amoount of hiking barefoot, I'd highly reccomend
>> doing lots of barefoot hiking before the PCT to toughen your feet up.  At
>> first, you'll need a lot of time to heal in between barefoot hikes.  If 
>> you
>> don't toughen up before the hike, you'll have to take lots of zero days
>> early in your trip to heal.
>> 
>> I think this is totally doable though.  I think I'll do some barefoot 
>> hiking
>> this summer.  Neat idea.
>> 
>> -Austin
>> 
>> On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 5:44 PM, Paul Mitchell 
>> <bluebrain at bluebrain.ca>wrote:
>> 
>>> Hello All
>>> 
>>> Does anybody have any first or second hand stories of hiking the PCT
>>> barefoot?  I read in an early journal this past season about one guy who
>>> was
>>> trying it this year, but haven't been able to find anything on how that
>>> worked out.  I've heard of at least a couple others.  I'm giving it some
>>> consideration after a bunch of inspiring reading on the subject & would
>>> love
>>> to pick the brain of someone who has actually done it or at least tried.
>>> 
>>> Cheers,
>>> - Potential 178
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Pct-l mailing list
>>> Pct-l at backcountry.net
>>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Pct-l mailing list
>> Pct-l at backcountry.net
>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>> 
>> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus 
>> signature database 4677 (20091210) __________
>> 
>> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
>> 
>> http://www.eset.com
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l