[pct-l] Foot ready, are you?

[Bob]

Scott Bryce wrote:
" And probably the most important thing, wear shoes that are one to two
sizes larger than you normally wear."

In a column this past summer in The Conway Sun entitled "Dressing for it,"
Nicholas Howe quoted an article by Mrs. L.D. Pychowska in Appalachia, Vol.
V, 1887-1889.   Her article, written over 120 years ago, was entitled
"Walking Dress for Ladies."  Note the shoe size reference, even back then:

"For the feet, we have found most comfortable boots broad and moderately
thick-soled so the foot can bend, from a half-inch to an inch longer than
the person's ordinary shoe, low-heeled, and with the upper parts of soft,
pliable leather."

There is a famous French saying:  Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.
(The more things change, the more they stay the same)

Dr Bob


-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Scott Bryce
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2014 1:56 PM
To: Pct-L at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Foot ready, are you?

On 2/7/2014 8:19 AM, Joshua Walsh wrote:
>
> Wow, as a newbie I can see how foot problems stop soooo many hikers.

I was one of them.

> After I read many PCT desert trail journals, there appears to be 
> difficulty with foot problems past the first 200 to 400 miles.

I got stopped before that.

> Any Solutions or advice?

> To begin with, I was thinking of only hiking max of 15 miles/day the 
> first 100.

After 15 miles you will be bored and want to hike farther. In some places
lack of water will push you farther. Shoot for 16 - 18 miles a day for the
first couple of weeks, and go farther when you can or have to.

> Secondly, pre-training months before the start date

Yes.

> In consideration of these factors: Heat, Friction/Pressure, and 
> Weighted Pounding..
>
> 1. Battery Heated socks with sand paper inserts covered by..
> (Waterproof Socks)

I hope you are joking.


> 3. Ankle weights,

No. You want to train for the activity that you will be doing. On the PCT,
you gear will not be strapped to your ankles. It will be on your back. It
takes different muscles to move ankle weights than it does to move weight on
your back. Put some weight in a backpack and walk with your pack. Some
people suggest water bottles for weight. If you over do it, you can dump out
the water.

> Adding a weighted hip belt might also prove helpful.

Possibly.


Here is the deal. Train, train train. Train in conditions as close as
possible to the conditions you will encounter on the trail. Train in the
same shoes you will be wearing on the trail. Do some barefoot walking.

On the trail, keep your feet clean. The grit that gets through your shoes
and socks will eat up your feet. Keep your feet dry. Wet feet blister more
quickly. Rotate your socks. Have a pair pinned to the back of your backpack
drying out. At each break, switch socks. Wash them when you can.

If you develop hot spots on your feet, deal with them right away.

And probably the most important thing, wear shoes that are one to two sizes
larger than you normally wear.

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