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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=562394423-25022008>I echo what WSM says. Really, larger shoes
help. After much trial and error, to this day I wear my hiking shoes one
size over normal even for just "regular" hikes. And I keep the laces
loose.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=562394423-25022008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=562394423-25022008> A couple more thoughts.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=562394423-25022008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=562394423-25022008> I would add as well to keep socks dry. A
good habit is to keep an extra pair of whatever you use hanging on the outside
of your pack. At each major rest (every couple hours), take off the shoes
and socks, let the feet air out, and then rotate the ones off the pack to
feet. Moisture will accelerate blisters. If you find
your feet cracking, you may be too dry - adjust accordingly (less rotation
for example).</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=562394423-25022008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=562394423-25022008>Many hikers have problems between the toes. Many
hiking stores are now selling hiking "toe socks". I and others have found
them very useful.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=562394423-25022008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=562394423-25022008>Keep a good size role of medical tape (inch wide stuff)
in your bag. Use it early on any hot spots. I had times where I had
each toe wrapped individually. It looked like I was going into the boxing
ring expecting "feet - a - flyin".</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=562394423-25022008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=562394423-25022008>Hope that information is useful.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=562394423-25022008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=562394423-25022008>Best Regards,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=562394423-25022008>Flyin Feet Pink Gumby</SPAN></FONT></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> pct-l-bounces@backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@backcountry.net] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>montypct<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, February 25, 2008 3:42 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
PCT-L<BR><B>Subject:</B> [pct-l] 2008 PCT thru hike
Blisters<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Chris</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To get blisters.................................
here's a pretty sure way.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Don't hike now</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Use shoes your normal size. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To not get blisters</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hike lots starting last January especially going up
had down steep hills.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Start form the Mexican Border with shoes Wider and
Longer than your normal size. I go 2 sizes bigger.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Pressure on the friction areas between the shoe and
your foot (the hot spots) cause most of your blisters.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Start from the border doing shorter days and build
up later. It's that last three miles that causes most of the blister
problems.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If doing what's listed above doesn't work for you,
there's a book that might help.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The author is one of us here.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.amazon.com/Fixing-Your-Feet-Prevention-Treatments/dp/089997354X">http://www.amazon.com/Fixing-Your-Feet-Prevention-Treatments/dp/089997354X</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Warner Springs Monty</FONT></DIV>
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