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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Good morning, Chris,</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">You didn’t mention anything about
your experience and your training/conditioning before you depart, but assuming
you are an average off-the-street person, the odds are good that you will get a
few blisters.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Early in a hike
almost anything can cause a blister, such as shoes and their fit, socks,
insoles, dirt, sweat, etc.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As time
passes and the feet become tougher they seem to be able to withstand about any
of those abuses without becoming sore or blistered.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">It’s always preferable to deal
with a rub or hot-spot before it turns into a blister.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Generally, if you feel a problem coming
you can’t gut-it-out with the idea that it will somehow get better.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Stop right then, get on your butt, and
fix it before it gets worse.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Most
blisters form because rubbing causes the outer skin to separate from the next
layer, and subsequently the gap fills with fluid.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The idea of tape is to do two things: 1)
Provide a surface that has less friction, and 2) Use the strength of the tape to
distribute the shear stress over a much wider area, thereby reducing the
tendency of the skin to separate in a small, local spot.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">If an actual blister has formed,
the fluid must be removed or else the hydraulic force created by stepping on it
will cause the fluid to separate more and more skin; this in spite of the
tape.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I usually put a very small
amount of lubricant directly on top of the skin flap or blister cover so the
tape won’t stick.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I often use
ChapStick because it’s easy and that’s what I have.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I’ve used many different kinds of
tape, but none that I’ve found are perfect for all situations.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I use regular moleskin quite often, and
I like it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One of its greatest
attributes is its ability to comply with a compound-curved surface without ---
usually --- wrinkling.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some plastic
tapes have a very slick surface, which is good, and others have a waterproof but
“tacky” surface.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The tacky stuff
won’t achieve the need to reduce friction.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Duct tape is a well-accepted trail fix, and feet covered with it seems to
be wilderness-chic, but in my view it’s only second-rate.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is all but impossible to place duct
tape on a compound-curved surface without its wrinkling.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Keeping tape in place on a busy
foot is always a problem.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sometimes
it stays in place for 10 minutes and other times I’ve had it stay for several
days.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Whenever possible I like to
clean and dry the skin before applying tape.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Air-drying is a minimum.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Preferred is removing perspiration and
skin oil so the goo will stick and stay.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>There are commercial preparations that clean the skin and make it sticky
to hold the tape, but few hikers carry the stuff.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I like to wipe the entire area with
alcohol the stove fuel or with a peel-open alcohol wipe.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Alcohol removes oils, and it has a great
affinity for moisture so it dries the skin long enough for the tape to stick.
Beware of packaged wipes that contain any kind of lotion because you want less
stuff on your skin, not more. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The tape should be cut
sufficiently large that the edges and corners will be in areas of the foot that
do not receive significant rubbing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Be cautious about wrapping tape around a toe far enough to overlap
itself.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Soon, as you walk, the toe
will expand and the tape will become very uncomfortable, or even dangerous.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Unless the tape is very stretchy it’s
better to have the ends of the tape meet, but not overlap.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Take great care when putting
socks back on after a tape-job.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It
is very easy for a sock to grab the sticky edge of the tape and start to roll it
up.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Feel all around the tape with
the sock in place.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you feel any
rolled edges or corners, you’re screwed before you even put your shoe on and
take that first step.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Even properly
done, tape will feel somewhat strange for a while until it yields and adapts to
the foot, but soon it’s hardly noticeable. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Here’s hoping you never have to
apply any of these fixes.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Steel-Eye</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">^^^^^^^^^^<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Join other hikers at:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.aldhawest.org/"><SPAN
style="COLOR: purple">http://www.aldhawest.org/</SPAN></A> ^^^^^^^^^^</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </P></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=chrs_probst@yahoo.com href="mailto:chrs_probst@yahoo.com">chris
probst</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pct-l@backcountry.net
href="mailto:pct-l@backcountry.net">pct-l@backcountry.net</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, February 25, 2008 2:21
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [pct-l] 2008 PCT thru hike
Blisters</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>hi my name is chris probst and I am curious as the best way to
go about not getting blisters. I am planning on thru hiking the pct this year
starting in Campo on the first week of may. any tips would be greatly
appreciated!
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