[pct-l] Trail Injuries

[Alistair and Gail Des Moulins]

When we arrived at Hiker Heaven on 11 May 2003 after a month on the trail, 
Gail had been suffering sore feet from blisters. Donna recommended soaking 
the feet many times in an Epsom Salts solution. We'd heard this at Anza 
earlier and were a bit sceptical. This lady had obviously seen a lot of 
hikers over the years so we took the advice this time and had a day off with 
Gail soaking her feet several times.
On May 13th we continued north, hiked more miles that day than any other day 
to date. Gail did not have another blister all the way to Canada.
So that day off paid us dividends many times over for the rest of the trip.

Alistair

----- Original Message ----- 
> Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2008 17:43:10 -0800
> From: "Donna Saufley" <dsaufley at sprynet.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Injuries
> To: "'Robert W. Freed'" <robert at engravingpros.com>,
> <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <000f01c895f5$3d95c210$6501a8c0 at MainMachine>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1250"
>
> Well, I hope I can give you an opposite view that is intended to help you
> balance your "push on" perspective.  Mind over matter is important, but
> there are limits and realities to deal with.  Years ago when I was a 
> fitness
> trainer, we always said pain -- real pain, not the "wah, wah, I don't want
> to do this" sort of thing -- is the way your body tells you something is
> wrong.  In my experience it is always best to listen to what your body is
> telling you, even if it's not what you want to hear.
>
> Here at Hiker Heaven I've seen a fair number of hikers who had to quit
> hiking because they didn't listen to what they bodies were telling them,
> which is often slow down and/or stop and rest until injuries heal. 
> Because
> they pressed too hard for too long and didn't take care of themselves, 
> their
> hikes ended. Stress fractures are the usual culprit, but shin splints and
> plantars also take their toll. It's very sad to see this happen.  It's 
> even
> more ironic to see young healthy people who are so full of energy and
> strength but haven't learned how (or why) to pace themselves get sidelined
> with injuries while wizened old timers pass them up, slow but consistent.
> It's the classic case of the tortoise and the hare.
>
> It takes time for the body to adjust to carrying 30 (or more) pounds of
> extra weight, and for all the tendons and ligaments to adjust to walking
> many miles a day. Large muscle groups adapt quickly, but training for
> tendons and ligaments is a much slower process.  You can blow yourself up 
> on
> the first day if you don't take it easy and hike within your limits. The
> first days and weeks should be a gradual process of allowing your body to
> adjust.  There's a price to pay for most when they're too fast out the 
> gate.
>
> So, I hope this helps you.
>
> L-Rod
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of Robert W. Freed
> Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 12:40 PM
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] Trail Injuries
>
> Injuries are just a excuse your body makes to trick your mind into
> rationalizing giving up.
>
>  At least that's what I'm telling myself this season.
>
>  Robert