[pct-l] PCT Barefoot

[Matt Thyer]

Often you can use your toes like claws and grip your way up stuff you'd
normally kick into.

MT

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Gary Schenk
Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 6:29 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] PCT Barefoot

Kicking steps up Forester Pass must be something.

On Thursday 10 December 2009 18:18:05 Paul Mitchell wrote:
> There's a fair bit of info online about barefoot hiking and running in 
> general.  It's quite compelling and after a couple hours of research 
> it seemed pretty obvious to me that if a person could make it work for 
> themselves (i.e. strengthen their feet up with barefoot training) that 
> it would be the way to go.  There are a number of benefits but the 
> most important one to me is the natural strengthening of the foot 
> muscles to form a self supported arch (which is something the AT 
> hiking barefoot sisters mentioned as well), and in general a return to 
> more natural walking which effects everything from the feet up (knees, 
> hips, etc).  I've read from some barefoot hikers that after a full day 
> of barefoot hiking their feet feel good, something they had never 
> experienced when shod.  Having feet feel good at the end of a hiking day
seemed like an interest idea!
>
> So, plenty of introductory information out there, but not much (that I 
> could find) about the specifics of the PCT.  I.e. hot desert, cold 
> snow, stream crossings, mosquitoes, and just in general long distance 
> bare footing.
>
> I'm also interested in the barefoot alternatives like the Vibram Five 
> Fingers, wondering if anybody has hiked in those.
>
> Cheers,
> - Potential178