[pct-l] PCT Barefoot

[ed faubert]

I have seen a few folks going barefoot in the canyon but this last trip i did was in late Oct without snow. The tread there is a lot like parts of the PCT and pretty steep and almost no stream crossings. I will ask the rangers when i am there if they see many folks doing so in the winter. I will be in the canyon a week from today for 12 days below the rim....
Meadow Ed here
--- On Thu, 12/10/09, Paul Mitchell <bluebrain at bluebrain.ca> wrote:


From: Paul Mitchell <bluebrain at bluebrain.ca>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] PCT Barefoot
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009, 6:18 PM


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

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