[pct-l] Big Feet

[Stephen Adams]

Hi Gary, 
I'll let the big feet folks help with the shoes, but I do use the Moabs quite often.  A roomy comfortable shoe for my hard to fit problematic feet.  But what I do sometimes since these shoes don't actually breathe very well is take along some sandals and switch back and forth throughout the day as conditions require.  But I actually hiked up and over Taboose Pass, a rough and rocky trail, in July in sandals and continued to switch back and forth along the JMT and that seemed to work well for me.  The Sandals offer a little change and airing out the feet, and were nice for the stream crossings.  I don't recommend sandals unless you are comfortable hiking in them and have strong feet and one must be a bit more careful; of course, one should watch where they place their feet anyway.  The problem with Taboose for me is it is a hot desert mountain canyon.  I go up it slow as it is a constant grind anyway.  I also go down steep downhill trails fairly slow and careful as a rule having tumbled off a couple trails in the past, but I prefer the shoes then.   The issue for me is always weight and how much I use something I intend to carry.  I am also contemplating the JMT for 2010, but I have hiked most of it as parts of other loop hikes and such, and find it hard to take the time away from my usual sorties.  
On Nov 29, 2009, at 10:43 AM, glarsen at aol.com wrote:

> 
> 
> 
> Hi to all--
> 
> I follow the PCT-L, but I've never written before.  
> 
> I wonder if anyone has any wisdom about large shoe sizes.  I use Merrell Moab Ventilators in size 14, and Montrail Hardrock 08s in size 15.  Either is ok, but neither is perfect for me, and I do better if I switch back and forth day to day, which of course isn't feasible on a long hike.  I know shoes are almost too individual to give advice on, but any ideas I can get are at least possibilities I can pursue.  Toe box width is a special issue for me.  I'm 6'2", 215 lbs., 58 years old.
> 
> I plan to hike the JMT in summer 2009, which of course is not the PCT, but which is long enough for problems to surface and become unpleasant.  I plan a 5-day Grand Canyon hike in spring, which would be a good shakedown for any new ideas.  
> 
> Thanks for any thoughts anyone may have, and thanks for keeping me inspired about long distance hiking.
> 
> Gary
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l