[pct-l] Blisters

[Sir Mixalot]

I'm not sure Tuf-Feet made much of a difference.  I used it for about 2
weeks before going backpacking for a month.  Walking a lot makes a much
bigger difference.

On Sat, Jan 7, 2012 at 6:21 PM, Sir Mixalot <atetuna at gmail.com> wrote:

> Wanda,
>
> You're timing is just about perfect.  I find it very difficult to keep my
> feet tough.  I can walk all summer, but if I take a couple weeks off, my
> feet are very soft and thin again.  I just got this stuff called Tuf-feet
> for Humans that's supposed to help your feet get tougher without drying out
> your skin.  I just put it on for the first time tonight.  I am walking
> quite a bit, but not as much as I want to because it'll take a few more
> weeks before my skin gets where I need it to if I didn't use Tuf-feet.
>  Hopefully this stuff helps my feet get tougher more quickly.  I'll let you
> know if it actually works.
>
> As you found out, betting blisters changes your gait, and can easily cause
> an injury on a long hike.  I've been there before.  I don't want it to
> happen again.
>
> Sir Mixalot
>
>
> On Fri, Jan 6, 2012 at 12:50 PM, Wanda Brimmer <iamwhimpie at yahoo.com>wrote:
>
>> Hi Folks,  Last September I attempted a through hike of the JMT.  Prior
>> to my hike I had asked for some advice concerning my Morton's Neuroma and
>> as a consequence, I bought some shoes that were a good size larger than I
>> normally wear.  I put about four hundred miles on the shoes prior to the
>> JMT and never had  one twinge of my neuroma.  Worked great.  On day six of
>> my JMT hike (dropping down into Red's Meadow) I began to develope some very
>> serious blisters.  I'm not talking about little blisters, these covered
>> both balls of my feet.  By the time I hobbled into the campground, I was in
>> serious trouble.  I used some cloth and made a bandage and taped my feet
>> the best I could.  There was no way that a traditional bandage was going to
>> cover my wounds.  For the next twelve days, I hobbled down the trail, often
>> crying about my situation.  Eventually the skin no longer could be used as
>> a cover for the blisters and was discarded, which left a oozing
>>  mess.  I used Preparation H  (hey, I was at least prepared for that
>> problem) as a salve for my sores and would wrap them in tape.  People
>> noticed my gate and would offer me what ever they had....sympathy if
>> nothing else.  Finally on day 16 of my through hike, nearing the top of
>> Mather Pass, I gave up.  I left my two friends with hugs and kisses and it
>> took me another three days to backtrack and cross Bishop Pass.  My husband
>> met me at the trailhead after a heads up from Ranger Rick and I went
>> immediately to the emergency room.  Because of my attempts to avoid
>> pressing down on the blisters on the balls of my feet, I had developed
>> tendonitus and two stress fractures in my left foot.  I made one reckless
>> mistake and paid a terrible consequence.  My mistake was not stopping to
>> fix my foot in my eagerness to reach Red's before the barbecue was over.
>> How can I toughen up my feet.  I am fifty eight years old and walk a lot.
>> I wear orthotics
>>  (may have slipped and agrivated my ball) for Plantar Faciitus so can't
>> go barefoot.  Don't forget my Morton's Neuroma....my feet need some serious
>> swelling room in my shoes.  I will do the JMT this summer but don't want to
>> repeat this mistake.  What do you recommend for wrapping to prevent
>> blisters.  is there a special tape?  You thousand milers must have
>> something that works.  Thank you so much for your suggestions.   Whimpie
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>
>