[pct-l] Blisters

[Jeffrey Olson]

Based on extensive experience with heavy boots, light boots, trail shoes 
and trail runners, my advice is "tight socks."  Secondly, take foot 
breaks, ala Colin Fletcher's recommendation in "The Complete Walker."

This is the core of preventive foot care.  Blisters emerge from heat, 
moisture and friction.  Tight socks get rid of the friction.  They can 
be thin or thick, one or two pair.  The key is that they need to be 
"tight" on your foot and when wet, not slop around.   Foot breaks take 
care of the heat.  Changing socks or airing them out can lessen the 
moisture.  The key is they are TIGHT on your foot...

This summer I had too loose of laces over the ball with socks that were 
a tiny bit sloppy when wet on my foot (NB 813) and got a blister, the 
first in 10 years of hiking.  So I add a another bit of advice - put a 
double knot between the laces of the lower foot and upper foot.  I need 
tight laces on the upper foot and loose laces on the lower foot, but not 
too loose.  It shouldn't matter if your feet are wet or dry.  Tight 
socks and properly tightened laces are key it would seem to me, for 
well-used feet.  This knot should be adjusted as the day goes on as the 
feet tend to swell (with pride) as the day gets on.

When I was 25 and hiking long days I'd just walk through it - blisters 
or no blisters.  I did that this summer, but wish I hadn't had to...

Jeffrey Olson
Martin, SD

On 1/6/2012 1:50 PM, Wanda Brimmer 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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