[pct-l] Re: pct-l-digest V1 #1147

[KBerger466@aol.com]

I agree that there is a lot of needless suffering on the trails. But it seems 
that some people HAVE to learn from their own misery, instead of learning 
from the misery of others who have gone before. I've been preaching the "foot 
gospel according to Karen" for years now in my books and articles and 
lectures, and I too feel that I've got at least a little legitimacy in this 
area -- not a single blister on the AT, only a couple of minor ones on the 
CDT (on a couple of mandatory big mileage road walks in New Mexico) and PCT 
(at the very beginning -- the broken in boots I wore had been resoled, and 
the resoling caused them to lose just a little sizing, With the heat, my feel 
swelled, and I had some hot spots).

I also agree that there are lots of solutions to this problem, and different 
solutions work for different feet. I'm not certain it's a boot versus shoe 
issue. I think it's a mileage issue. Also, the "I'm not a wimp so I'm not 
going to stop to check my feet when there's just a little pain" attitude is a 
surefire guarantee of misery. Also, airing out feet during the day, and 
starting with well broken in boots helps a lot, as does proper and prompt 
treatment (for me, that's using second skin.) On the PCT the best thing I 
think you can do is NOT hike to Lake Moreno in one day on your first day -- 
even if you are an Olympic athlete in top shape.  

Karen Berger
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