[pct-l] Heavy mountaineering boots

I don't know Saskia, I think mountaineering boots could be a mistake. I took 
a mountaineering class many years ago and the people running the show told me 
I that those crampon friendly mountaineering boots were a necessity. I rented 
a pair and got bad blisters. Then I noticed that many others into 
mountaineering had trashed feet. "you'll toughen up your feet and they'll 
scar over eventually" was the common refrain. I happened to own a comfortable 
pair of leather hiking boots and decided to give them a try, much to the 
disdain of other mountaineers. But they worked just fine even on a climb of 
Mt. Rainier. I've worn wore those hiking boots on hundreds of climbs since in 
complete comfort.
    Then, on the other end of the spectrum, I decided to hike the PCT and was 
told via Jardine's book that light weight hiking boots were a necessity. I 
went on a trial 200 mile Pct hike in those hiking boots much to the disdain 
of people in the know and did just fine. Once again, I saw many people 
wearing the "preferred" lightweight running shoes whose feet were trashed. 
You'll never guess what I was told -- "Your feet will eventually toughen up 
and scar over" was the once again common refrain. I've never been one to bend 
to peer pressure, I like to reason things out for myself. Moral of the story 
-- don't be talked into something because it is popular. Go with the herd and 
get you'll get slaughtered with the herd. Look around and see what works and 
what doesn't. A few people will do fine on the PCT in one type of 
mountaineering boot or running shoe but many others will get trashed feet in 
the same boot or shoe. Every year it's the same old sorry story in Big Bear 
City -- dozens of hikers nursing trashed feet. In my opinion your MOST 
important task is not to become one of them. Ginny's advice is VERY sound. 
You just have to go with what is comfortable with you. Please don't just buy 
some boot or shoe just because they are recommended. Take the time to go to a 
shoe store or two and have your feet sized by someone who's been doing it for 
many years and then go with something that is made for HIKING and custom fits 
your feet. Mountaineering boots are made for climbing. Running shoes are made 
for running. The PCT is really neither but something in between. It is a 
HIKE. The best of luck to you on your up coming hike. Wish I was going again
* From the PCT-L |  Need help? http://www.backcountry.net/faq.html  *

==============================================================================
To:            "'Saskia'" <saskia.home@wanadoo.nl>, pct-l@backcountry.net