[pct-l] Wet feet and blisters

[leo-spencer at comcast.net (leo-spencer@comcast.net)]

Hi Peaches,

You experienced Major Trail Magic!  An ingrown toenail can be excruciating, I would probably turn into a ball of goo and would beg and whine for a medivac. 

Your return to the trail was most excellent.

Leo. 



-------------- Original message -------------- 

> Yeah, you're feet will be wet the entire time you are in the high sierra. 
> Make sure to keep your feet dry and clean though as much as possible. If 
> you do get blisters and lance them (which I think most people do), they 
> are really prone to infection if your feet are constantly wet. I had a 
> different problem of an in-grown toenail that got infected right around 
> Pinchot pass. I couldn't control the infection at all because my feet 
> were always wet, so I had to get off trail at Mammoth Lakes, where I 
> wasn't originally planning on stopping (awesome town though, the doctor 
> there is super nice and the outfitter is awesome. Plus I got major trail 
> magic that involved a cushy bed, monster ceasar salad with steak, ride to 
> the trail and a hot shower with good water pressure, mmmmmm) Anyway, most 
> people I was with in the high sierra didn't have too many blisters, but do 
> watch out for infection. 
> -Peaches, '04 
> 
> 
> > I agree with what Ken posted. I also only wear thin liner socks with 
> > running shoes, even when hiking in snow. In addition, my hiking shoes are 
> > a size bigger than the shoes I wear at home. This gives my feet more 
> > wiggle room. Like Ken, I also never get blisters. 
> > 
> > Another thing to remember about wet feet -- especially in the Sierra 
> > during snowmelt -- is that your feet don't just get wet from fording 
> > streams. They will get wet because often times the trail is a stream, and 
> > from postholing in the snow. You will soon learn that removing your shoes 
> > to ford streams is pointless, because your feet will be getting wet all 
> > day long anyway. Plus, when you stop to take your shoes off the mosquitos 
> > will feast on you. 
> > 
> > At least when your feet are always wet, they're also always clean! :) 
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> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l From aandg at telusplanet.net  Thu Dec  2 14:59:12 2004
From: aandg at telusplanet.net (Alistair & Gail Des Moulins)
Date: Thu Dec  2 15:09:20 2004
Subject: [pct-l] Re: Wet feet and blisters
References: <20041202180141.6B1DC1D0C6@edina.hack.net>
Message-ID: <001601c4d8b1$c6cdbec0$21e5ba89@ab.hsia.telus.net>

Leo

Duct tape certainly works well for us in protecting sensitive foot areas in
the desert and in the snow. My feet seemed to swell a bit on the Trail so I
used it on my little toes which were forced more against the sides of my
footwear at times. I also use it on my heels when wearing ski boots. We also
found it would stick better than Band-Aids and the like, so after putting a
band aid on we'd secure it with duct tape. As duct tape does not breathe one
should not leave it on for more than say 4 days before letting the area have
some air (say at night).
YFMV - your feet may vary! Some people seem to be allergic to duct tape on
their feet. Others have no luck with it staying on their feet, so you'll
need to try it and see.

Alistair & Gail

----- Original Message -----
> Message: 14
> Date: Thu, 02 Dec 2004 17:15:05 +0000
> From: leo-spencer@comcast.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Wet feet and blisters
> To: "Ken Powers" <kdpo@gottawalk.com>
> Cc: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> Message-ID:
>
<120220041715.18555.41AF4D9900046E9A0000487B22070009539D0A0C020A9F9CD3010A04
@comcast.net>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain
>
> Thanks Ken,
>
> I have been wearing trail running shoes and sock liners while hiking since
2001, but have always forded streams while barefoot.  This coming season
will include a I-R section hike with multiple water crossings, so your
advice is much appreciated.  BTW, did you try using duct tape on sensitive
foot areas while in the desert?
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Leo.