[pct-l] Blister Care

[John S Thoreson <jthoreso@juno.com>]

Here's a blister remedy that did me wonders last year on the PCT.  Simply
cut a big hole in the blister, put your socks back on, and start walking.
 I used my Swiss Army Knife scissors to snip a good sized hole.  I had
some large and super painful blisters that were not going away.  One day,
in desperation, I snipped them open, and for the first time in several
hundred miles, I walked pain free.  And I saw flowers and trees and
mountains around me that I hadn't seen before.  It was a truly marvelous
feeling.

I have tried poking little holes around the base of the blister with a
needle, but the holes just plugged up and the blister quickly refilled
with serum.  I tried duct tape and I even used some tincture of benzoin
(or whatever it's called), but it was such a hassle and it didn't last a
full day anyway.  The large hole in the blister, from the 'snipping
method', kept it from refilling and the skin 'rebonded' with itself and
became quite tough.  I experienced no infections either.  

For general blister prevention, I found that reducing my daily mileages
helped more than anything.  Some guys I knew could pop off 30+ miles day
after day with no trouble.  Not me.  30+ mile days were hard on my feet. 
Also, I came to like a single pair of hiking socks as opposed to two
pairs of liner socks.  The thick socks offer more cushioning and can hold
more dirt before it starts to bother you.  And of course, the lighter
your pack, the less wear and tear you'll put on your feet.

Hope this saves some hikers some nasty blister stories.  

Best, 
john 'arnold' thoreson
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