This is a part of this blog I wanted to have done a long time ago but other things just kept having higher priority. As a result, I don't even have time to edit the things I wrote, let alone complete the portions I never started. So this is still very raw. But there is some good information in here and I am hoping some people find it useful.

There are a lot of things a hiker can do to make things more comfortable when hiking distances they may have never hiked before. The tips listed below can make all the difference in the world. They can be the difference between hiking a long ways in agony or doing the exact same hike in a way that doesn't feel much worse than your average hike. We first noticed people doing this type of hiking in Montana. Loop trails that we thought needed to be done backpacking three days were being done in a single day. We are talking about 20 to 30 miles per day in somewhat rugged terrain and over two or three tall passes. While it is true that people backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail get to the point of hiking this distance over the course of a month or so, your average day hiker cannot because they are not hiking every single day with nothing else to do. So how do these day hikers turn in mileages like this? Some of it is conditioning. They hike a lot and some also cross train in a very specific way. But conditioning alone usually isn't enough. That's where strategies like we have listed below come in. You don't need to do all of them because almost every strategy listed will produce noticeable improvement in your hiking. But it is also true that the more of these strategies you master, the more you will surprise yourself by what you are able to do. Still, you can't get there all at once because these techniques need to become second nature to you to have their maximum effect. So work on a few at a time and add in more only when you are certain that the techniques already learned are pretty much in place for good.

We can't even begin to tell you how amazing it is to be able to cover this amount of ground on a day hike and the be able to go out the next day and do another amazing hike. As you'll see, you are absolutely not rushing when you hike this way. If anything, you are more relaxed, comfortable, and observant. You will be able to enjoy the whole hiking experience even more than you always do while not paying a heavy price. For many, distance hiking changes everything and raises their passion to whole new level.

All information copyright (c) Bill Smith 2013

Friday, March 29, 2013

Duct tape (blister prevention & treatment)

Duct tape has many uses on the trail and it is a good idea to keep some bright colored duct tape handy when you hike. Here we are focused on using it for foot comfort. The place to start for blister prevention is your socks and shoes. But on long hikes that might not be enough. Even with the best gear, blisters can happen if you hike far enough. The best thing you can do is take steps to prevent the blisters. There are some expensive products out there, but duct tape is usually enough. Figure out where you are most prone to develop a blister in the shoes you are wearing. Then cover those areas with duct tape before you start hiking. The tape will stick better if you clean the area first with an alcohol swab. It will also be more likely to stay on if you have no sharp corners. Use some scissors to cut the tape circular or oval. Then carefully put on your socks as shoes. If you do it right, the tape will stay on all day and you won't rub a blister because your socks will slide easily over the duct tape. Before a blister develops, you will notice a "hot spot" if you are paying attention. Stop hiking immediately if you feel a hot spot and apply some duct tape. Some people wait too long thinking that you can hike a mile or so with a hot spot and not get a blister. The truth is many hikers have thought they had a hot spot, took of their shoe immediately, only to find that they had a blister instead. You may not have the luxury of waiting and that is why we advise acting sooner rather than later. What if you still get a blister. The duct tape will work for that as well. Just cover the blister and keep going. The only difference with this strategy is you'll want the tape to fall off naturally in the bath or shower. If you just pull it off, you could make the blister worse. Also, some blisters are worse than others. We always carry special blister treatments with us for the bad blisters. They stick better and longer than duct tape and they are sterile which helps prevent infection. Knowing when to used duct tape and when to use the blister treatment can be tricky. When in doubt, always go with the blister treatment. Should you pop the blister? Last time I checked, no one seems to know. My feeling is that you should just let nature run its course. I think there is a reason for the fluid and, when you pop the blister, the fluid goes away. That said, the fluid is often a big part of the pain you feel. I have had to pop a blister or two because the pain was slowing me down too much. Its a choice you sometimes have to make. Do you want to get off the trail after dark or do you want to pop the blister? If you do pop the blister, most people will tell you that the best way is with a sterile pin. You want the hole to be as small as possible to let the blister drain and still be covered with the loose skin. This helps prevent infection. Once, I was able to drain the blister through a small hole and the hole somehow closed on its own. Fluid eventually filled the blister again. Kind of the best of both worlds on that one.
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