Life of Wry

About the weirdest hiking boots I’ve ever purchased….

I have about 100 theories right now explaining my lost nails and blisters, and twice that many (it seems) potential solutions.

At the top of the solution list is new boots… boots with more room for wide feet and more adjustments to prevent those wide feet from sliding. So… I bought those funny looking Altra boots for their famously ample toe box. While at REI, I also bought some socks that promise blister-protection. And learned from the otherwise very busy boot clerk (REI is having a huge sale this week and the place was packed with boot buyers) some handy lacing techniques that ought to stabilize the heel and hold my foot in place on the downhills (both of them, actually). For the time being, I’m retiring my Keens and Lowas. Fingers crossed for these weirdo Atras.

AND a bevy of foot paraphernalia arrived today — all kind of treatments and gadgets that purport to address my current and future foot problems. Certainly the low tech moleskin will help, and perhaps the funny little silicone toe caps… we’ll see. Maybe the goofy toe socks? Other stuff too… stay tuned for a report on any successes.

AND I had a session with the masterful Hideshi today, who assured me my achilles will not sever. He unleashed a torrent of electricity and ultrasound at the epicenter of my problem right tendon, then taped it, and holy moly it feels great. He reviewed with me the best strategies for ice/heat — the whens and wheres. (Right… I always forget ice and heat.) Tendinopathy at bay for the moment. So things are feeling more positive on that front.

That’s my foot report.

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In related news, Peter told me today he and Eli were successful in getting a permit for the John Muir Trail this summer — the trailhead they wanted on the day they wanted. This, after numerous attempts over several months. I am hoping (against hope) that Peter gets his gear game on and pulls all of this together in a timely way (he needs new boots, for example, and time to break them in before July.. not to mention a new bag, a new backpack and bunches of clothes).

That kid will be busy this summer. He’s attending 3 conferences (and presenting papers at all three) and is going on two significant hiking trips. The JMT will be ~220 miles of backpacking over a two-ish week period, and 3 weeks after that, he and Maya will join us in the Italian Dolomites for 8 more days of hiking (approx 75 miles). I learned today he injured his hand when he lost his grip while rockclimbing (bouldering in a climbing gym). Hoping he’ll see a doctor asap.

Gosh.