PSA: I just hit 100 trail miles and my feet are wrecked

I finished up a 5 day stretch on the Pacific Crest Trail last week and crossed the 100 mile mark for the first time. Thought I was ready with my usual boots and some basic prep, but man, my feet are tore up. I got three blisters on my right heel alone and my left arch is so sore I can barely stand. I was too stubborn to stop and air them out when I first felt hot spots, and now I'm paying for it. Should have brought better socks and taken more breaks to dry my feet between water crossings. Next time I'm switching to trail runners and testing them on shorter trips first. Anyone else have a milestone trip that ended with surprise foot problems?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_max1mo ago

You should have brought better socks" really hit home for me... I used to think any old cotton socks would do, just figured blisters were part of the deal. But after reading this I realize I was totally wrong. I did a 80 mile stretch last summer and thought my boots were fine too, ended up with raw spots that took weeks to heal. Now I'm actually rethinking my whole footwear setup... trail runners seem like a smarter idea for long days. Your post just made me see that the right gear can make or break a trip, not just toughness.

danielhenderson1mo ago

Wait, @the_max, how many pairs of socks does it take to change a blister lightbulb?