| 25 August 2002. Hike #7
Distance: ~10 miles(?)
Much pain. Been an awfully long time since I've gotten a long distance hike in. I got achilles tendonitis on my last one and once it healed...well life and work and SCUBA got in the way. I did a new route today which consisted of some *grueling* hills and lots of stairs. Very very steep. Instead of having a route laid out when i started, i just had a vague notion of where i wanted to go. Hiking through town (there really aren't any long distance trails near here) gives me a lot of flexability...today I found this really cool and deserted little park/clearing. I took a little break there and never saw another soul...very nice... The hills took the fight out of me though, and even after about a half hour break, (i accidently stepped in a creek so i had to dry my socks...) I was left short of breath the rest of the hike. I've been really really bad and have had the occasional cigarette these past few weeks (i quit smoking, again, about three months ago)...i think it's totally screwed my breathing...no more cigarettes! I had to stop four more times to catch my breath. I wore liner socks today up until that first break. I think I'm
unlike just about every other hiker in that liner socks CAUSE me to get
blisters. About twenty minutes into the hike I could feel hot spots
forming on my toes. (Now, bear in mind, while i haven't been doing
long hikes, I still do at least five miles once a week). After they
got wet I never put them back on and my feet felt much better, even after
I lanced a bubble on my small right toe....I already wear "wide" boots
and I think liners cause too much padding and friction...I never wear 'em
on my short hikes and I never get blisters on those ones...
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