San Gorgonio via South Fork 7/4

[Halohiker]

TR here: sangabrielmnts.myfreeforum.org/sutra15970.php#15970

[magikwalt]

Nice hike Liz. Last time I did this route I ran into Barefoot Ted at the top of San G. I just don't get the whole barefooted thing. Jean says hello!

[Halohiker]

I have a friend who likes to hike barefoot. He says it helps train the muscles of the feet. That makes sense, because we do train those muscles better in a light hiker or trail runner, vs a heavy backpacking boot. But while I'm not a girly girl, I do enjoy pedicures! I'm not creating anymore work for the poor person who works on my feet than I already do!

Hello to Jean!

[zippetydude]

Hi Liz! Missed you at the get-together, but I'm hoping for next time!

Hey, that whole barefoot thing is beyond me as well. I run barefoot at the beach, and on smooth grassy turf. In fact, it's amazing how much faster and easier it is to sprint when you're barefoot.

That being said, I don't think our feet are designed to handle rough, rocky terrain, especially running in such areas, without protection. My brother, who took up trail running a couple years after I did, tried out the barefoot thing, starting out carefully and in measured amounts, and eventually had to give it up anyway, because, as he put it, his feet felt like somebody had worked them over with a 2x4!

Anyway, if somebody is doing it and it's working for them, great. But I think it's a bad idea for most of us because it's a great way to get injuries.

z