This is Part 2 of my insight about foot care on the trail, or in general for that matter. You can find Part 1 here: Insights: Das Foot (Part 1)

Last I left off we were talking about how important it is to take care of your feet no matter what you do in life. In the last post I was mainly talking about backpacking, so I will continue to do so here in part 2. I will be talking about some precautions you can take while on the trail that will hopefully make the rest of your trekking experience an enjoyable one.

On The Trail

Though you will be spending most of your day walking, you will no doubt stop for breaks along the way. Whether it is for a quick 30 second break, or stopping for lunch, you will have the opportunity to do a few things.

If your break is only for a short period of time, like a breather while gaining some elevation, take the time to turn and face down hill. Pointing your toes downhill will help stretch out your calf muscles. As you were heading uphill your calves were contracting, pushing your legs and feet up that hill. When you point your toes downhill, it stretches (opposite of contracting) the muscle. This will help your legs recover a little bit better during that much needed break. Read the rest of this page »