Walking provides me with a way to stay connected with Sam. He loved to hike and we loved to hit the trail together. When I made visits to see him in Colorado, he would always remind me to bring my boots. Jet lag and altitude adjustment be damned, he had me marching up a mountain on my first morning out …
Packing light is a challenge. We have selected, rejected and weighed dozens of items in the process of coming up with our final lists. Packing one change of clothes for a 6-week journey just seems wrong, but that is our rule. In addition, we will take full raingear, in anticipation of walking for hours in the rain on many occasions. …
As I understand it, one prepares to walk by walking. That’s the basic training plan, though there are many subtleties, including boots, blisters, orthotics, tape, special socks, and so on. These 60-year-old feet need all the help they can get. Getting ready for this trip has been an adventure in itself. When I began planning last fall, John says my …
Footwear Delights 500 hundred miles means a lot of stress on the feet. I only have 2 of them, so getting the footwear right has been JOB 1. I started out in ankle boots, as recommended by both podiatrists. They were hot and too heavy. Over the last 6 months, my footwear selection has evolved toward lighter shoes and larger …
I’ve got Big Plans Next month, I will begin a walk of 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago. My trek, known as the Camino Frances, begins in St. Jean Pied de Port in France, crosses the Pyrenees and follows the northern edge of Spain to the city of Santiago de Compostela. I will go on foot, mostly alone and …