Barefoot Hiking Trip

I just got back from a backpacking trip in the Porcupine Mountains in northwest Michigan. Did the whole thing barefoot. The first trail we did wasn't bad, lots of roots but mostly it was a dirt trail. The second trail was nearly all rock, some big slabs of bedrock, but mostly smaller, like gravel. That was hard as hell to walk on, but not too hard. I really wasn't sorry I decided to do it barefoot, even though I had to walk each trail twice (once out to where we decided to camp, then again to get back).

I did injure myself right at the end of the last hike on our last day. It was a long downhill on these softball sized rocks (with some smaller ones mixed in too), and my ankles were getting really tired. I ended up jamming my right middle toe into one of the rocks. I believe it was all mental, though. Before, on the hard spots, I was thinking about perserverence, and thankful for the challenge of the path, but at the end, I was just letting the pain get to me and was thinking more negetively. So not only was I not paying as much attention to the trail but I was in a bad mental place. I don't blame it on being barefoot, not really, it was just me getting lazy in my mind.

The best part is that walking barefoot in the woods, especially the more challenging trails, is that it becomes a sort of Zen meditation. You have to really be in the moment, paying attention, so you don't hurt your feet. It was some of the best meditation I've had in a long while.

 

Congrats dude. It's awesome that you recognized the benefit of focus on eliminating your pain. I know how you felt. On the last mountain hike I did, not only did we get caught in a freezing rain/lightning storm but the trail we did to get off the peak was full of large and slippery rock slabs. Needless to say, I got a relatively large blister that I later discovered had popped and was then filled with dirt and a small rock. Pain was an understatement.
Beyond that, it's the achievement that counts.

 

Dude, that's sweet. I'm gonna try and go hiking barefoot.. I just gotta figure out where.

 

Ouch, that had to hurt, Jorma. My feet were pretty conditioned in that I got no blisters, but not enough so that walking on gravel was painless. It forced me to slow down, which is another plus. Not only are you in that Zen "do what you're doing while you're doing it" sort of awareness, but you have to slow down, which means you enjoy the area more, rather than flying through.

But you're right, it is the acheivement that counts. I knew I did something above and beyond what I normally do. And it felt great, not only mentally, but physically. toolmaggot, you should really try hiking barefoot, it's a great pleasure. After I hurt my toe, I had to put on shoes to do our last little hike to see some waterfalls. At least in shoes I could put all my weight on my heel and sorta lurch around without worrying about the rocks. But man were my feet uncomfortable. Hot and sweaty as hell in there, and they felt numb, being suddenly cut off from the world.

(by the way, my toe is fully recovered now, in case anyone was wondering. 2 days rest and I'm back in business, and all the wiser for the experience).

 

Way to go Brandon! Sounds like you had a fun time. I don't know that much about zen but I'm sure barefooting contributed to your well being. The connections we reach with the earth are not to be underestimated. As for long downhill stretches, they're the worst. And with a loaded pack your balance will be different with more stress on the ankles. How did your hiking partners react to your barefooting? Did any join in the fun?

 

It was just my dad and me, and he wasn't too much in favor of it. He was worried I'd hurt my foot and be laid up for the whole trip. He wouldn't join in, his feet are in no condition for it, but he ended up impressed that I was able to do it. He still wants me to wear shoes next time, though, for the same reason, and so that I don't have to look down all the time and focus on the ground, rather than the scenery. I maintain that if I'm walking slower, and not in a rush anyways (why be in a rush on vacation?), I can stop and look around any time I want. Plus, the connection I feel to the land is important to me.

I'll tell ya though, a walking stick is a huge help in hilly terrain. Acts as a brake and a support, I couldn't have done it without it. For that matter, it would have been hard for my dad, even in his hiking boots. Downhills especially, they really stress the knees and ankles.

Anyways, the pain was worth it, like I said, I'm not sorry and wouldn't have done it any other way

 

Yeah right on. I ALWAYS hike barefoot- almost don't see a reason to even go hiking unless I'm barefoot. I did Mount Whitney barefoot and remember coming down was the challenge for the same reasons you mentioned. But it was also nightfall and I ended up descending the last hour or so in almost complete darkness without a flashlight. Not the best experience I'll tell you, but I was sure glad to be barefoot so I could feel my way down.

 

Brandon the walking stick is a great idea ! Gotta tell you I think it's great you and your dad had a fun time together, not enough of us spend time with our ancestors. Work on your ground scanning skills and you'll be able to look at the trail ahead and enjoy the scenery too. A quick examination of the surface ahead is often all that's needed. But it's a skill you need to develop if you want to comfortably hike in unfamilar areas.