Saturday, December 8, 2018. Start up of my AT blog after 2 1/2 years. New Boots.

December 8, 2018

After two and half years I get to start my blog again as I begin to get ready to hike and finish the Appalachian Trail in 2019. I am excited to start to get ready.

My first step in preparation was to buy some boots. I bought a full upper leather boot in hopes that they will last much longer than my previous boots. My previous boots were pretty much worn out at 400 miles. They started leaking at about 250 miles. I managed to drag them on to 500 miles. I then tried a couple different type of light weight shoes which didn’t do the job and caused my planter facetious to flair up. I hiked 808 miles before coming home. The new boots are heavier, but I hope they last longer. I would like to get 800 miles out of them and then buy another set of the same boot to finish the last 400 miles. We will see.

I bought my boots at Cabela’s. They are the Perfect Hiker D. They cost $260.00. They are made in Germany. I bought size 11 which is 1/2 size larger than what fits when I try them on. I learned that my feet swell when hiking so many miles each day and that I need a larger size. My 3 middle toes on my left foot are still partial numb from my last hiking on the trail.

I am actually writing this blog on March 25, 2019. I have used my new boots and loosed them up, broke them in. I did a weekend hike with Nathan down in the Grand Canyon. It was a very tough hike. I am glad the AT is just trail and not river bottom hiking like that was. I did get a blister on my left foot at the top inside of my ankle from the boot. I have 4 weeks for it to heal before starting to hike the AT. I believe it will be okay. Except for that the boots and my feet did well. Though heavier, I think these boots will do a good job for me. 

Here are some pictures.