Hypervigilant Hiking

AuntMimi2010

Well, today will go down as a one for the books. I decided to switch it up from going to the gym to going hiking. A few months ago I bought hiking shoes and a book of all of the trails in my area. Needless to say I guess I wasn't serious about working out at the time so didn't put them to good use. Today I went on a hike, in a beautiful Missouri Conservation Area. It was a 2.2 mile hike with a variety of inclines and declines. I would say it was pretty challenging. I, of course, managed to make it even more challenging than it had to be.

I had lunch with a friend today, who was telling me about a story of a girl running in a well known, typically safe neighborhood. A man jumped out of the trees and grabbed her, she managed to break away without serious harm. I didn't think anything of the story and the plans I had to hike afterwards. That is, until I got about 5 minutes into the hike, where the parking lot was no longer visible. I started visualizing scenes from CSI. You know, where the masked man hides behind the trees in the forrest because he's followed you for days and knows you will be crossing this exact path at this exact time and on this exact day. The man times his move perfectly and grabs you from behind, with nobody else in sight. He does what he wants to you and leaves you buried in the leaves for dead. So these thoughts are now consuming me. This was supposed to be a mind/thought clearing hike, you know, becoming one with the elements of nature. Instead I'm being super hypervigilant and looking back, front, left, right at every litlle burst of wind, or twig that moves. I saw a deer about 50 yards ahead of me, which should have been something to admire, except that I saw him just as he saw me and we both jumped and he took off. About a mile into it I got deeper into the woods, which should have made it worse, but the sun wasn't in my eyes anymore and I felt like my line of sight was better so at least I would see somebody coming. I felt more and more relaxed and began to enjoy the hike more. And then, BAM, a massive blister sets into my heel. Now instead of thinking about being murdered, I'm thinking about every step that I take rubbing my skin harder and harder. In a last ditch effort I decide to give the hike a go, sans shoes. I hiked the last mile in my socks. That really wasn't too bad. I was on the downhill and most of the path was covered in enough leaves and compost that it was rather soft. The worst part was getting back to the pavement, seeing the parking lot again, and not being able to just step it up a notch to get back to the car.

I'm home now and satisfied at the amount of calories I burned on the adventure and the fact that the scary man in the woods didn't get me!

I do have a question with my story though, what do I do to prevent and take care of this blister? I think my hiking shoes fit alright. I did have a hard time finding a good pair though because I have a wide front foot and narrow heel. Maybe I need better socks?

RuthWorth

There are sock that vent the moistness away from you feet and I really enjoy them. Blisters are not fun :grumble: Have good evening

themommie

sorry to hear it wasnt the kind of hike you had in mind. Hope your blister heals quickly. Maybe putting a bandaid on it would help

MericoX

I'm like that all the time! We cut through the woods to a road I frequently walk on, and all I can think of is bears or coyotes waiting out there for me and my dogs, so I now have a designated stick I drag on the trail. LOL. Even when I go walk on the track by myself, I think about what happens if someone comes and *gets* me and no one will ever know. Overactive imagination, or paranoia/anxiety I'm not quite sure LOL.

I second the moisture whisking? socks, I find mine at ****s Sporting Goods. Or if you prefer sans shoes, you could always get some VFFs.