Hi all, Thanks for letting me join the group. For many years I've enjoyed walking and running but was dogged with foot, ankle and knee problems and blisters too. I had walking holidays when I could not wait to remove my boots and dreaded putting them back on again, I spent a fortune on walking boots, trainers etc. but the problems persisted, in the end I more or less gave up, that was about 15 years ago. Then just this year I saw a youtube video of someone walking up a mountain in Wales barefoot, and thought I wonder how hard that is ? I've always enjoyed being barefoot but never considered a hike ! I selected somewhere I knew the terrain and just went for it, it was fantastic ! I have to watch where I'm walking but rather than just trampling across nature, you become aware of it far more. Also there is a social side, rather than just a nod to passing walkers, many often want to talk sometimes asking why am I barefoot, others just being friendly. So after just a few months I've enjoyed this new form of exercise, I've lost weight, reduced my blood pressure, sleep better and have more energy, I'm just left wondering why I did not do this years ago.
On the initial ascent of the Félix Batier trail near Nuits-Saint-Georges (France), I came across a runner wearing the shoes with "soft ground" outsole some trail runners use. The contrast was striking: as much as you'd have to be a Sioux to notice the traces of my passage, I can't count the stones moved and tufts of grass torn up in his wake.
