Hey guys!
So last year I attempted a thru-hike with one of my best friends. We both liked the outdoors and camping but up until then had never done any kind of extended hike. I made a few rookie mistakes that cost me dearly and ultimately forced me to get off the trail so I'm hoping to avoid those this year and give it all I've got. My pack weight was much too high last year (around 50 lbs with water and food) AND I made the disastrous mistake of buying shoes that were my actual shoe size. I had actually researched not to do this but I went to REI to buy my shoes and the gentlemen fitting me talked me out of it. I went to REI probably 10 times before my hike, getting all of my gear together, and I think it's the only time I got truly terrible advice. After losing two toe nails within the third week and my feet looking like I had golf balls in my ankles, I got off in Franklin, NC to find out I had Tendonitis in both of my feet. I tried to rough it out and hiked to NOC before my hiking partner decided to quit. I was at the point where I was almost in tears walking in so I quit as well. It was a good 5-6 months before my feet felt normal again and one of my toe nails still grows weird.
All that to say, with a lighter pack (this year it's closer to 30) and going up a shoe size in trail runners I'm hoping my feet will hold up. What I'm looking for are any tips, specific tips, for foot care while on the trail. Someone at an outfitters last year recommended keeping a tennis ball with me and rolling my feet every night. Can anyone speak to that? I'm fine with failing again but I don't want it to be because of my feet again. Any help would be MUCH appreciated.
Also, has anyone taken a GoPro on the trail and if so what was your experience? Last year my hiking partner filmed and I didn't worry about it but this year I'll be alone and think I'm going to invest in one.