Megan Nisbet: Outside Reading #3

I came upon another wonderful website titled "Barefoot Hikers," which can be accessed at http://www.barefooters.org/hikers/. I read many articles on this website, from news articles of journalists who had visited the weekly hiking sessions, to information about the various chapters of the organization, the closest of which is in Boston. I also read some of the book the founder, Richard Kieth Franzine, wrote about safety and advice for walking barefoot on trails.

The key points that the Barefoot Hikers say are why they choose to hike barefoot are that there is a reduced risk of twisting your ankle, you are able to sense the ground with your feet, and are reducing the erosion that is caused by hiking boots. These people walk on a variety of surfaces, ranging from rocks to pine needle covered forest floors, and believe that this is the best way to hike. I personally disagree.

I do admit that walking without boots will reduce the erosion caused by them, and that there will be a reduction in the amount of twisted ankles, but I don't believe it necessarily gives you a better hiking experience. Though I love the feeling of sand between my toes when I go to the beach, I hate when there are things in the sand and I step on them--it hurts! I don't know how these people can find it enjoyable to have to be cautious about every step they take, because it might mean a punctured foot. If they have to look at the ground in front of them before every step they take, they are not able to enjoy the surrounding beauty, but are forced to focus on if they are going to step on something. They do get the nice feeling of the earth beneath them, but this is truely only when they are walking on soft ground, or if they have been hiking like this for years. However, if they have been hiking like this for years, they had to endure those two years of pain and the cliche of "walking on pins and needles" before they were truly able to enjoy their experience. But, to each his own!