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Is there such a thing as blister-proof feet?

By John Trent, aka The Mountain Mutt*

Never again. Never would I suffer from blisters again.

Never again. Never would I allow my feet to take such a pounding.

Never again. Never would I let my feet fall into such a neglected state during an outing that it would lead to the loss of nine of my 10 toenails.

Never again.

It's become my mantra, ever since I ran a 100-mile race in 2003 and my feet were so covered with blisters I couldn't wear socks for a week, and my toenails were blackened so badly they looked like I had taken a sledgehammer to them. For two weeks after, in a procedure that is probably even more painful than what I'm writing here, I would have to sit down at night, bite the inside of my mouth in agony and peel off toenail after toenail.

Never again.

Although my example is extreme, it's presented for a reason. I've spent the better part of the last four years figuring out how to make feet blister-proof, how to ensure that the only toenail problem I ever have again is how to handle the torrent of compliments showered upon me for having such beautiful-looking nails.

Treating your feet with thought and care shouldn't be something that you do after you've spent several hours hiking or running. Before any trail activity, you should sit down for a few moments and decide how best to ensure that your feet don't end up taking a beating.

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Groovy Gear:
Hips don't lie, so let them take the weight

If your feet are bothering you, no hike is fun. But another area for possible problems can be your neck and shoulders, if you're carrying a day pack. Since most people hold their stress in the upper back, why not try a waist pack instead? The hips carry weight better, and you won't notice sway. Ultimate Direction makes several sizes, from room for just a water bottle and car keys to their best-selling Naviti, with two water bottles and room for lunch, sunscreen, camera and rain coat. In decorator colors at $50. Photo courtesy of www.ultimatedirection.com.

Mountain Mutt photo winner of the week!

"This is Chloe a minature poodle. She got tired hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail and took some time to enjoy the beautiful views from her dog carrier," writes owner Linda Lubin of Sparks, Nev. Lubin wins a Mountain Mutt T-shirt and is now entered into the grand prize drawing for a $100 Petco gift certificate.

Think your pup has what it takes to be a Mountain Mutt? Then send us your best photo of your dog out and about in the Sierra Nevada summer. We'll post the photos each week in our Mountain Mutt gallery, plus we'll pick a weekly winner and send a collector's item Mountain Mutt T-shirt (designed by Reno eNVy). At the end of the summer, one lucky dog will be crowned this year's supreme Mountain Mutt and that pooch will win a $100 Petco gift certificate. E-mail your photo to info@TahoeRenoOnline.com. Oh, and we don't discriminate; we love pure bred pups too! Good luck!