Need advice from walkers please

[bobleponge]

Remember, slowly gently catchy monkey. Take your time to build up to the distances you feel you should be doing, your legs will appreciate it, especially if you havent been especially active beforehand.

Like a lot of people, I have tried a lot of different boots, and for me the best ones have been Karrimor KSB's for the sort of walking you will be doing, but they are a very individual thing. My advice would be to go to a proper walking/outdoor type shop and get advice and try them on.
Socks, ideally seamless walking socks, but I used to always wear a thin pair of sports socks underneath, and cover my feet in vaseline (maybe thats just me though??).
16-17 miles a day is a fair old trek, so clothes must be comfy, make sure you have trained in them all, dont wear anything new as it just might not fit.

Probs most important for me, stretch. Do plenty of stretching before you start and after you finish. You will feel pleasantly tired once you finish for the day, but at least 20 mins of decent stretching will really benefit you the following day.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Hi all
I am planning, with my sister and a group of others to do a sponsored walk in May next year to raise money for the Bone Cancer Research Trust.

I know nothing about hiking, Kirsty, but you will give us details of how we can sponsor you nearer the time, won't you?

[kirsty b]

Will do Hazel. Mikki is going to set up a just giving page for the group as a whole so it keeps everything together instead of faffing with a dozen different pages.
I'll put a link on my signature when its set up.

[Polly Fouracre]

A small suggestion. Take with you a tiny pot of vaseline then, if you do get a blister, apply to the bit of boot thats rubbing(inside, obviously!)This will stop it chafing.
Have a good walk, I wish I were coming with you.

[kirsty b]

Thanks for all the replies peeps - much appreciated.

Boble, looked up those boots you mentioned, they come in half-sizes too and have found a stockist in Bury St Edmunds. Will be tootling off to try some on in a couple of weeks. They do look comfy, lets hope they feel as good once on.

Slowly refining my shopping list now I have a better idea of what is needed.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Last piece of advice - count to 10 When you start getting pooped and haven't got your second wind, with each step count from 1 to 10 then start over. Keep on doing this (it takes your mind from concentrating on the fact your feet are on fire, your knees are buckling and you want to cry). I was taught this wee trick when I walked 26 miles in a day (walked from Neptunes Staircase to Roy Bridge and back for fun)

[kirsty b]

This is what we are up to: (pasted from sis's facebook page) There is a link to the company that we are going with, showing a map etc. I imagine a just giving page will be set up once deposits are paid and Mikki has final numbers. Will be passing the advice given here by all you guys to all the walkers taking part

SKELETON WALK
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 6:16pm
For all of those who I have spoken to about my planned SKELETON WALK for the Spring of 2010, I can now give you some of the details so you can decide whether you would like to join me.

I plan to walk the 84 miles from Segedunum Fort, the most easterly outpost on Hadrian's Wall along the historic route, all the way to Bowness-on-Solway on the shores of the Solway Firth .

I would like to plan this trip as a fundraising venture for the BONE CANCER RESEARCH TRUST, and plan to complete this walk hopefully in the first week of May.

It would be great if I could get together a team of around 5-10 to complete the walk with me and obviously this will increase our fundraising outreach.

Ideally, everyone would fund this trip themselves so that ALL monies raised would be going direct to the charity.
I know some people will think ''wow, for that amount I could have a nice holiday, somewhere warm, comfortable, beach maybe and relaxation'', but what better to do with your time and money than to push yourself to complete this walk, raise lots of money and spend some time with fabulous people who i'm sure will be friends for life by the end of the trek !!!

I have a breakdown of costs, which will change whether you are travelling from locally to me, or from London or other areas, and also whether we decide to go to Newcastle by train or other means.

I have spoken to the company I wish to use and they would prefer to have a £90 deposit from each committed person as soon as possible as May is the busiest walking month.

I would like to have numbers and names and deposits by the first week of January.

Hadrian’s Wall Path - walking holidays and hiking tours - Contours we are using package HWP1

So if you decide to join me, then please email me and I can give you more information and try my best to convince you what a fabulous time we will all no doubt have.

I want to raise as much as we possibly can, to help fund research into Bone Cancer in children and adolescents, in the past not enough research has been done into this type of cancer, and the BONE CANCER RESEARCH TRUST over the last 3yrs has done some fabulous work and continues to fund important research every year.

Many thanks for reading this, and I hope that I hear from some of you soon. XXXXXX

[northepaul]

Hi all


Also got a boot question - I am usually a 5 to 5 and-a-bit and am debating getting a 5 and trusting that the leather will stretch as I break them in, or should I go for a 6 seeing as I will be wearing thick socks for walking in? Don't think these boots come in a half size. New Forest Footwear - NorthWest Territory Trek Hiking boot
I plan to buy my boots next payday, so I can wear them in properly so they are nice and comfy.

Sorry about asking so many questions, but thanks

I would strongly advice getting leather boots, and treating them before you go. Leather ones, although expensive, will last you much longer than fabric ones, especially on the kind of walking you'll be doing.
They do take a bit of wearing in, but I imagine you'll be doing practice walks before you go?
Good boot makers usually make an allowance for thicker socks, however how about buying some thick socks and wearing them to try on the boots to be sure?

[weekendwellies]

Go to a good camping and outdoors activity store and tell them what you are planning.
They will give you loads of good advice.
I do agree with previous posts about getting boots with ankle support. Get ones that are big enough to get a thick pair of walking socks on with them. The shops always have some socks that you can put on to try the boots.
Have you thought about what you will be eating along the way?
Presumably you will be staying in digs overnight and getting a decent meal at the beginning and end of the day, but you need to keep up your energy levels along the way.
My girls always take a little camping stove (called a tranger, not sure of the spelling).
They get the packs of noodles that you heat up in water. Not pot noodle. The ones that come in square packets.
Dried fruit and chocolate bars are good for instant energy topups.
You can also get packet meals from the camping shop. They are very expensive but well worth the money. The porridge one is lovely at any time of the day.
I also recommend a camel back to carry water. It goes on your backpack and has a tube that dangles by your neck so you dont have to stop to dig around in your daysack to drink from a water bottle.
Dont forget the first aid kit even on daywalks. My daughter unfortunately broke her arm this summer doing just this type of walk. Climbing over a gate, lost her balance and put out her arms to save herself... crunch.
Get a bivvy bag.. bright orange so you can be seen by rescuers if need be, and they keep you dry if you do have to sit and wait for rescue. Hopefully you will never need it but it is better to have it in case.
Do not wear denim jeans. They get soaking wet and are impossible to dry out. Use proper walking clothes preferably. They have been tried and tested. Decent waterproofs from camping store - gaiters particularly handy to have.

[miffy]

You need to take thick walking socks with a good toe and heel on them when you try your boots on.
If you are going on a really long walk get some with ankle protection and goretex so they are really waterproof.
Gaters are also a good idea to keep your trousers dry. Don't wear jeans they get really heavy when wet and rub you when they do when walking.
It is really worth investing in some proper walking trousers as they block out the wind, and they are water repellent and dry off very easily.
Also wear layers so you can strip down and layer back on depending on the temperature.
I also use walking sticks which really help your back and are fab on the steeper parts of a walk.
Good luck with your walk.

[beefy]

Have a look here-
Millets - Cheap Waterproof Clothing, Jackets & Trousers, Pop Up Tents, 2 Man Tents & Camping Equipment.

[kirsty b]

Thanks beefy, I have been trawling t'internet for clothing etc. and trying to make a realistic shopping list for necessities. Millets have good prices for base layers, best I've found so far.

Went to local outdoor shop and tried on some boots this afternoon, found one pair I really like, but as I don't get paid for a couple more weeks, I still have plenty of time to shop around some more. They didn't stock a huge range either. Definitely going for ankle support, they were lovely and comfy.

I really appreciate all the suggestions you guys have made, thanks again xx

[Two_Sheds]

Went to local outdoor shop and tried on some boots this afternoon, found one pair I really like

It's worth having a look online, for cheaper deals (if you know what you're looking for, and size, etc.)
I got my hiking stuff from eBay, perfectly good stuff, hardly worn.

[SlugLobber]

Hi Kirsty,

I'm assuming you have the required number of people, now, but this looks right up my street!

Are there still places left and if so, what is the final cost? Is it the same as on the walking holiday page you linked to? Also, what are the dates?

[kirsty b]

Hi, if you are interested in coming I'll PM you my sister's email address, or PM me yours and I'll forward on what I have got so far fom her which is a rough estimate of costs. The more the merrier really. There is no set number of places.
The plan is to foot cost ourselves so all money raised goes to the charity.
I've had a quick look at her FB page and it looks as though there is 6 of us so far. We are hoping for about 10 of us in total. We will be raising money for the Bone Caner Research Trust, in memory of Brad.
First week in May is when we are thinking of doing it. Most of details are in first post, which I copied and pasted from her FB page too.