Physical Preparation

Prepare yourself physically so you can gain the most spiritually from your Trek experience.

Conditioning Your Feet For The Trek

Begin now to find the right shoes to wear. Comfort is most important. Remember, your toes need room to expand, because your feet will swell a full shoe size as you walk on the trek.

	Running shoes are a good choice because they provide cushioning, motion control and support.  Start walking in your trek shoes!  Walk for at least 30 minutes a day several times a week.  Vary your route; walk uphill.
	Hiking boots do not provide motion control features that many people need,and may be inflexible and heavy!
	Wearing the wrong shoes on the trek will give you blisters and make walking very painful.
Helpful tip from a member in the Star, Idaho Stake: "My sister just went on a trek in Wyoming and got some very helpful advice from a friend that hikes quite a bit. He told her to wear knee high pantyhose under her socks to keep from getting blisters. My sister, her husband, and two youth wore them and they had no blisters! They brought enough to wear a new pair each day. She even brought extra and gave them to some of the other trekkers who had blisters and wearing them actually helped."

  

Keys to an Enjoyable Trek: Prevent Hot Spots  Drink it- water. Even if you are not thirsty.  The heat will evaporate your sweat so you do not realize how much water you are losing. If you are getting a headache, you are dehydrated.   Cover it- skin. You can burn from the part in your hair to your fingers. Cover your skin with fabric or sunscreen.   Powder it- groin. Walking can cause chafing in the groin area with-out powder.   Stick it- feet. Put some moleskin or duct tape on any hurting spot on your feet before a blister comes. Wearing a knee high panty hose or thin sock under the thicker hiking sock reduces the chance of blisters.   Walk it- trek. Running with the cart will make you first place in going home with a broken bone.