Great input from everyone!! Perhaps the bottom line on the one vs. two sock debate is to find out what works for you. I have skinny feet, so I'll probably be wearing double socks for the foreseable future. One thing seems clear: Smartwool is really popular.
Another reason to go with a thin synthetic layer covered by wool is that a single pair of wool socks can go quite a while without cleaning by keeping clean layer next to your feet. One pair of wool with three pair of liners will go a long while. Clean the liners you were just wearing each night and don a pair that you washed the previous night. Nylon and CoolMax liners clean and dry easily. $.02
Absolutely. +1 on this technique. On long hikes this makes a lot of difference. I can swap out liners a couple of times during the day and keep my feet drier. I carry two pairs of thick outer socks and three pairs of liners. On multi-day hikes, it makes even more difference. I maintain one pair of dry liners and one pair of dry outers at all times in case I have to bivvy.
This post will probably go WAY beyond the answer you were looking for…
Absolutely not! You've posted great stuff. +1 on the lacing method illustrated in your photo. It makes a huge difference.
I'm going to have to check out that book that you referenced. The problem I have is not so much blisters but
bruising toenails. Maybe that book will offer me some hope. Taping and using foam have proved useless (or worse).
Compeed pads rock. They are much better than molefoam, duct tape or the alternatives, IMHO.
I've had good experience with Compeed pads too, particularly on those killer back of the heel blisters. One note: they don't breathe well. I think perhaps stripping them off at the end of the day, allowing the skin to breathe overnight, and re-applying them in the morning would be a good way to go. The downside to taking them off each night is that they stick really really well, and I've often removed the surface layer of the blister when removing the pad.
Spiroflex has a really good reputation as well.
I was just on top of Jacinto last weekend, and did Baldy last month. Have you ever done the C2C trail?
I've climbed all three "saints" (Mt San Antonio, San Gorgonio Mtn, & San Jacinto Pk), but I've never climbed San Jacinto via the C2C ("Catus to Clouds") route. Supposedly, it's one of the hardest day hikes in the United States. 10,000+ feet of gain in a day over about 17 miles (one way). It's on my list, but I'd probably just do the "Skyline" section (Palm Springs to Long Valley) which is 8000+ feet of gain over 11 miles and then ride the aerial tramway back down. The whole Catus to Clouds sounds like a bit much.
If you're in the area, the following forums may be of interest:
San Gabriel Mountains:
http://sangabrielmnts.myfreeforum.org/San Gorgonio Wildernesss:
http://members.boardhost.com/sgva/San Jacinto & Santa Rosa Mountains:
http://www.mtsanjacinto.info/San Diego Area:
http://www.hikesandiego.org/
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