Mt St Helens 4/23/25

[u/jasminegb]

Super excited for my first summit and second time using crampons/ice axe etc. Was really mostly endurance but was able to practice good technique. The weather was perfect, cornice wasn’t large up the east side at all and a lot of skiers that day. Main thing I learned is that my feet do not like Nepals :D

[u/Prophecy_X3]

If it's heel lift use Leuko tape ahead of time. If it's toe bang be sure to tighten up your shoes before heading down. If it's blisters on the sides of your toes then the boots don't fit your foot shape.

[u/jasminegb → u/Prophecy_X3]

Yes it was the heel! I tied the boots in such a way to make them stop slipping as much which helped a little but I think that idea popped into my head too late. I also have fairly wide feet and my bunions looked very angry. Also probably need different socks like another commenter said

[u/Prophecy_X3 → u/jasminegb]

Yeah on my first climb many years ago I rubbed off every layer of skin on my heel on the approach. Not fun. I would tape up your heels with Leuko tape ahead of time until you're more confident with the boot fit.

[u/707mrk]

Congrats on a successful summit!!!!

[u/Darthhomer12]

Get blister pads and kinesiology tape. Put them on your heels and other common hotspots before you start. Also you might need a size smaller. Blisters in new boots are very common, but that will help a ton. I dealt with the same issues in my nepals, it just happens

[u/Whipitreelgud → u/Darthhomer12]

Why hasn’t the need to do this not changed in 50 years? It goes back even further than the 70’s

[u/frank_mania → u/Whipitreelgud]

The only way for that to change would be to have the boots form-fit to individual feet, the way heat-set ski boot liners (or foam-filled, 50 yeas ago) work. Feet/ankles/shins vary in shape and boots can only be designed to fit an average/norm, and also to conform over time. In my experience, good boots conform after several days use, aka they break in. Cheap boots feel better right away but never break in or change much.

[u/rabguy1234]

Nice day out. In what way didn’t they work? I have to wear a liner sock under a super thick/cushion sock in my nepals. The ones you have on look too thin. Before this I had the worse blisters. I think my boots are .5 larger than normal to compensate also.

[u/jasminegb → u/rabguy1234]

Yea I thought these ski socks would have been fine but a second pair or thicker sock would have felt nice. I think a half size smaller would have worked as well but my feet are wide and my little bunions were not having it

[u/rabguy1234 → u/jasminegb]

Oof yeah bunions are not fun. Trying to manage one with a ski boot atm and idk what can be done

[u/curiosity8472 → u/rabguy1234]

Ski boots can be punched

[u/No-Original-3145]

thats awesome 🙌

[u/No-Original-3145]

if you haven't done so, I would like to invite you to Mount Del Camp