Thank you so much for the Update. My wife Lea and I are big fans, having followed every step,swim,paddle since you started the Arizona Trail some years ago. I think we have only commented once near the start of the Mississippi paddle, when We mentioned that Jen and you reminded us of Kate Hepburn and Bogie dragging the African Queen through Leech infested waters. Really enjoyed this summer’s ADT Trek - well, not so much Kansas. Thanks for the brief stop at the Harrisburg, I’ll., Walmart! Didn’t even know what Walmart was until we moved to Harrisburg. We spent 6 years of our early marriage in Harrisburg, our oldest 2 daughters spent their early years there,and our third wAs born there just before work took us to Northern Indiana. Best of luck for your continued recovery processes, please give our regards to Jen. Looking forward to joining you both on your next adventure, at which time we expect to being a help via Patreon
Glad you got those feet looked at! Looking forward to your NCT trip in 2027 - have to meet you when you hit NY!! Looking for a Europe suggestion - Iceland is amazing!!! Ever want a great bikepacking trip - CNO/gap trail is great!!
Iceland is someplace we'd both love to go. The trick will be finding a trail of some sort long enough to justify the expense of getting there. And also allowing time for that famous dive between the plates
Great update Matt! Looking forward to more adventures (and less corn!) with you and Taters. You continue to be an inspiration to us all! Cheers, Tortoise
It’s always a joy to see a new video and I am excited about more to come. You lead such an exciting life it’s almost impossible to imagine you were once trapped daily behind a desk. But such a beautiful life has cost you pain. I hope that will be defeated and feet and joints give you peace in future. Always happy to see your adorable partner. I love her laugh.
Even when I was desk bound I was getting up to a lot of trouble on weekends. For a 5 year period I worked in Boise Idaho and flew back pretty much every weekend to SoCal during the summer to lead groups up into the Sierra. It's a lot less driving these days at least :)
Well you certainly got farther than most people would and plus having the Triple Crown (+ extra trail before and after the AT) done is already an amazing achievement in of itself and the stories you will be able to tell as an old dude is gonna be spectacular, good job on this achievement and i am looking forward to the future!
Thanks! As I think I mentioned doing these type of adventures has really messed with my sense of scale. "Only" 3,600 miles this year was something I had to stop myself from dwelling on multiple times. Ah well
Hey Matt, glad to hear from you, I've missed those Vlogs but I'm glad you are getting the health issues addressed. Looking forward to your next adventures for sure! You have inspired me to do more local hiking here in St. Charles, Missouri!
Thanks for the update ! Was curious about your feet problems . Thought already there had to be some stress fracture involvemend. I'm actualy giving stretch classes for seniors and the two stretches you discribe are in my program . They are the best for walking ! The one " back against the wall , toes up" , you can do in 3 different ways (more and more harder ) : 1 foot distance of the wall , 2 feet distance and the same distance with just the shoulders against the wall . You can gradually make it more difficult ( 5-10 times up each serie) . Glad you guys consider comming my way (Europe) , have a doubt about doing the Hexatrek during Jen's summer : the whole thing is mostly done in 6 months .Have fun with the dives.
It's quite possible I'd have to finish up the end after she left but we'll see. 6 months would be only doing 300 miles month / 75 a week which seems a bit on the slow side. A lot of people do thru hikes in a lot of different ways though so I always take any time estimates with a grain of salt unless it's someone I know personally
@@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes The Hexatrek strings a heap of mountainranges together ( with some small connector sections) . You are mostly in hard and rough terrain with no easy resuply possibility . I followed some French hikers on RUclips and the average timing is somewhere between 5 to 6 months . Some did it sobo ( nicer start before the Alps but sometimes problems in the Pyrenees if there is early snowfall ) most however go nobo starting early May to cross the Alps in peak summer . The only downside : you have to be in shape from the start on.
Welcome back to YT. This video was a welcome surprise this morning. I'm looking forward to sharing your future trips and adventures. Thank you for all you do for us viewers.
-Lived in San Antonio for two and a half years but an outsized number of memories. Lived in Austin more briefly and just didn't take to it. Keep San Antonio Lame! -I checked out a few of your dive videos from LA a couple months ago and was blown away even though I didn't have much interest in it beforehand. Easy to see why you're into it. -Honestly, Kansas was my favorite part. 🟢 Happy trails to you.
Cool! Often our shorter trips like that don’t get the same level of attention as the longer treks. That was a long time wishlist trip for me but really a bummer due to all the burn areas. Trout and the west side in particular used to be just spectacular
If you haven't tried them yet McGee pass and Sawmill are two of my favorite. Taboose also though Jen bellyaches about the nice long reasonable climb :)
Matt, I’m glad you got your feet checked out. Pain from stress fractures is hard to track down; but you will heal and we’ll look forward to your coming adventures
I did some diving in Bonaire in March. It was just 2 dives because we were cruising and unfortunately didn't have time for more. The visibility and water temp were perfect. I didn't even need a shorty wetsuit. Unfortunately a bunch of reefs there are suffering from a bacterial epidemic that is killing patches all over. But there was plenty of fish and the dives were wonderful. We used Scuba Do Bonaire and had a great experience. I hope you enjoy your time. Looking forward to the dive videos.
Plus side based on what we were told the coral disease has mostly run it's course and things are improving again. Obviously there were a lot of dead or bleached coral, not helped by the fact the water was 85 degrees, but it was still great diving. I was noticing a lot of smaller corals and attempts to reseed areas from the coral farms they have set up everywhere
Lots and lots of video :) We liked Bonaire so much we actually used the Black Friday sale to book a return trip next year. Hard to imagine a better setup as far as being able to run around and dive on your own. We actually didn't use a few boat dives we'd payed for as part of our package because it was much nicer going off shore
Hey Matt, hope you do better. Your videos of raw hiking without the fancy stuff inspired me to document my own PCT section this year in the same style. Thank you, youtube is fun! Regarding Europe: I think without a special visa you are limited to 90 days in the schengen area in a given 180 day period. You could do stuff in the UK as its not Schengen, but Ireland is. Also, the hexatrek is new only in name. It connects well known preexisting GR trails and is totally marvellous. But in the mountains, it's graded like the AT not like the PCT so be aware.
Yea, that's consistent with what we saw. Hence looking at splitting the season inside / outside the EU. Not sure how hard the special visa would be at the moment
I'm so glad you have some stretches to help. I'm glad you've gotten medical feedback and have options. I look forward to watching the future hikes. I agree shoes are a nightmare? right now I am in Altra but don't think they are going to cut it.
I've had shoe struggles right from the beginning when I was hiking local mountains. Granted that was back when heavier leather boots were in fashion. Altras are the least problematic of anything I've tried since starting the long distance stuff they just fall apart waaaaaay too quickly. Might see if New Balance has something similar with a little more to the pad of the shoe
Oh man, plantar fasciitis can be SO painful. No wonder you were struggling. When I was first diagnosed with it, I did the heel down stretch thingie and yes it really helps. Glad you are getting to make a diving trip as a plan-B. Have a great time!
I've walked bits along the Wales Coastal Path over the last few decades, just day walks. It's very nice. Looking forward to follow your further adventures.
Seems nice and the folks who had the Mississippi Source to Sea writeup we liked the best highly recommended it. Still more research to do but it's the leading option at the moment
Glad to hear you are getting some answers on your health concerns. I can only imagine that podiatrist appt "What were you doing when it really started hurtung?" "Walking from Maryland to California."😄
Highly recommend inserts. Combined bone bruise and plantar fasciitis forced me off PCT in ‘23. Once diagnosed, I began the same PT exercises you have and that helped. But what really gave me confidence to get on CDT this year were my inserts. What a difference that made!👍
I actually had inserts on the PCT and abandoned them at some point (or was it the ECT) because they didn’t seem to have an effect. One of the frustrating things after being out year after year since 2020 has been complications like this that seem to come out of nowhere. Per the foot doctor my mistake was getting older…
Fellow 2026 Hexatrek planner here, maybe I’ll see you out there. Also: I suspected stress fracture/pre-fracture when your 3 weeks off didn’t solve it. I had an undiagnosed tibial plateau stress fracture that healed to 90% in the hiking off season, but then re-fractured once the following year’s season started, and it ended my thru. Also also: I highly recommend the inserts by Barefoot Science. They are a Canadian company so shipping can take a bit longer so I usually buy several at once when they have their fairly regular deals. They got me through my entire PCT thru hike.
Love how much you get around seeinf the world and people in it! Hokas too narrow - YES. 100% too narrow for me. I am size 14W too. I am OK with Topo Tv, and weirdly cannot use Altra LPs. My wife is all over the Speedgoats and cannot stand Topo nor Altra. Getting heel pain with my new Topo Tvs though as I have upped my weekly miles on trails. Starlink in Alaska - what a world that such technology exists today.
Enjoy Bonair. We were booked for a week back before COVID but had to cancel last minute due to health issues that has prevented my wife from diving. It was tough unloading all of our dive gear, but age takes it's toll on the body.
Awe, that sort of thing is always my nightmare. If you get the chance Bonaire was absolutely amazing. Maybe have her snorkle above you and you drop down to the reef?
I would recommend seeing a sports medicine pediatrist vs a regular pediatrist. I’ve had 5 foot surgeries between both feet in the last 6 years. All of my surgeries were neuroma related. When I asked my dr what caused this, he told me that normally runners get them and women who were heels. He also said that some people were just prone to them. I was the most he’s seen and had to operate on. He fully expects to see me again for the same thing. However, unless it gets really bad, I’m over the foot surgeries as the inflammation left in my one foot from scarring is bad enough that I don’t need it in the other.
We ended up finding someone and I have a diagnosis, more stretches, and some orthotics to try. I'm really reluctant to let anyone jump to surgery for non emergency issues. As a result with my knee I had a few extra years of pain but when I did finally persue that option I felt good about it and the outcome was pretty overwhelmingly positive. Here's hoping I cann rehab this by next april
"I finally bought that bike...." (YES!) As we age (ahem) cross training on a bike is the best. Bike tours are beast! And...A great list of future plans!
The irony is I only started hiking because I gave myself an overuse injury when cycling. But it does seem to be a good alternative to get in some cardio when rehabbing my feet. And it's felt amazing to be able to move around again after all this sitting
I've had plantar fasciitis several times from playing tennis. I found Birkenstock sports inserts were the best thing to get rid of it. IT comes in two pieces and one part is cork so I don't think it would be good for hiking, But it really worked every time. Still takes time to get over the injury. I have several sets and wear them to this day because the support is so fantastic.
Part of the challenge is just the nature of what I do puts a lot more daily wear on anything. I can wear out an entire pair of shoes in two weeks when I'm walking along at normal pace. I ended up getting some custom inserts from the doctor and we'll see if those help at all
If really intrepid, look at the Kokoda Trek. 100 klicks from Port Mosby to Buna Station. I dont know anything about diving New Guniea but ... The Aussies fought a battle there against the Japanese. Hard fight and the terrain of the Owen Stanleys would be problematic. Anyway, it's quite popular down under.
Gah my teeth have caused me pain like that, and a night guard really helped. I’m also so glad you were able to go to the foot doctor! Inserts are so helpful. I’m not sure you’d even need the expensive ones from the doctor. I went to a runner’s store that molded shoe inserts right in the store. They have this machine you can stand on, and they were under a hundred bucks at the time I got mine. It was at road runner sports in tualatin Oregon. I think they’re in multiple states, but I would think there are other stores that have a machine like that too. I do think a firmer sole than is on a tennis show would help with planter fasciitis, but maybe inserts could provide that support. I just wonder if any tennis shoes like that have foam that won’t break down so fast.
Maybe. But keep in mind these worked relatively well for me for 3,000 miles before I had an issue. Foot doctors opinion is that was a pretty big sign of success and the issues were probably more due to taking a bad step at some point + aging. I'm going to try the custom othotics she made from a scan and then we'll go from there. When I've previously experimented with store bought / stove moulded inserts they had little to negative effects
@ that’s pretty cool that they validated the shoes. I’ve never heard of stove molded inserts. I’d like to think the machine in that store was more precise, they came out the same as my expensive ones. But it is always tricky because throwing off the foot will fuck up the rest of the gate and then cause other issues. So I’m not surprised by that outcome. I’m glad it’s not bone spurs or a pinched nerve. That’s definitely a more expensive fix.
@criticaloptimist you basically heat them up in the stove to soften them and then stand on them while they cool. Similar to the moulding things Osprey offers in store for their packs. I didn’t feel like either had much of an affect though
@ I would like to think the store machine works better, just because I tried one of those at home night guards and totally messed it up lol. So I know if I tried making them in the stove I’d probably f it up too. lol
__ The sixteen-hour bus ride potential from Moab back to Colorado reminds me of you chuckling in some parking lot you'd walked three-thousand miles to and the sign said: "Did you know you could have taken a bus here?"
Have you considered exploring MLS laser therapy-it played a significant role in my recovery from plantar fasciitis in the heel area. Thank you for the update!
I really liked hiking in Arizona and New Mexico. Seems llike Mogollon will be doable in that time period. So at this point it's either that or try the AZT again
The other week I was actually telling Jen maybe next summer we could try and walk around the entire perimeter of Kansas and how we probably be the first people to hike that. She seemed to be distracted by glaring at somebody who was standing behind me…
I'm not usually one to comment, but check out the Slovenia Mountain Trail or the Great Divide Trail here in Canada. Looking forward to your Yukon River trip - my daughter lives in Whitehorse and she has paddled to Dawson City as well as the entire length of the MacKenzie.
@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes I agree- early season not feasible and have no idea how the permitting system works! There is a comprehensive guidebook by Dustin Lynx that might be worthwhile looking into. I'd happily gift you my copy as I have no intention of ever completing it, lol.
You and I know you'll be back in Kansas in no time. Challenge of a lifetime. Can't pass it up. In the meantime I'll "be getting the heck out of Dodge" come summertime.
I tried to sell Taters on being the first people to circumnavigate Kansas during the summer on foot and she stopped talking to me for the rest of the car ride...
I tend to drill into folks at the wilderness class that feet are very individual and what works for one person probably won't work for another. Or at least won't be ideal. Or else you get Altra clown shoes
Had Plantar fasciitis for about 6 months due to Pickleball a few years ago; took a few weeks off and allowed it to heal and have never had it again. Pain was manifested in the heel. A buddy snapped his planter fascities 4 months ago while playing Pickleball and was back playing in about 3 weeks. The Dr said he would have done a surgery to sever that tendon anyway so my friend feels like he saved the doctor a surgery...
I had it before in my 30s so bad I couldn't bend my foot in the morning and was able to rehab it but I also have friends with chronic issues. So we'll just have to see
__ Raja Ampat, whoah. I went awol in the Bird's Head in 1980, back when West Papua was called Irian Jaya. There was a low-grade war, kind of a fight for one of the last of the world's great forests. When I came out of the mountains I got kicked out but not by the Indonesians. My friend Keith went into the CIA and I didn't, is the short story. Anyway I haven't wanted to look since, but I'll bet there's some stunning beauty left, despite...
Iceland is one of those places I'd love to visit. And there is that iconic dive between the plates there. Trail wise the only things I've seen are on the shorter end and that can be hard to justify the travel costs with our current financial restrictions
Matt- did your podiatrist also suggest night braces for your left foot? The combination of doing my last set of the stair stretch right before bed and then sleeping in my feet braces is so magical. The only thing that did better was steroid injections in my heels. So glad you are starting to heal up and have fantastic plans upcoming!
@ I didn’t know the night braces were a thing until my podiatrist suggested them. She said they help to prevent overnight regression and allow the muscles and tendons to heal in a stretched position overnight. (She was better at explaining it than I am, but it was a relatively cheap solution to an extremely painful problem)
I went through my first ever foot issues this year so I can relate. In addition to a podiatrist, please also consider seeing a foot and ankle orthopedist. They receive more training than podiatrists; both in terms of years in training but also more parts of the body. I also recommend getting a second, third, fourth opinion from doctors that specifically say they focus on sports medicine or athletes; it will save you time and money in the long run IMO. I also don't recommend most custom orthotics. I've gotten two pairs this past year. My first pair was the classic orthotics that podiatrists sell, rigid heel cup, rigid arch support, and flexible forefoot. The rigid arch support is the biggest issue with this design because they don't allow your arch to collapse/pronation at all when walking, which is unnatural and can cause issue up the chain of your leg. If you have a broken bone this type of orthotic is great because it's like wearing a cast, but if you want to be active this design is not good. My second pair of orthotics was made by an orthotist (didn't even know that was a thing) and they're so much better! But I still don't wear them. After going through all the docs and orthotics this past year, I still prefer my over the counter currex or powerstep insoles. Ultimately rest is what fixed my issue but rest is the worst medicine. With all that said, you put a ton of miles on your feet this year while carrying a lot of weight and you are dealing with overuse injuries. Unfortunately there's no silver bullet for overuse injuries (ask me how I know 🥲). But your plan to cross train on the bike is solid. Maybe try cutting weight somehow? I know you're not an ultralighter but decreasing the weight your asking your bones, joints, and muscles to support will help decrease/postpone injuries.
My base weight is around 19-20 lbs which feels quite reasonable. When I have to carry a gallon plus of water and 5-6 days of food that’s when my pack looks so large. Kind of hard to avoid that with the style trips I enjoy.
Great update, Hope the doctors can fix the feet. (Being that they are important for hiking) As for a thought... Have you given any thought to hiking The Great Wall of China? Apparently, there are some long hikable sections. It seems like hiking TGWoC would make for a memorable adventure. (But might be a slight logistical challenge)
No, but I did ride a toboggan down the side of the Great Wall during a flight layover when I went to Thailand for my scuba dm. We generally avoid areas with the possibility of geopolitical complication. See those hikers who were grabbed by Iran a number of years back
I have capulitis on my 2nd toe and it feels like its at the ball in the front of the foot as well. Look up taping for capsulitis as it will take the stress off that toe.
The foot doctor put a piece of foam into my shoe which she said would take pressure off the area. Hard to say if it's helped. Orthotics are coming next week
Custom inserts worked for my foot issues, so hopefully they work for yours! My only question is will they last thru the amount of miles you walk annually without breaking down and, if not, are they prohibitively expensive to replace as needed?
I've been wearing orthotics since 1978. In those ancient times they made plaster casts of your feet. As the podiatrist was making the casts, he was talking to the nurse about my feet and said "this is terminal!" She said "Don't say that!" They didn't fix everything, but they helped a lot.
Last time I tried them it was plaster casts. This time they actually scanned my foot with the LIDAR scanner on an ipad. Hopefully the end result will be a little more helpful this time
The only real long distance hiking books I've read are A Walk in the Woods and The Long Walk. I tend to struggle to make it through that kind of book unless it has people freezing to death on mountains
I bought the same shoes you've been using because our feet are similarly-shaped. I've been wearing them on hikes and walks every day for several months now. They're great. If you could start your Moab to SF trip any month at all, no other commitments in the way, which month would it be?
Hmm. Honestly I think I’d choose around when I’ll be going back to it. Fall is better in the desert (see the Fruita issues) and that means a better Sierra crossing
I dont have big feet but i have wide feet and i hear you. What some shoe companies consider to be wide is laughable. I generally look for shoes that come in extra extra wide sizes and only then do i find succedz.
Look into TOPO brand shoes for a very wide and comfy forefoot. I tried my first pair 6 months ago and love them. I only wear size 11, unlike you, but maybe they will be a good match for you
I’ve tried them and found despite being advertised as a drop in replacement for Altras they didn’t work for me. Ended up having to scramble to swap them out during the GET
What's this? A new video from Masochist? Well Cool! So, is there some person who has recorded the most through hikes? Are you hoping to be this person some day? Looking forward to new videos. Even diving ones. I know nothing about diving . . . other than working with what we call "scuba" tanks in my capacity as a Respiratory Therapist. I just exchange them on transport beds, 'cuz sometimes we have patients on a butt-load of oxygen needing to be moved around the hospital.
First I wish you a speedy recovery. Second the stretches in this video really helped me ruclips.net/video/72p58Iy6u7M/видео.html&ab_channel=ATHLEAN-X%E2%84%A2. In addition to those, stretching the front of calf-tibialis anterior-which most people ignore, also really helped.
__ I walk backwards two miles every morning. I'm pretty sure if you walked backwards from Moab to San Francisco you'd have less, um, pre-stress. Hey, I'm a real doctor. The wrong kind, however. Very very wrong.
My husband whom you met at the start of your CDT hiked the Via Transilvanica over early July until end of September and loved it. If you want any info from him he's willing to talk extensively on it.
@ I’ll have Matt reply. You will be pleasantly surprised by his answers. Walked almost the whole way alone staying in places by himself for the most part and he’d be able to comment on the camping
__ With all these adventures of yours, maybe you can work in sometime being the first person to cross a continent on an Alinker. They seem to be a sort of cross between walking and riding a bike.
The infection from your mouth likely settled in your feet. See the book written by Dr. Thomas Levy. A ketogenic diet can help you heal naturally. Not one with all kinds of processed food but less than 10 carbs per day. Meat and low carbs veggies and NO sugar. You can continue with your love of long distance hiking/ biking well into your eighties and nineties.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
What, no closing authentic home sweet home. I enjoyed the journey. Thanks for bring us along.
Thank you for recording and posting these videos so we can tag along on these adventures. The time you take to do them is very appreciated.
From your description of your podiatrist's diagnoses and advise, I like her. Sounds very sensible.
Thank you so much for the Update. My wife Lea and I are big fans, having followed every step,swim,paddle since you started the Arizona Trail some years ago. I think we have only commented once near the start of the Mississippi paddle, when We mentioned that Jen and you reminded us of Kate Hepburn and Bogie dragging the African Queen through Leech infested waters. Really enjoyed this summer’s ADT Trek - well, not so much Kansas. Thanks for the brief stop at the Harrisburg, I’ll., Walmart! Didn’t even know what Walmart was until we moved to Harrisburg. We spent 6 years of our early marriage in Harrisburg, our oldest 2 daughters spent their early years there,and our third wAs born there just before work took us to Northern Indiana. Best of luck for your continued recovery processes, please give our regards to Jen. Looking forward to joining you both on your next adventure, at which time we expect to being a help via Patreon
Hello Matt. It’s so good to hear from you. Your voice sounds rested and I think you have new energy. Best wishes for a continued recovery!
Half rested half going crazy due to having been sitting relatively still for the better part of two months. Ready to get moving in any way possible
Well, it's great to hear that nobody is talking surgeries or worse. I'm also glad to hear that you're both doing well.
So great to see you, thanks for checking in with us. Looking forward to the dive videos.
Thanks for the update. Wow, you have some impressive plans for the future. Can’t wait to tag a long with you on RUclips.
Glad you got those feet looked at! Looking forward to your NCT trip in 2027 - have to meet you when you hit NY!! Looking for a Europe suggestion - Iceland is amazing!!! Ever want a great bikepacking trip - CNO/gap trail is great!!
Iceland is someplace we'd both love to go. The trick will be finding a trail of some sort long enough to justify the expense of getting there. And also allowing time for that famous dive between the plates
I for one applaud your unstated goal of revisiting the triple crown on a touring bike!
Great update Matt! Looking forward to more adventures (and less corn!) with you and Taters. You continue to be an inspiration to us all! Cheers, Tortoise
Thank you for updating us! So good to hear your plans. Be safe.
Look forward to your next round of adventures. Props for the Warren Zevon reference near the beginning.
It’s always a joy to see a new video and I am excited about more to come. You lead such an exciting life it’s almost impossible to imagine you were once trapped daily behind a desk. But such a beautiful life has cost you pain. I hope that will be defeated and feet and joints give you peace in future. Always happy to see your adorable partner. I love her laugh.
Even when I was desk bound I was getting up to a lot of trouble on weekends. For a 5 year period I worked in Boise Idaho and flew back pretty much every weekend to SoCal during the summer to lead groups up into the Sierra. It's a lot less driving these days at least :)
Well you certainly got farther than most people would and plus having the Triple Crown (+ extra trail before and after the AT) done is already an amazing achievement in of itself and the stories you will be able to tell as an old dude is gonna be spectacular, good job on this achievement and i am looking forward to the future!
Thanks! As I think I mentioned doing these type of adventures has really messed with my sense of scale. "Only" 3,600 miles this year was something I had to stop myself from dwelling on multiple times. Ah well
Hey Matt, glad to hear from you, I've missed those Vlogs but I'm glad you are getting the health issues addressed. Looking forward to your next adventures for sure! You have inspired me to do more local hiking here in St. Charles, Missouri!
Love the trails at Weldon Spring if you haven't hit it. Great views up on the bluffs.
Thanks for the update. I hope everything goes well for both of you.
Thanks for the update ! Was curious about your feet problems . Thought already there had to be some stress fracture involvemend. I'm actualy giving stretch classes for seniors and the two stretches you discribe are in my program . They are the best for walking ! The one " back against the wall , toes up" , you can do in 3 different ways (more and more harder ) : 1 foot distance of the wall , 2 feet distance and the same distance with just the shoulders against the wall . You can gradually make it more difficult ( 5-10 times up each serie) . Glad you guys consider comming my way (Europe) , have a doubt about doing the Hexatrek during Jen's summer : the whole thing is mostly done in 6 months .Have fun with the dives.
It's quite possible I'd have to finish up the end after she left but we'll see. 6 months would be only doing 300 miles month / 75 a week which seems a bit on the slow side. A lot of people do thru hikes in a lot of different ways though so I always take any time estimates with a grain of salt unless it's someone I know personally
@@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes The Hexatrek strings a heap of mountainranges together ( with some small connector sections) . You are mostly in hard and rough terrain with no easy resuply possibility . I followed some French hikers on RUclips and the average timing is somewhere between 5 to 6 months . Some did it sobo ( nicer start before the Alps but sometimes problems in the Pyrenees if there is early snowfall ) most however go nobo starting early May to cross the Alps in peak summer . The only downside : you have to be in shape from the start on.
Wish you and Jen all the best. Give a shout on your next trip through Kansas. 😄 We do have a good Breakfast Burrito.
I've done pool therapy for a foot injury before and I think those dive trips are going to do you a world of good. Enjoy!
Yay!! You're back! ❤
Welcome back to YT. This video was a welcome surprise this morning. I'm looking forward to sharing your future trips and adventures. Thank you for all you do for us viewers.
Awe, you're welcome!
Classic Warren Zevon reference. I dig it Bishop.
Good to see you. You and Jen enjoy your trips!!
-Lived in San Antonio for two and a half years but an outsized number of memories. Lived in Austin more briefly and just didn't take to it. Keep San Antonio Lame!
-I checked out a few of your dive videos from LA a couple months ago and was blown away even though I didn't have much interest in it beforehand. Easy to see why you're into it.
-Honestly, Kansas was my favorite part. 🟢
Happy trails to you.
Thanks!
Thank you!
@@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes really really enjoyed your trans Sierra trek!
Cool! Often our shorter trips like that don’t get the same level of attention as the longer treks. That was a long time wishlist trip for me but really a bummer due to all the burn areas. Trout and the west side in particular used to be just spectacular
@ I’m slowly exploring the east side
If you haven't tried them yet McGee pass and Sawmill are two of my favorite. Taboose also though Jen bellyaches about the nice long reasonable climb :)
Glad to hear you are getting your medical issues taken care of
Matt, I’m glad you got your feet checked out. Pain from stress fractures is hard to track down; but you will heal and we’ll look forward to your coming adventures
*Attempting* to get them taken care of. Sadly I've been down this road before. But we'll see
I did some diving in Bonaire in March. It was just 2 dives because we were cruising and unfortunately didn't have time for more. The visibility and water temp were perfect. I didn't even need a shorty wetsuit. Unfortunately a bunch of reefs there are suffering from a bacterial epidemic that is killing patches all over. But there was plenty of fish and the dives were wonderful. We used Scuba Do Bonaire and had a great experience. I hope you enjoy your time. Looking forward to the dive videos.
Plus side based on what we were told the coral disease has mostly run it's course and things are improving again. Obviously there were a lot of dead or bleached coral, not helped by the fact the water was 85 degrees, but it was still great diving. I was noticing a lot of smaller corals and attempts to reseed areas from the coral farms they have set up everywhere
Good luck with your Canada expedition. You are going to a part I've not seen.
Should be interesting!
Thanks, bonaire is the only one of the ABC island we haven’t been to, hope you take pictures. ✌🏻👊🏼
Lots and lots of video :) We liked Bonaire so much we actually used the Black Friday sale to book a return trip next year. Hard to imagine a better setup as far as being able to run around and dive on your own. We actually didn't use a few boat dives we'd payed for as part of our package because it was much nicer going off shore
Hey Matt, hope you do better. Your videos of raw hiking without the fancy stuff inspired me to document my own PCT section this year in the same style. Thank you, youtube is fun! Regarding Europe: I think without a special visa you are limited to 90 days in the schengen area in a given 180 day period. You could do stuff in the UK as its not Schengen, but Ireland is. Also, the hexatrek is new only in name. It connects well known preexisting GR trails and is totally marvellous. But in the mountains, it's graded like the AT not like the PCT so be aware.
Yea, that's consistent with what we saw. Hence looking at splitting the season inside / outside the EU. Not sure how hard the special visa would be at the moment
I'm so glad you have some stretches to help. I'm glad you've gotten medical feedback and have options. I look forward to watching the future hikes. I agree shoes are a nightmare? right now I am in Altra but don't think they are going to cut it.
I've had shoe struggles right from the beginning when I was hiking local mountains. Granted that was back when heavier leather boots were in fashion. Altras are the least problematic of anything I've tried since starting the long distance stuff they just fall apart waaaaaay too quickly. Might see if New Balance has something similar with a little more to the pad of the shoe
Oh man, plantar fasciitis can be SO painful. No wonder you were struggling. When I was first diagnosed with it, I did the heel down stretch thingie and yes it really helps. Glad you are getting to make a diving trip as a plan-B. Have a great time!
Both feet were really painful in different ways. At least I came off trail feeling like I’ve given it my best attempt to continue.
I've walked bits along the Wales Coastal Path over the last few decades, just day walks. It's very nice. Looking forward to follow your further adventures.
Seems nice and the folks who had the Mississippi Source to Sea writeup we liked the best highly recommended it. Still more research to do but it's the leading option at the moment
Great update - hope the feet get better
Hey Matt, Lotsa plans, hope the best ones work out. Thanks for the Taters giggle. I would have complained.
Glad to hear you are getting some answers on your health concerns. I can only imagine that podiatrist appt "What were you doing when it really started hurtung?" "Walking from Maryland to California."😄
Sadly she didn't seem that phased by my activity level. I did have several fun conversations with the nurses though
Dude! Your itinerary is crazy!
We don’t sit still real well… :)
Highly recommend inserts. Combined bone bruise and plantar fasciitis forced me off PCT in ‘23. Once diagnosed, I began the same PT exercises you have and that helped. But what really gave me confidence to get on CDT this year were my inserts. What a difference that made!👍
I actually had inserts on the PCT and abandoned them at some point (or was it the ECT) because they didn’t seem to have an effect. One of the frustrating things after being out year after year since 2020 has been complications like this that seem to come out of nowhere. Per the foot doctor my mistake was getting older…
@ Yeah, not everyone likes their inserts, usually resulting in abandonment. I think we all make the same mistake of growing older!
Thank you for the update. I'll use the Mississippi trip to stave off the withdrawals of daily Masochist
Oh you're in for a treat. Mississippi was one of the best things we've ever done :)
Fellow 2026 Hexatrek planner here, maybe I’ll see you out there.
Also: I suspected stress fracture/pre-fracture when your 3 weeks off didn’t solve it. I had an undiagnosed tibial plateau stress fracture that healed to 90% in the hiking off season, but then re-fractured once the following year’s season started, and it ended my thru.
Also also: I highly recommend the inserts by Barefoot Science. They are a Canadian company so shipping can take a bit longer so I usually buy several at once when they have their fairly regular deals. They got me through my entire PCT thru hike.
Love how much you get around seeinf the world and people in it! Hokas too narrow - YES. 100% too narrow for me. I am size 14W too. I am OK with Topo Tv, and weirdly cannot use Altra LPs. My wife is all over the Speedgoats and cannot stand Topo nor Altra. Getting heel pain with my new Topo Tvs though as I have upped my weekly miles on trails. Starlink in Alaska - what a world that such technology exists today.
Enjoy Bonair. We were booked for a week back before COVID but had to cancel last minute due to health issues that has prevented my wife from diving. It was tough unloading all of our dive gear, but age takes it's toll on the body.
Awe, that sort of thing is always my nightmare. If you get the chance Bonaire was absolutely amazing. Maybe have her snorkle above you and you drop down to the reef?
I would recommend seeing a sports medicine pediatrist vs a regular pediatrist. I’ve had 5 foot surgeries between both feet in the last 6 years. All of my surgeries were neuroma related. When I asked my dr what caused this, he told me that normally runners get them and women who were heels. He also said that some people were just prone to them. I was the most he’s seen and had to operate on. He fully expects to see me again for the same thing. However, unless it gets really bad, I’m over the foot surgeries as the inflammation left in my one foot from scarring is bad enough that I don’t need it in the other.
We ended up finding someone and I have a diagnosis, more stretches, and some orthotics to try. I'm really reluctant to let anyone jump to surgery for non emergency issues. As a result with my knee I had a few extra years of pain but when I did finally persue that option I felt good about it and the outcome was pretty overwhelmingly positive. Here's hoping I cann rehab this by next april
😎👍Hope your feet recovery quickly
"I finally bought that bike...." (YES!) As we age (ahem) cross training on a bike is the best. Bike tours are beast!
And...A great list of future plans!
The irony is I only started hiking because I gave myself an overuse injury when cycling. But it does seem to be a good alternative to get in some cardio when rehabbing my feet. And it's felt amazing to be able to move around again after all this sitting
Good move visiting grand parents. I thought that Venezuela was a place to avoid with inflation and social unrest. Happy Trails. Good Luck, Rick
Bonaire is an island off the coast. So presumably like Cabo vs the Mexico mainland
@@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes Please do some checking, I'd hate for something to happen. Good Luck, Rick
Bonaire belongs to the Netherlands
I've had plantar fasciitis several times from playing tennis. I found Birkenstock sports inserts were the best thing to get rid of it. IT comes in two pieces and one part is cork so I don't think it would be good for hiking, But it really worked every time. Still takes time to get over the injury. I have several sets and wear them to this day because the support is so fantastic.
Part of the challenge is just the nature of what I do puts a lot more daily wear on anything. I can wear out an entire pair of shoes in two weeks when I'm walking along at normal pace. I ended up getting some custom inserts from the doctor and we'll see if those help at all
If really intrepid, look at the Kokoda Trek. 100 klicks from Port Mosby to Buna Station. I dont know anything about diving New Guniea but ...
The Aussies fought a battle there against the Japanese. Hard fight and the terrain of the Owen Stanleys would be problematic.
Anyway, it's quite popular down under.
Gah my teeth have caused me pain like that, and a night guard really helped. I’m also so glad you were able to go to the foot doctor! Inserts are so helpful. I’m not sure you’d even need the expensive ones from the doctor. I went to a runner’s store that molded shoe inserts right in the store. They have this machine you can stand on, and they were under a hundred bucks at the time I got mine. It was at road runner sports in tualatin Oregon. I think they’re in multiple states, but I would think there are other stores that have a machine like that too.
I do think a firmer sole than is on a tennis show would help with planter fasciitis, but maybe inserts could provide that support. I just wonder if any tennis shoes like that have foam that won’t break down so fast.
Maybe. But keep in mind these worked relatively well for me for 3,000 miles before I had an issue. Foot doctors opinion is that was a pretty big sign of success and the issues were probably more due to taking a bad step at some point + aging. I'm going to try the custom othotics she made from a scan and then we'll go from there. When I've previously experimented with store bought / stove moulded inserts they had little to negative effects
@ that’s pretty cool that they validated the shoes. I’ve never heard of stove molded inserts. I’d like to think the machine in that store was more precise, they came out the same as my expensive ones. But it is always tricky because throwing off the foot will fuck up the rest of the gate and then cause other issues. So I’m not surprised by that outcome.
I’m glad it’s not bone spurs or a pinched nerve. That’s definitely a more expensive fix.
@criticaloptimist you basically heat them up in the stove to soften them and then stand on them while they cool. Similar to the moulding things Osprey offers in store for their packs. I didn’t feel like either had much of an affect though
@ I would like to think the store machine works better, just because I tried one of those at home night guards and totally messed it up lol. So I know if I tried making them in the stove I’d probably f it up too. lol
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The sixteen-hour bus ride potential from Moab back to Colorado reminds me of you chuckling in some parking lot you'd walked three-thousand miles to and the sign said: "Did you know you could have taken a bus here?"
ASICS gelventures are another possibility. I also wear 14 wide
Jen wears asics but she has annoying normal feet. I haven’t tried them in my size
Have you considered exploring MLS laser therapy-it played a significant role in my recovery from plantar fasciitis in the heel area.
Thank you for the update!
The mogollon rim is beautiful. In the white mountains of arizona/new mexico. It will be lovely.
I really liked hiking in Arizona and New Mexico. Seems llike Mogollon will be doable in that time period. So at this point it's either that or try the AZT again
Come walk across Kansas in July again. Lol
The other week I was actually telling Jen maybe next summer we could try and walk around the entire perimeter of Kansas and how we probably be the first people to hike that. She seemed to be distracted by glaring at somebody who was standing behind me…
@@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes That does sound like fun, but not in July
I'm not usually one to comment, but check out the Slovenia Mountain Trail or the Great Divide Trail here in Canada. Looking forward to your Yukon River trip - my daughter lives in Whitehorse and she has paddled to Dawson City as well as the entire length of the MacKenzie.
I’ve looked at the GDT but it wouldn’t work for early season. Also my understanding is the camping permits can be a bit of a challenge.
@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes I agree- early season not feasible and have no idea how the permitting system works! There is a comprehensive guidebook by Dustin Lynx that might be worthwhile looking into. I'd happily gift you my copy as I have no intention of ever completing it, lol.
Matt, I’m happy for you and thank you for getting your feet inspected pain from stress fractures hi stupid confusion
You and I know you'll be back in Kansas in no time. Challenge of a lifetime. Can't pass it up. In the meantime I'll "be getting the heck out of Dodge" come summertime.
I tried to sell Taters on being the first people to circumnavigate Kansas during the summer on foot and she stopped talking to me for the rest of the car ride...
Hokas made my feet miserable, gave them to a friend and they were perfect for him.
I tend to drill into folks at the wilderness class that feet are very individual and what works for one person probably won't work for another. Or at least won't be ideal. Or else you get Altra clown shoes
14 wide is a brutal size
Small children can use them for shelter in the rain
Had Plantar fasciitis for about 6 months due to Pickleball a few years ago; took a few weeks off and allowed it to heal and have never had it again. Pain was manifested in the heel. A buddy snapped his planter fascities 4 months ago while playing Pickleball and was back playing in about 3 weeks. The Dr said he would have done a surgery to sever that tendon anyway so my friend feels like he saved the doctor a surgery...
I had it before in my 30s so bad I couldn't bend my foot in the morning and was able to rehab it but I also have friends with chronic issues. So we'll just have to see
@ since I wrote that the same friend severed his other foot playing PB. 🤦
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Raja Ampat, whoah. I went awol in the Bird's Head in 1980, back when West Papua was called Irian Jaya. There was a low-grade war, kind of a fight for one of the last of the world's great forests. When I came out of the mountains I got kicked out but not by the Indonesians. My friend Keith went into the CIA and I didn't, is the short story. Anyway I haven't wanted to look since, but I'll bet there's some stunning beauty left, despite...
Take a look at Keen Shoes if you haven't. Very durable and a Giant toe box. I believe they offer wide sizes in everything as well.
Check out Aetrex L400 insoles for a non prescription route. I did the AT and CDT with them in my Altras. Get one size bigger for extra wide shoes.
Glad you are getting some rest for the feet. While in Europe have you looked in to doing the Icelandic trail systems
Iceland is one of those places I'd love to visit. And there is that iconic dive between the plates there. Trail wise the only things I've seen are on the shorter end and that can be hard to justify the travel costs with our current financial restrictions
Matt- did your podiatrist also suggest night braces for your left foot? The combination of doing my last set of the stair stretch right before bed and then sleeping in my feet braces is so magical. The only thing that did better was steroid injections in my heels.
So glad you are starting to heal up and have fantastic plans upcoming!
She didn’t. She did offer a steroid injection but I was reluctant to go that way vs let it recover with time
@ I didn’t know the night braces were a thing until my podiatrist suggested them. She said they help to prevent overnight regression and allow the muscles and tendons to heal in a stretched position overnight. (She was better at explaining it than I am, but it was a relatively cheap solution to an extremely painful problem)
I went through my first ever foot issues this year so I can relate. In addition to a podiatrist, please also consider seeing a foot and ankle orthopedist. They receive more training than podiatrists; both in terms of years in training but also more parts of the body. I also recommend getting a second, third, fourth opinion from doctors that specifically say they focus on sports medicine or athletes; it will save you time and money in the long run IMO.
I also don't recommend most custom orthotics. I've gotten two pairs this past year. My first pair was the classic orthotics that podiatrists sell, rigid heel cup, rigid arch support, and flexible forefoot. The rigid arch support is the biggest issue with this design because they don't allow your arch to collapse/pronation at all when walking, which is unnatural and can cause issue up the chain of your leg. If you have a broken bone this type of orthotic is great because it's like wearing a cast, but if you want to be active this design is not good. My second pair of orthotics was made by an orthotist (didn't even know that was a thing) and they're so much better! But I still don't wear them. After going through all the docs and orthotics this past year, I still prefer my over the counter currex or powerstep insoles. Ultimately rest is what fixed my issue but rest is the worst medicine.
With all that said, you put a ton of miles on your feet this year while carrying a lot of weight and you are dealing with overuse injuries. Unfortunately there's no silver bullet for overuse injuries (ask me how I know 🥲). But your plan to cross train on the bike is solid. Maybe try cutting weight somehow? I know you're not an ultralighter but decreasing the weight your asking your bones, joints, and muscles to support will help decrease/postpone injuries.
My base weight is around 19-20 lbs which feels quite reasonable. When I have to carry a gallon plus of water and 5-6 days of food that’s when my pack looks so large. Kind of hard to avoid that with the style trips I enjoy.
Great update, Hope the doctors can fix the feet. (Being that they are important for hiking)
As for a thought... Have you given any thought to hiking The Great Wall of China? Apparently, there are some long hikable sections.
It seems like hiking TGWoC would make for a memorable adventure. (But might be a slight logistical challenge)
No, but I did ride a toboggan down the side of the Great Wall during a flight layover when I went to Thailand for my scuba dm. We generally avoid areas with the possibility of geopolitical complication. See those hikers who were grabbed by Iran a number of years back
thanks for the weap
I have capulitis on my 2nd toe and it feels like its at the ball in the front of the foot as well. Look up taping for capsulitis as it will take the stress off that toe.
The foot doctor put a piece of foam into my shoe which she said would take pressure off the area. Hard to say if it's helped. Orthotics are coming next week
Custom inserts worked for my foot issues, so hopefully they work for yours!
My only question is will they last thru the amount of miles you walk annually without breaking down and, if not, are they prohibitively expensive to replace as needed?
I have tried both custom and store-bought inserts before without much luck. But we will see how this goes.
@@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes Tell the doc they need to mold them out of solid aluminum! lol More durability less weight. (joking)
I've been wearing orthotics since 1978. In those ancient times they made plaster casts of your feet. As the podiatrist was making the casts, he was talking to the nurse about my feet and said "this is terminal!" She said "Don't say that!"
They didn't fix everything, but they helped a lot.
Last time I tried them it was plaster casts. This time they actually scanned my foot with the LIDAR scanner on an ipad. Hopefully the end result will be a little more helpful this time
I wish I would have know you were going to be in Fort Collins, I would have taken you out to my favorite Mexican Restaurant in town. Maybe next time.
What’s your favorite Mexican there? U was having vehicle issues so it was a really short visit. Just stopped to see my grandfather for a few hours.
@@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes INCA Check it out next time!
Matt have you read/seen long way down/round? When I think about traveling in Europe I always think of those books
The only real long distance hiking books I've read are A Walk in the Woods and The Long Walk. I tend to struggle to make it through that kind of book unless it has people freezing to death on mountains
I bought the same shoes you've been using because our feet are similarly-shaped. I've been wearing them on hikes and walks every day for several months now. They're great. If you could start your Moab to SF trip any month at all, no other commitments in the way, which month would it be?
Hmm. Honestly I think I’d choose around when I’ll be going back to it. Fall is better in the desert (see the Fruita issues) and that means a better Sierra crossing
Hoaka now has wides. I have to order directly from Hoaka.
They did before when I tried them on the Condor v1. They just aren't actually very wide
I dont have big feet but i have wide feet and i hear you. What some shoe companies consider to be wide is laughable. I generally look for shoes that come in extra extra wide sizes and only then do i find succedz.
Try the northern canoe trail and with a size 14W you don’t need fins?
The North Forest Canoe Trail is on the list doing at some point
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You're a film-maker, so a bit of foot trouble maybe helps you focus on that aspect.
Look into TOPO brand shoes for a very wide and comfy forefoot. I tried my first pair 6 months ago and love them. I only wear size 11, unlike you, but maybe they will be a good match for you
I’ve tried them and found despite being advertised as a drop in replacement for Altras they didn’t work for me. Ended up having to scramble to swap them out during the GET
What's this? A new video from Masochist? Well Cool! So, is there some person who has recorded the most through hikes? Are you hoping to be this person some day? Looking forward to new videos. Even diving ones. I know nothing about diving . . . other than working with what we call "scuba" tanks in my capacity as a Respiratory Therapist. I just exchange them on transport beds, 'cuz sometimes we have patients on a butt-load of oxygen needing to be moved around the hospital.
You could probably make an hour-long supercut of Taters laughing with no context, using clips from various existing videos.
The legendary giggle cut...
First I wish you a speedy recovery. Second the stretches in this video really helped me ruclips.net/video/72p58Iy6u7M/видео.html&ab_channel=ATHLEAN-X%E2%84%A2. In addition to those, stretching the front of calf-tibialis anterior-which most people ignore, also really helped.
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Unsolicited advice. There you go. Just in case you run out.
🤣🤣
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I walk backwards two miles every morning. I'm pretty sure if you walked backwards from Moab to San Francisco you'd have less, um, pre-stress. Hey, I'm a real doctor. The wrong kind, however. Very very wrong.
OOFOS
My husband whom you met at the start of your CDT hiked the Via Transilvanica over early July until end of September and loved it. If you want any info from him he's willing to talk extensively on it.
How was the camping? My biggest thing is I want to avoid hostels and similar crowded sleeping arrangements
@
I’ll have Matt reply. You will be pleasantly surprised by his answers. Walked almost the whole way alone staying in places by himself for the most part and he’d be able to comment on the camping
im still following i like mike
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With all these adventures of yours, maybe you can work in sometime being the first person to cross a continent on an Alinker. They seem to be a sort of cross between walking and riding a bike.
Don't worry tRump has a concept of a health care plan all will be good in 2025. . glad you have survived
I thought Obama fixed all that?
@@386DartHe did. tRump and company are determined to unfix it
Happy Thanksgiving
The infection from your mouth likely settled in your feet. See the book written by Dr. Thomas Levy. A ketogenic diet can help you heal naturally. Not one with all kinds of processed food but less than 10 carbs per day. Meat and low carbs veggies and NO sugar. You can continue with your love of long distance hiking/ biking well into your eighties and nineties.