Zoom Replay: Preparing Physically, Packing List & Tips for the March

Rachel Cross is a part of the GMM community who has walked multiple 500+ mile pilgrimages. In this Zoom she shares a bit of her story and ways to prepare / what to purchase… for the March.

Her lists of suggested gear and how to prepare can be accessed in Google Drive HERE.

Here are some notes from our gathering:

Rachel’s Walking Experience Overview

• Completed four 500+ mile sacred treks

  • Three Camino de Santiago routes (France/Spain)

  • Half of Shikoku Buddhist pilgrimage (Japan)

• Started long-distance walking at age 54

• 62-year-old artist, not super athlete

• All walks began solo, formed walking families along route

Essential Gear & Preparation

• Footwear critical for blister prevention:

  • Shoes half to full size larger (feet swell during daily walking)

  • Start wearing new shoes daily before march

  • Double-layer socks (Right Sock brand recommended)

  • Keep toenails short

  • FROM Shari (see our exercises on YouTube HERE) she would not march without: leukotape (as soon as you get a hotspot you put this on, like medical tape but more fabric-like), 2nd Skin Squares, heal gel bandaids, Skin Barrier Ointment from Salty Britches, Traumeel for sore muscles, and tiger balm to warm up muscles that feel strained.

• Daily foot care routine:

  • Body Glide Anti-Blister product on foot bottoms

  • Two shoe pairs: hiking boots + hiking sandals for evenings

• Trekking poles reduce 25% weight/impact on joints

• Essential items: buff/bandana, rain pants, early morning starts

Other items to bring…

• Solar chargers for your phone.

• Towel and/or sarong

• Yoga mat for DAILY stretching and yoga.

• Your colorful caftan to be a part of our colorful wave of walkers! We love the caftans from this Etsy shop.

• Sunblock.

• Writing journal.

• Camping gear for those who are camping.

• Lots of protein, energy bars, electrolytes.

• WATER BOTTLE. We are a ZERO plastic water bottle zone. Or a vest like Ultimate Direction’s Ultra Vesta 6.0.

• Your own to-go food containers. You want to have your own bowl, utensils and cup/mug.

• Camping gear if you are camping, headlamp(s)—everything you need!

PACKING TIPS:

• Rubbermaid tote large enough for your clothes, shoes, toiletries with PACKING CUBES inside, labeled (think colored duct tape with SOCKS, LONG SLEEVE SHIRTS, LEGGINGS… written on them.

• Of course, Whitney Freya has ordered these packing cubes! See how they double zip to really squish down small?

• This way your tote is in the support vehicle with others’ totes (so don’t get the massive ones) and when you get to each stop, you just pull out your tote!

*Some links are amazon associates links.

Diamond Brand Outdoors in Asheville does carry many of these items as well.