To Walk Far, Carry Less : Camino de Santiago by Jean-Christie Ashmore Page A
Authors: Jean-Christie Ashmore
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while you’re walking the Camino. Besides, imagine this: men shaving their legs and underarms. Sounds strange, doesn’t it? Why do women go to that trouble, but men don’t? The Camino pilgrimage offers women a chance to try something different too.
First Aid
Backpacker’s First Aid Kit
A prepackaged backpacker’s first aid kit typically comes with sterile dressings, different sizes and types of adhesive bandages, tape, ibuprofen, antihistamines, antibiotic ointment, treated wipes for cleaning cuts, moleskin pieces for blisters, and sometimes a couple of safety pins. Everything is contained in a compact waterproof packet. The size I take fits in the palm of my hand.
The number of items contained in the kit determines its size and weight. The heaviest backpacker’s first aid kit I’ve seen weighed about a kilogram (more than two pounds)—a mini-hospital, or a hypochondriac’s dream kit.
I prefer the ultralight version for the Camino, because it only weighs 99 grams (about 3.5 ounces). One can always supplement the kit by buying items at the local pharmacies frequently found along Camino routes.
Personal Medications
Check with your doctor regarding any medications you’ll need while you’re on the Camino. Be sure to take enough for the entire time you’ll be gone, as well as copies of prescriptions, should you need refills.
Small Scissors
To cut bandages and gauze and for other miscellaneous tasks, take a tiny pair of scissors. I buy a small size that fits into my backpacker’s first aid kit.
If you’re flying to Europe and won’t be checking any luggage, it’s likely that security won’t let you take scissors on the plane. You can easily buy a small pair of scissors upon arrival in France or Spain.
----
Camino Lingo
Scissors
Spanish = tijeras
French = ciseaux
----
Blister Treatment
I once checked out a book from the library that was devoted entirely to the care of the feet. In the chapter on blisters, over a hundred backpackers, runners, and other athletes offered their advice for the prevention and treatment of blisters. All types of adhesive tapes, powders, creams, ointments, “skins,” and socks were suggested.
I soon realized that one contributor’s advice often contradicted another’s. One backpacker swore that duct tape prevented blisters; another emphatically disagreed and wrote that duct tape causes blisters. He then offered his own solution, which was then contradicted by another contributor’s method for blister prevention.
Apparently, the author enlisted such advice because he knew he couldn’t provide a definitive answer on the one true way to prevent and treat blisters. And neither can I.
Blisters are by far the most common ailment on the Camino, and everyone has their own methods for prevention and treatment. Even pharmacies along the popular Camino routes sometimes specialize in blister-treatment products and advice.
Because I haven’t found the perfect solution to prevent or treat blisters, I can only provide a list of what I find most useful.
Toe Gel Caps
Toe gel caps slip over the toes. Made of an oil-impregnated silicone gel, they’re lightweight, soft, and flexible. Packages of toe gel caps usually come in four sizes so you can get a close-enough fit for your baby toes, big toes, and those in between—then easily cut them for an even better fit.
At the first hint of a blister forming on a toe, I slip a toe gel cap on that toe to stop the problem. The caps are also great for covering calluses on the bottom or side of a toe.
Toe gel caps are sometimes difficult to find; I buy mine from Feet Relief ( www.feetrelief.com ). They’re based in San Francisco but sell internationally. They also have a variety of other products to prevent or relieve problems with the feet (click on “Products” at the top of their website to navigate your way to the toe caps).
Gentle Paper Tape
This extremely thin tape is often used by athletes to cover areas that might
First Aid
Backpacker’s First Aid Kit
A prepackaged backpacker’s first aid kit typically comes with sterile dressings, different sizes and types of adhesive bandages, tape, ibuprofen, antihistamines, antibiotic ointment, treated wipes for cleaning cuts, moleskin pieces for blisters, and sometimes a couple of safety pins. Everything is contained in a compact waterproof packet. The size I take fits in the palm of my hand.
The number of items contained in the kit determines its size and weight. The heaviest backpacker’s first aid kit I’ve seen weighed about a kilogram (more than two pounds)—a mini-hospital, or a hypochondriac’s dream kit.
I prefer the ultralight version for the Camino, because it only weighs 99 grams (about 3.5 ounces). One can always supplement the kit by buying items at the local pharmacies frequently found along Camino routes.
Personal Medications
Check with your doctor regarding any medications you’ll need while you’re on the Camino. Be sure to take enough for the entire time you’ll be gone, as well as copies of prescriptions, should you need refills.
Small Scissors
To cut bandages and gauze and for other miscellaneous tasks, take a tiny pair of scissors. I buy a small size that fits into my backpacker’s first aid kit.
If you’re flying to Europe and won’t be checking any luggage, it’s likely that security won’t let you take scissors on the plane. You can easily buy a small pair of scissors upon arrival in France or Spain.
----
Camino Lingo
Scissors
Spanish = tijeras
French = ciseaux
----
Blister Treatment
I once checked out a book from the library that was devoted entirely to the care of the feet. In the chapter on blisters, over a hundred backpackers, runners, and other athletes offered their advice for the prevention and treatment of blisters. All types of adhesive tapes, powders, creams, ointments, “skins,” and socks were suggested.
I soon realized that one contributor’s advice often contradicted another’s. One backpacker swore that duct tape prevented blisters; another emphatically disagreed and wrote that duct tape causes blisters. He then offered his own solution, which was then contradicted by another contributor’s method for blister prevention.
Apparently, the author enlisted such advice because he knew he couldn’t provide a definitive answer on the one true way to prevent and treat blisters. And neither can I.
Blisters are by far the most common ailment on the Camino, and everyone has their own methods for prevention and treatment. Even pharmacies along the popular Camino routes sometimes specialize in blister-treatment products and advice.
Because I haven’t found the perfect solution to prevent or treat blisters, I can only provide a list of what I find most useful.
Toe Gel Caps
Toe gel caps slip over the toes. Made of an oil-impregnated silicone gel, they’re lightweight, soft, and flexible. Packages of toe gel caps usually come in four sizes so you can get a close-enough fit for your baby toes, big toes, and those in between—then easily cut them for an even better fit.
At the first hint of a blister forming on a toe, I slip a toe gel cap on that toe to stop the problem. The caps are also great for covering calluses on the bottom or side of a toe.
Toe gel caps are sometimes difficult to find; I buy mine from Feet Relief ( www.feetrelief.com ). They’re based in San Francisco but sell internationally. They also have a variety of other products to prevent or relieve problems with the feet (click on “Products” at the top of their website to navigate your way to the toe caps).
Gentle Paper Tape
This extremely thin tape is often used by athletes to cover areas that might
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