Take care of those wheels!
Apr 20, 2007 08: 29 EST
As the climbing Sherpa make repeated trips up the ice fall and higher to camps 2 and 3, we are starting to see more of the problems encountered by this hardworking group. Today a Sherpa presented with blisters that had worked their way into burrowing ulcers on his heels. It turns out that he was given a pair of used climbing boots which were too big for him. (How he managed to carry his load to camp 2 and return back down having pain with every step is amazing!) Fortunately he had no sign of infection in the area. Too many Sherpa and porters work with inadequate or inappropriate footwear. Boots should fit snuggly around the heel to prevent movement, but allow wiggle room for the toes for good circulation. Two pairs of socks, one a thin liner and the second a warm layer and both breathable, such as polypro or wool, will also help decrease friction and the risk of blisters. Cotton socks are not a good choice as they tend to remain damp, promoting both blisters and frostbite.
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