You definitely don t need a friend to join you for safety on Camelback or Squaw Peak. There are serious risk such as injury, hypothermia or worse involved with hiking. I believe it s more important to let several others know about your plans, destination and expected return time . Fritzski One of the most common mistakes I have seen is folks wearing cotton athletic socks. As I have experienced first hand it is almost a guaranteed ticket to blisters.
Cotton absorbs the moisture and becomes damp and very sticky and abrasive against the skin.
There are also new synthetic blends specially made for warm climates that I particularly like. Also as joe mentions, its better to have the boot slightly large than slightly tight. Your feet will swell as you hike. I also prefer to wear sandals to and from the trailhead to minimize the time I'm in my boots. Submit Info Disclaimer - Hike at your own risk.