I arrived with two pairs of socks, running shoes and no intention of joining these barefoot hikers in their quest to commune with nature. Don Weber and Phelps Gates are the Triangle leaders of the Barefoot Hikers of North Carolina. Barefoot hikers leave their shoes at home Sunday afternoons. Hikes are held at 2 p.m. at Umstead Park and Eno River State Parks as well as at Duke Forest and other local trails. There are also national hikes quarterly across the nation.
All outings are strictly barefoot.
Neophytes may carry shoes but everyone's expected to begin without footwear. Weber and Gates feel that barefoot hiking strengthens the feet and leads to an appreciation of the many textures present underfoot. According to Franzine, the joy of barefoot hiking is the idea of getting in touch with nature and doing so on a regular basis. Weber and Gates gave me a few tips when I broke down and took off my shoes and socks. Most important was to step straight down and to do so lightly, almost tentatively at first, to guard against sharp objects and stubbed toes.