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Yes a good interview with someone from HHP would be very illuminating. As you say, there are some aspects to this feat which would be worth knowing.

I have to say I’ve not put anywhere near enough miles on my heels to come close, as yet, to wearing them out. That is both good and bad

I am about to set some durability records, which I will write about elsewhere as soon as they actually happen. However, with one pair, it's going to be a nail-biter. I've owned four pairs of this particular type of shoe, and the same thing always happens at about 100 miles--the shank breaks, and they're done. On pair number 4, I've currently got 105 miles, 10 miles short of the record for this particular shoe model. However, I noticed yesterday that one of my top lifts (heel tips) has started to wear kind of funny. You know what THAT means--impending doom! We'll see if they last another 10 miles in the days to come.

It would be very interesting to interview Ms. Ton, HHP style. The news outlets who have interviewed her thus far have not been asking the right questions! I personally am the most interested in exactly how she wound up picking that particular style. I have many different types of sandals, and that would be almost the last choice I would have made, a single strap across the toes with a closed heel and a strap round the ankle. Evidently, it works for her! But why is nobody asking the question?

Snap! I’m doing the same in my hotel room! It’s so nice to have virtual company in this. I’m finding the hotel room a good place to practice - I can get seven or eight steps, enough to count and it’s a nice activity after a day of being on a tour bus!

I've been practicing out in the garage with my 11.5 cm stiletto mules. It sounds strange, but it's the only place I've got where I can walk more than 6 steps in a row, so I can try to perfect my walk the best I can before I take it to the streets.

Yes, I’m done with mid heels too. I’m in my hotel on the tour tonight with my 12cm heels - renewing my acquaintance!

Quite interesting and impressive, but also probably one of the worst acticities to wear heels. Hiking on uneven terrain requires a very good support and tight fit of the shoes, which certainly any sandals won't offer. I do many things in heels but I won't try that, at least not in sandals 😉

@mlroseplant Absolutely understandable that you felt a big difference. 1,6 km is not that less and I would also feel the difference between a 8 cm and 11 cm heel. Good job! I'm done with my mid-heels week, my feet are recovered and I'll get the Hot Chicks out again this week 🙂

I’m off to lead another tour, my 12cm stiletto boots packed in my suitcase for after hours practice. I’ve been very slack the past few days, sticking to my 8cm chunky heeled ankle boots. I’ll see how much I’ve regressed when I try them on in my hotel this evening.

In my usual walk routine, I have short days and long days. Yesterday was a short day, meaning my walk was but a single mile (1.6 km). I chose to wear "real" high heels, just to up my game a little bit. Not all the way up to 12 cm, but close. Maybe 10.5 or 11, once you discount a little bit for my size 40. There is a big difference between that and my typical 8 to 10 cm walking shoes. If I ever get to the point where the high ones feel completely natural to walk in, that will be something. They weren't bad at all, I just never felt super at ease with them. The entire mile felt like, "Yes, you are wearing high heels."

Back to the question of what does it really accomplish. I personally get it, but I also can see your point of view. I mean, I'm kind of guilty of the same thing on a much smaller level. Why do I keep track of how many miles I walk in heels? What does THAT really accomplish? My answer to that is that it's just fun for me, and if nobody else gets it, that's fine. Nobody except for you guys even knows about my record keeping, so I definitely don't do it for the fame! On the other hand, I wouldn't want to work my job in heels, even though it would be a bit of an accomplishment. I'm not sure what the qualitative difference is, but there is one to me personally.

That’s an excellent point! A lot of sports are - or can be - bad for you. And yes, heels have risks like any sport or form of exercise, but they have benefits too: filter calves, better balance, and easing of back spasms (I’ve found) if you suffer from them. One can’t look just on the debit side for heels, and just on the credit side for sports and exercise

Hasn't had any problems with the ankles, but the blisters sure do suck. Yup, been there, done that. I carry bandaids with me at nearly all times, and sometimes even then, it doesn't work. 2024 was the Year of the Band-Aid, but this year, not so much, despite the fact that my walking mileage is nearly 50% more than last year. I have some theories about why, but no concrete evidence to back it up. The article did not really go into specifics about the negative feedback she got from "mostly male" commenters, but I can imagine. Some guys just love to tell a woman what to do. It's part of some people's culture. "Oh, that's really stupid, hon, you're going to get hurt." You know what else will get you hurt? Playing American football. This is the same conversation I had with my "sports medicine" chiropractor when he told me that wearing heels was super bad for my body in general. Not as bad as playing football. I would advise your patients to quit that immediately. End of conversation. It's never come up again.

For sure! Don

I've heard stories of climbing Helvellyn (just over 3000 feet) in stilettos for a dare. Coming down again in heels sounds truly daft. At least this woman in Colorado changed into trail shoes for the descent.

I smell an advertising campaign. Glad to see p1ng74 posting again.

I remember seeing this story a while back. It’s certainly an impressive feat - as indeed climbing all the 14,000 foot peaks would be in any sort of footwear. But I don’t see what is being accomplished here in any broader sense. I don’t see how it’s altering or challenging stereotypes or doing much of anything besides getting her some odd-spot publicity. I like wearing heels, but I just don’t see the desirability of climbing mountains in them. it would be like me deciding to perform the Swan Lake Ballet in my Scarpa Mountaineering boots. It might be possible, but what would be the point?

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/erin-ton-colorado-fourteeners-high-heels I’m particularly impressed she is in sandals. Mink has created custom heels for her and I guess they hold up to the job!

Very well. I did not get a photo taken of my church Outfit Of The Week, but I did manage to fall asleep in the afternoon, so that I was forced to go out to dinner, being as I woke up too late to begin cooking supper. It was nice enough weather to eat outside, and I was forced to look at our reflection in the storefront windows the whole time. It's all I got. Oh, by the way, somebody I know walked past and said, "Beautiful shoes, as always!" I didn't get turned around in time to see who it was. That sort of comment drives my wife crazy, though she keeps it well hid these days.

If he did, he evidently did not write about them. Pity. Have a good week, y'all!

Please do keep this thread going, melrose. It is appreciated, enjoyed and does indeed prompt considered response - on tangential issues as well as to the specific subject matter.

Congratulations on the milestone! That’s a lot of walking in high heels. I’ve never kept track of any of my mileage. You would have some interesting insights on heels and durability and the training necessary to be adept at walking in them. i like this thread by the way. Although I might not respond I always read and enjoy your posts.

Yes it’s encouraging. I think too that my recent efforts to try to learn to walk in 12cm heels has paid dividends in my being suddenly much more at home in 10cm heels