I'm experiencing pain at the center of my heel on the bottom of my left foot. It started 2 days ago some time after a 10 mile 5 hour hike (Mt Rose). I did that same hike 1 week prior to that. I'm planning on going up Whitney in 11 days and am worried that this might prevent my Whitney hike. I plan on doing a 6 mile hike Tuesday. Maybe I'll try a different shoe. The pain might be diminishing each day but that might be my imagination. Any thoughts or similar experiences?

I've been experiencing the same thing. Kind of left center heel. Not sure what it is other then an anomaly. Maybe stepped on something wrong and didn't know it. I have an issue with my left foot where it gets stiff and achey after laying down for awhile. At 35 some would say I'm getting old but i refuse to go along with that. I know the foot is very intricate and as tough as the foot is, the slightest tweak can linger for a long time. Pop some ibuprofen, stretch the foot out and hike on. Happy trails to your Whitney hike. I'm due up therr beginning of October and can't wait!

You might have an inflamed plantar fascia. It's time to see a podiatrist, and rest your feet until then. The more you continue long hikes, the worst it will get. I had the same thing a few years back and the podiatrist gave me a fitted shoe insert, which helped until the fascia healed.

Possibly plantar fasciitis

I had it.

See a podiatrist.

Get the orange Superfeet. I recommend it. I have them in all of my boots and shoes. They are not cheap but worth it.

REI, shoe stores.

You beat me to the punch, Bob West!

Bummer! I'll try to see a podiatrist this week. Will I be able to go up the Mountaineer's Route Aug 16?

For many decades of outdoor activity and running, I never had foot problems. Then I did some work involving standing on a ladder, and that got a foot problem started. After a few months, I finally recognized it as plantar fasciitis. For some, it shows up in the arch area. For others, it is toward the heel. I immediately did the standard exercises with a frozen roller to treat it, and then I started using generic orthodics to improve the arch support. It's been three years now and the symptoms have not returned.

I feel your pain. I've been nursing a pain in my right arch for the past 2 weeks ever since a trial run with new boots.

Lesson learned: When testing new boots on a long hike (8 miles round trip), bring a pair of known good shoes so you can ditch the new boots once you've determined they won't work.

Those new boots went back to the store.

Fortunately, with some careful wrapping on the foot, the pain has gradually gone away to the point I will probably not bother wrapping it next week to see how it is without the wrap.

Short hike tomorrow, so that'll be a test of how it feels on the trail.

If you only have 11 days before your hike, I'd recommend seeing the doctor just to be sure there's nothing major wrong. I've had the luxury of knowing I had 4 weeks till my first possible start date for my 7 day hike from OV to Whitney, so haven't seen my doctor yet.

I echo the suggestion above about finding the right insert for your shoes (although this close to your hike, it might be too late to experiment with various inserts). I don't even use the regular inserts in my everyday shoes.