Greetings barefooters!
Its about 0 degrees today in Boulder, CO, but I've determined that barefooting it is something I want and need to do. Somehow I just can't bring myself to bare my tootsies for more than about 60 seconds in this weather. We've been practicing walking barefoot in the snow a bit, but that is hardly anything in the world of barefoot.
I've done some barefoot walking in the woods, and my virgin barefoot experience including walking up a very steep, very stoney hill in the dark with a full backpack on. I was mostly too lazy to put wet shoes back on after crossing and swimming in the river at dusk...so i just huffed it. But it really hurt. Some part of me still fears the teeth and spines of the desert where I used to live( anyone around here from southern az and barefoot?) It's not so much my skin and toes that ache, but the tendons and joints when I've tried it for any length of time.

Got any tips for a newbie?

Thanks!