Fitness 2015

[mongers]

So you typed out the long disclaimer instead of, you know, googling it...

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Mt.Mackinly

No because I actively wanted to demonstrate my disinterested in the name of the mountain, I guess I probably know it's named after a president or prime minister, but still don't know or care if it's in America or Canada, for some reason it sounds like a boring mountain. 

edit:

and you trip sounds like a very nice one on several levels.

[Barrister]

So you typed out the long disclaimer instead of, you know, googling it...

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Mt.Mackinly

No because I actively wanted to demonstrate my disinterested in the name of the mountain, I guess I probably know it's named after a president or prime minister, but still don't know or care if it's in America or Canada, for some reason it sounds like a boring mountain. 

edit:

and you trip sounds like a very nice one on several levels.

The highest peak in north america is anything but boring (and it's in Alaska).



My trek though is up and around Mount Robson:

http://www.dgphoto.com/data/web/Via_Rail/MT_Robson_1_.jpg

Now I'm not Dorsey, and I won't be going anywhere near the summit, but the plan is to take the trails up and around it in the backcountry.

[alfred russel]

My trek though is up and around Mount Robson:

http://www.dgphoto.com/data/web/Via_Rail/MT_Robson_1_.jpg

Now I'm not Dorsey, and I won't be going anywhere near the summit, but the plan is to take the trails up and around it in the backcountry.

Depending on your access to resources, a 5 day backpacking trip is scarier to me than going for the summit. A tent, sleeping bag, 5 days of food, some amount of water, etc. is quite a heavy pack to carry around. Now if you are going from well equipped campsite to well equipped campsite, that may be more fun.

I'm scrawny and not very strong, so the cardio doesn't worry me as much as the heavy rucksacks. My ultimate ambition would be to climb something like McKinley. That is generally a 2 week expedition, and rucksack weight is generally 50 pounds with another 50 pulled in a sled. Multiple trips up and down from camps are required in the early stages to get gear and supplies up the mountain. Currently, that would kill me before anything on the mountain.

[mongers]

My trek though is up and around Mount Robson:

http://www.dgphoto.com/data/web/Via_Rail/MT_Robson_1_.jpg

Now I'm not Dorsey, and I won't be going anywhere near the summit, but the plan is to take the trails up and around it in the backcountry.

Depending on your access to resources, a 5 day backpacking trip is scarier to me than going for the summit. A tent, sleeping bag, 5 days of food, some amount of water, etc. is quite a heavy pack to carry around. Now if you are going from well equipped campsite to well equipped campsite, that may be more fun.

I'm scrawny and not very strong, so the cardio doesn't worry me as much as the heavy rucksacks. My ultimate ambition would be to climb something like McKinley. That is generally a 2 week expedition, and rucksack weight is generally 50 pounds with another 50 pulled in a sled. Multiple trips up and down from camps are required in the early stages to get gear and supplies up the mountain. Currently, that would kill me before anything on the mountain.

AR I don't think so, back in my day I'd carry a pack/bergen topping out at 25% of body weigh, say 45lb for similar 5-7 day journeys, but then I probably had daily access to potable water, plus occasional food top-up, maybe twice a trip. So I think that's doable and I bet BB or Maltus have far greater experience of those sorts of trips than I do.

[crazy canuck]

My target is to weigh 165, or at least have a body fat percentage of oh, let's say, 12%.

I was 165 in grade 9

Well that's about as meaningful as Ide's target; I don't understand using weight or body fat as the major objective.  Seems like a recipe for failure, rather as most diet are doomed for fail.

He'd be better off just concentrating on a half-marathon time or a training for a death walk up Mt.Mackinly* with AR. 


*no idea how that's spelt or even if it's actually in the US rather than BB's territory.

I agree, which is why I made my post in that way

[mongers]

My target is to weigh 165, or at least have a body fat percentage of oh, let's say, 12%.

I was 165 in grade 9

Well that's about as meaningful as Ide's target; I don't understand using weight or body fat as the major objective.  Seems like a recipe for failure, rather as most diet are doomed for fail.

He'd be better off just concentrating on a half-marathon time or a training for a death walk up Mt.Mackinly* with AR. 


*no idea how that's spelt or even if it's actually in the US rather than BB's territory.

I agree, which is why I made my post in that way

Yeah I got you meaning and was elaborating on it.

[alfred russel]

AR I don't think so, back in my day I'd carry a pack/bergen topping out at 25% of body weigh, say 45lb for similar 5-7 day journeys, but then I probably had daily access to potable water, plus occasional food top-up, maybe twice a trip. So I think that's doable and I bet BB or Maltus have far greater experience of those sorts of trips than I do.

I weigh 150 pounds soaking wet and with rocks in my pockets. I know it is doable, but I struggle carrying heavy packs more than you probably think.

[mongers]

AR I don't think so, back in my day I'd carry a pack/bergen topping out at 25% of body weigh, say 45lb for similar 5-7 day journeys, but then I probably had daily access to potable water, plus occasional food top-up, maybe twice a trip. So I think that's doable and I bet BB or Maltus have far greater experience of those sorts of trips than I do.

I weigh 150 pounds soaking wet and with rocks in my pockets. I know it is doable, but I struggle carrying heavy packs more than you probably think.

Actually AR I'm probably talking bollocks, as none of my stuff ever involved big mountains, nearer to a pleasant after afternoon ramble than what you're going to do. 

Max I've ever done would have been what 28 miles in a day, and that was with a probably net 200' ascent.   

I would say 20% of body weight is do able for long durations, iirc that what the British military would work to for on foot expedition training etc.

That would mean a target of 28 lbs (that number again) for a rucksac, assuming you're down to 10 stone.  Isn't modern kit good enough and light too?

[alfred russel]

Actually AR I'm probably talking bollocks, as none of my stuff ever involved big mountains, nearer to a pleasant after afternoon ramble than what you're going to do. 

Max I've ever done would have been what 28 miles in a day, and that was with a probably net 200' ascent.   

I would say 20% of body weight is do able for long durations, iirc that what the British military would work to for on foot expedition training etc.

That would mean a target of 28 lbs (that number again) for a rucksac, assuming you're down to 10 stone.  Isn't modern kit good enough and light too?

It really depends on what you are doing. Many popular extended hikes in more remote places involve carrying 50-60 pounds or a bit more at the start. There are obviously a lot of variables (will there be potable water, what kinds of safety equipment, what kinds of clothing, will you need a tent, etc).

Modern kit is good and light, but weight adds up quickly. Now if BB is hiking between a series of supplied huts (so he doesn't need to carry all his food and water and can also do without a sleeping bag and tent) his kit could be very light.

[Barrister]

It's in a National Park, so there are marked out campsites, but otherwise no - you pack everything you need on your own back.

Water is something you can get while you're out there - you just have to carry a good water filter.

Food - you can buy most everything freeze-dried.  Just add water and heat.

Sleeping bag is a necessity, but while it can be large, it isn't heavy at all.

Tent - well the plan is it'll be three of us - me, my brother, and his Brazillian brother-in-law.  So we only need one tent.  The person who carries that, carries less food.

Now  I don't have a whole hell of a lot of experience, but I have done one multi-day hike.  The pack is heavy, but you're not carrying the kind of equipment AR would need to scale a mountain - just a good pair of hiking boots.

So to bring it back on topic - what kind of training do I need to do to get ready for this?  Trip is August long weekend.

[mongers]

It's in a National Park, so there are marked out campsites, but otherwise no - you pack everything you need on your own back.

Water is something you can get while you're out there - you just have to carry a good water filter.

Food - you can buy most everything freeze-dried.  Just add water and heat.

Sleeping bag is a necessity, but while it can be large, it isn't heavy at all.

Tent - well the plan is it'll be three of us - me, my brother, and his Brazillian brother-in-law.  So we only need one tent.  The person who carries that, carries less food.

Now  I don't have a whole hell of a lot of experience, but I have done one multi-day hike.  The pack is heavy, but you're not carrying the kind of equipment AR would need to scale a mountain - just a good pair of hiking boots.

So to bring it back on topic - what kind of training do I need to do to get ready for this?  Trip is August long weekend.

Do you get 'summer' weather then? 

[Barrister]

um, yes.

[alfred russel]

It's in a National Park, so there are marked out campsites, but otherwise no - you pack everything you need on your own back.

Water is something you can get while you're out there - you just have to carry a good water filter.

Food - you can buy most everything freeze-dried.  Just add water and heat.

Sleeping bag is a necessity, but while it can be large, it isn't heavy at all.

Tent - well the plan is it'll be three of us - me, my brother, and his Brazillian brother-in-law.  So we only need one tent.  The person who carries that, carries less food.

Now  I don't have a whole hell of a lot of experience, but I have done one multi-day hike.  The pack is heavy, but you're not carrying the kind of equipment AR would need to scale a mountain - just a good pair of hiking boots.

So to bring it back on topic - what kind of training do I need to do to get ready for this?  Trip is August long weekend.

I would strongly suggest putting together your starting rucksack well before setting out and walking a few miles on some hilly ground with it, just to see how things go. I know it is different, but when I'm training, I do some practice hikes on steep ground, with a light rucksack with the stuff I need for a dayhike (ie, very light). Sometimes I put a 15 pound weight in there. On those days, I go about 65% as far. Other days, I put a 35 pound weight in there. On those days, I go about 30% as far I do without any weight.

The point is that even at modest weights, it can make a difference and it is worth knowing early on rather than when you start the trip.

It is kind of my answer to everything, but some running will help you get ready. Something that I've used with some success is running during the week and then a big hiking day during the weekend. I assume you are time crunched, and running is a quick way to get in exercise. Hiking is longer in duration, but you can shorten the time by increasing the weight of your rucksack or weight vest (rather than going 10 miles carrying 20 pounds, go 5 miles carrying 40, for example).

There is a strong proponent of squats on this forum. The weighted step up is an alternative:

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/Lower-Body-Exercises/qt/Weighted-Step-Up-Exercise.htm

Something worth thinking about is the food you will be eating and the lack of showering / change of clothes. I know some of this may be basic, but it could save grief.

-Sometimes I struggle eating camp food. Think about trying the food for a day or two to see how you respond. But i would do this well in advance of a trip, because I get horribly tired of camp food after a few days, and I wouldn't want to turn 5 straight days of camp food into 7 days of camp food in 9 or something.
-For 5 days I'll bring them, but i've generally quit bringing baby wipes to stay clean. I bring deodorant for compassion for my fellow man, but I also bring some shampoo (of course in a small tube). Five days without a shower is much easier for me if I find a way to wash my hair every other day or so.
-I bring a clean pair of underwear every day--even though I'm wearing the same clothes, that makes me feel much better. Also, depending on the ground you are going over, I'd think about more than a pair of socks for each day. Wet feet suck, and having dry socks in reserve after getting soaked feet is huge.

[Barrister]

I'm trying to think what we did for the Chilkoot - I think it was clean underwear and socks for every day, but one change of clothes.  Don't remember the food being a problem - you would get hungry after all that exercise, so you'd eat anything.  And the stuff isn't all that bad, really.

Yeah, as I said the plan was to start running again come early spring (it's -20C outside right now, so fuck running).  But any suggestions for a specific program to follow would be appreciated.

[mongers]

.....
Something worth thinking about is the food you will be eating and the lack of showering / change of clothes. I know some of this may be basic, but it could save grief.

-Sometimes I struggle eating camp food. Think about trying the food for a day or two to see how you respond. But i would do this well in advance of a trip, because I get horribly tired of camp food after a few days, and I wouldn't want to turn 5 straight days of camp food into 7 days of camp food in 9 or something.
-For 5 days I'll bring them, but i've generally quit bringing baby wipes to stay clean. I bring deodorant for compassion for my fellow man, but I also bring some shampoo (of course in a small tube). Five days without a shower is much easier for me if I find a way to wash my hair every other day or so.
-I bring a clean pair of underwear every day--even though I'm wearing the same clothes, that makes me feel much better. Also, depending on the ground you are going over, I'd think about more than a pair of socks for each day. Wet feet suck, and having dry socks in reserve after getting soaked feet is huge.

Interesting advice AR, but I'd recommend going Commando, savs carrying all that extra weight, and solve another potential problem or two; it's why it's called commando after all. 

Socks depending on material and make, why not have just two pairs, rinse one in the evening and let it dry on the outside of your backpack all the next day, then rotate.