Training for mountain hunts

[cwbrown]

Thanks, easy tag to draw so I just have to hope the weather cooperates.

[justletmein]

I've been doing a bit of lifting to prepare, took a form check video last session. Yall mind a little critique of my deadlift form?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxXv9BwnZYc/

[Pedernal]

Great info felllas...

I just started doing step ups onto a 16 inch step with a pack on...

[eastxhunter]

I wonder if the hound has trained for his mountain hunt

[CEO]

I'm 56 and climbing Rainier in July. No running for me. Bleachers at the high school stadium with a 40lb pack 1-2 hours twice a week. I'm in decent shape already but this will have me ready. The bleachers give you downhill training that you absolutely need! Stair stepper in the gym can't prepare you for that. Make sure you got plenty of room in the toe box or you'll lose toenails!

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Are you climbing Rainier with a guided group?

[TradAg02]

The best thing you can do is go to Colorado in June or July for a week of backpacking. It will expose your weaknesses and give your workouts motivation to push through to September. It will also show you what gear to cut from your kit and what food/nutrition your body needs.



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[TxAg]

I wonder if the hound has trained for his mountain hunt

This can't be overlooked. Solid post.

[bakin7005]

Are you climbing Rainier with a guided group?

Yes. Alpine Ascents.

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[rvd]

Shane, will you be able to spend anytime at elevation before your hunt? I'm with you on saving the knees, getting old slowly is the game and I'm currently way behind!

[Shane]

Shane, will you be able to spend anytime at elevation before your hunt? I'm with you on saving the knees, getting old slowly is the game and I'm currently way behind!

Hopefully we'll be able to go up 2 or 3 days before the hunt, but it will depend on my buddy's and my work and family schedule.

My wife and I are going to Banff in late July/early August, so I'll get some time at higher elevations there. Long time from then til mid September though.

There's really no way to simulate altitude, and it's hard to have enough free time to spend several days at altitude before a hunt as well. My thinking is the best I can do is to get myself into great physical condition, stay injury-free, and be ready to go when I get there. Then I just deal with the thinner air. It is easier to deal with if you're in shape than if you're not. Last time I hunted Colorado, my brother-in-law was with me. I was in shape, and he wasn't. I could walk up and down the mountain at will, but he could only go 40-100 yards at a time before needing to stop and catch his breath. Neither of us had spent any time at altitude before the hunt. We weren't super high on that hunt - 8,500' - 9,000' or so. My hunt this fall will be similar to that. I won't be above timberline or anything. If I'm in good shape and without nagging injuries or soreness, I'll enjoy a great hunt. I won't be able to run up the side of the mountain with an elk hindquarter in my pack, but I won't need to run. Even if a bear is chasing me, I'll have a bear tag with me.

[rvd]

Hopefully we'll be able to go up 2 or 3 days before the hunt, but it will depend on my buddy's and my work and family schedule.

My wife and I are going to Banff in late July/early August, so I'll get some time at higher elevations there. Long time from then til mid September though.

There's really no way to simulate altitude, and it's hard to have enough free time to spend several days at altitude before a hunt as well. My thinking is the best I can do is to get myself into great physical condition, stay injury-free, and be ready to go when I get there. Then I just deal with the thinner air. It is easier to deal with if you're in shape than if you're not. Last time I hunted Colorado, my brother-in-law was with me. I was in shape, and he wasn't. I could walk up and down the mountain at will, but he could only go 40-100 yards at a time before needing to stop and catch his breath. Neither of us had spent any time at altitude before the hunt. We weren't super high on that hunt - 8,500' - 9,000' or so. My hunt this fall will be similar to that. I won't be above timberline or anything. If I'm in good shape and without nagging injuries or soreness, I'll enjoy a great hunt. I won't be able to run up the side of the mountain with an elk hindquarter in my pack, but I won't need to run. Even if a bear is chasing me, I'll have a bear tag with me.

Roger that I know the difference between me struggling the first couple days at altitude or not other than being in shape is hydration and oxygen. I didn't see if y'all are base camping or what your hunt will be but plenty of water and oxygen if its feasible (machine probably out but the cans are small and light) makes a world of difference for me. Wish I was going but my knees don't right now, maybe next year.

[Trumpkin]

My mountain program focuses on three things.
1. heavier weight lifting work, and general muscle building from winter through July. This includes some weighted pack hikes off trail. That reveals all the muscles you aren't working out in the gym. I use this season to target any weaknesses I am aware of in my muscle groups.

2. August is all about sprint workouts. Nothing prepares you for lack of oxygen like lack of oxygen, and I find that high intensity sprint workouts actually replicate that pretty well. Really you're just teaching your body to recover more quickly with less oxygen available.

3. Flexibility. Try to be stretching year round.

YMMV

[7sdad]

I ride a bike about 100-150 miles per week year round with several races on gravel, in June I will start doing pushups and setups along with riding. Aug. will be nothing but shooting my bow working on calling and some riding.

[TradAg02]

My wife and I are going to Banff in late July/early August, so I'll get some time at higher elevations there. Long time from then til mid September though. D

You can hike from town to the gondola trail. It isn’t very long, but it has some decent incline. There were some sheep near the top when I hiked it last July.





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[Texans42]

Hopefully we'll be able to go up 2 or 3 days before the hunt, but it will depend on my buddy's and my work and family schedule.

My wife and I are going to Banff in late July/early August, so I'll get some time at higher elevations there. Long time from then til mid September though.

There's really no way to simulate altitude, and it's hard to have enough free time to spend several days at altitude before a hunt as well. My thinking is the best I can do is to get myself into great physical condition, stay injury-free, and be ready to go when I get there. Then I just deal with the thinner air. It is easier to deal with if you're in shape than if you're not. Last time I hunted Colorado, my brother-in-law was with me. I was in shape, and he wasn't. I could walk up and down the mountain at will, but he could only go 40-100 yards at a time before needing to stop and catch his breath. Neither of us had spent any time at altitude before the hunt. We weren't super high on that hunt - 8,500' - 9,000' or so. My hunt this fall will be similar to that. I won't be above timberline or anything. If I'm in good shape and without nagging injuries or soreness, I'll enjoy a great hunt. I won't be able to run up the side of the mountain with an elk hindquarter in my pack, but I won't need to run. Even if a bear is chasing me, I'll have a bear tag with me.

Banff isn’t very high, even the top of the ski resort isn’t that high.

Now if you need new boots Banff is an awesome place to try on. Hanwag, lowa, Scarpa etc huge assortment