NM or CO?

[AJMag]

This will be fun to follow along with as I will be headed out west for the first time this year. We will be going for elk but plan to buy a CO bear tag just in case we see one while out. NM and CO are the two on my list as well and have started accumulating points in WY. The plan is to add NV and AZ into the mix next year.

An old friend i reconnected with goes to the same unit I'm looking at every year with his group. He said the last few years they haven't seen much for bear. Possibly elevation differences in late October with available food sources for each species...? Part of why I'm considering the draw for an earlier run at it. I'm getting excited about finally making a western trip happen. My legs, not so much. The conditioning begins!!

[jnd1959]

An old friend i reconnected with goes to the same unit I'm looking at every year with his group. He said the last few years they haven't seen much for bear. Possibly elevation differences in late October with available food sources for each species...? Part of why I'm considering the draw for an earlier run at it. I'm getting excited about finally making a western trip happen. My legs, not so much. The conditioning begins!!

If you are around the Fort Worth/Granbury/Glen Rose area Dinosaur Valley is a decent place to train for the mountains. It's no where near perfect but there are some trails with elevation and some that aren't flat as a paved road. Also, if you are near Cedar Hills, the nature center, across from the state park has some elevation. I used to train at DV when I was climbing. You can get about 8 to 9 miles without doing more than one loop. Not a lot of elevation but some. More importantly though, some of the trails aren't flat. In the summer when the water is way low you can walk on the river rocks. Just make sure they are dry. That is good training for balance. You'll turn your ankle but as long as you don't hurt it you will learn to hike with the pain.

Another good training are is Lost Maples. It has some pretty serious elevation and the trails have some character to them. Nothing takes the place of a summer trip to the Weminuche Wilderness in southwest CO. That's close to 77 and 78 and you'll get a taste of what the terrain is like (I'm assuming you haven't hiked or climbed there before. If so then, never mind...).

If you're out west then Fort Davis or Big Bend would be good training. I don't know of anything in East Texas unless you do the long trails. If you're in the hill country then your golden as far as elevation change and trail character.

This all may be bad assumption on my part. And, if so, my apologies. I've talked to a lot of people that say they trained on a treadmill. That's not going to cut it. You'll spend more energy balancing than you will hiking unless your on well developed trails. My personal opinion is that a treadmill doesn't do anything other than get your heart rate up. It's good for a stress test but not much else.

Good luck. If you are planning to use DV let me know. I'm always up for a hike. I'm overweight and old but I can still get through it, just slowly.

[AJMag]

If you are around the Fort Worth/Granbury/Glen Rose area Dinosaur Valley is a decent place to train for the mountains. It's no where near perfect but there are some trails with elevation and some that aren't flat as a paved road. Also, if you are near Cedar Hills, the nature center, across from the state park has some elevation. I used to train at DV when I was climbing. You can get about 8 to 9 miles without doing more than one loop. Not a lot of elevation but some. More importantly though, some of the trails aren't flat. In the summer when the water is way low you can walk on the river rocks. Just make sure they are dry. That is good training for balance. You'll turn your ankle but as long as you don't hurt it you will learn to hike with the pain.

Another good training are is Lost Maples. It has some pretty serious elevation and the trails have some character to them. Nothing takes the place of a summer trip to the Weminuche Wilderness in southwest CO. That's close to 77 and 78 and you'll get a taste of what the terrain is like (I'm assuming you haven't hiked or climbed there before. If so then, never mind...).

If you're out west then Fort Davis or Big Bend would be good training. I don't know of anything in East Texas unless you do the long trails. If you're in the hill country then your golden as far as elevation change and trail character.

This all may be bad assumption on my part. And, if so, my apologies. I've talked to a lot of people that say they trained on a treadmill. That's not going to cut it. You'll spend more energy balancing than you will hiking unless your on well developed trails. My personal opinion is that a treadmill doesn't do anything other than get your heart rate up. It's good for a stress test but not much else.

Good luck. If you are planning to use DV let me know. I'm always up for a hike. I'm overweight and old but I can still get through it, just slowly.

Unfortunately, but somewhat fortunately, I'm very close to the sam houston national forest. Not really a lot of elevation terrain but better than sidewalks. Also, 77, 78 is where I'm looking so bring it on.

I'm sure I'll have my wake up call, especially with altitude sickness and such, but training right now is changing from the typical isolated lifting to primarily squats, pullups and bench 3 days a week, while incorporating deadlifts 1 of those days. Then 3 days a week is endurance and strength endurance. Steady jogging alternating with sprints and kettlebell workouts. Weekends will be for rucking, but the idea is build strength not muscle and increase endurance. If a treadmill is involved will be like yesterday, minimum of 12% incline for as long at i can take it, or the stair stepper. I'll have no shortafe of ibuprofen in my pack, that's for sure.