Re: hiking - exercises

[Guest guest]

A question about walking! I'd love to jump on that.

Preparing to hike over a 1,000 miles on the pacific crest trail in 1982 was a

whole-life commitment. I actually moved to Yosemite National Park so that I

could train for a year or so before I started. I worked on a system of walking

based on endurance and wisdom. I trained to stay walking for long periods of

time and not for speed. I also thought a lot of about how to walk without

getting injured and how to manage being on the trail for long periods of time.

Little things like taking breaks after creek fords to let stuff dry and carrying

candy in a belt pouch to satisfy hunger pains.

Basically, I walked everywhere all the time.

When I got back on the trail much later in life (in my forties), I couldn't move

to Yosemite. But I still trained for endurance and not speed. I spent a lot of

time on walk tracks. I tried to walk a few miles every day. My calves are too

weak for rock climbing. I tried and failed dismally. Also, I've tried to focus

on more areobic style exercise. Endurance is the key to long hikes.

Without being too opportunistic, I do encourage you to check out my book.

There's a lot of stuff about hiking/training and the mental preparation needed

for long hikes. The chapters Moving to the Big Y and Acts of Defiance address

these issues in detail. Plus, it's just a good story. Lots of CMT stuff in

there.

I could probably say more if I knew some more info: how far do you walk now and

how often? Do you ever wear a backpack? If so, how much weight do you carry?

Where have you hiked? How hard is it? What specific problems do you have? What

goals do you have?

Keep walking,

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with me. I don't go

hiking/walking/or do anything for speed, but just for pleasure and

doing it! But I have done some endurance work on my bike, which has

been helpful. Also now working on some endurance work in aquatics

with skipping and steps from which I am getting good results. Trying

the (fake) rock wall is just something new to me and supposedly good

for balance and also knowing where to place feet and hands - I do

some aquatics work that allows for that, but just need to add to it.

I will give it a try Friday.

And yes, I will get the book very soon; am very interested.

I used to wear a backpack and carry all sorts of stuff, until I went

through a whole process of " streamlining " and simplifing my entire

life - and yes, my purse is so small it holds a small wallet and a

pen - that's it! When I living in Wyoming, had opportunities to hike

Medicine Bow Forrest, the Wapiti Valley, and of course the Tetons.

Did alot of camping, horseback combination pack trip/combos too. My

first hike in the Tetons was the hardest I think - I tried too hard

to match other's pace, instead of sticking to my own, plus I didn't

take enough time to plan for altitude adjustment. We started near

, Wyo, and ended up in Driggs, Idaho...quite an adventure.

When I lived in LA did alot of hiking in the Santa Mts.

primarily on the fire roads until trails got built. Still feels like

home to me, just so many people on the trails! Living out of the city

here I have access to many trails and fire roads without other foot or bike

traffic lol

I don't have any goals when I hike - I just get out there, go and

enjoy. The only weight I carry is a waterbottle, a sandwich, and

whatever I can fit in my pockets, which is mostly dogtreats. Well, I

guess I do have a goal, spending time in nature.

As for problems I have, none, really, except when my mind wanders out

of the moment and I wonder if we've got bobcats here. I only hike

between 10 and 3 at the latest. Sometimes my dogs just don't want to

call it quits for the day and don't want to stop. Mountain biking is

something I also do and they have to run, so they tire out quicker!

But for biking, I have some protective gear and a saddlebag plus

double water (for all). In Wyo. we could drink out of streams, not so

here.

Gretchen