[pct-l] Fitness

[Paul A]

Having the capability to get out there 3 or more days a week and actually
hike the hike has it's advantages over urban training. I started
by walking/hiking in an around Balboa Park in San Diego. Once I moved the
hikes to the mountains I discovered the big differences between the two.
Mostly it has to do with the development of trail legs. Tame, urban hikes
without the obstacles to have to negotiate constantly, and the lack of any
elevation gains/losses do nothing for the development of stamina in the
legs. Even after months of walking and urban hiking, when I did finally get
out on the PCT for day hikes, I woke up the next day feeling like I just got
off the couch and went for a hike.Sore, stiff and not wanting to move...

I recently went out on a solo 65 mile backpack from Mt. Laguna to Warner
Springs. The first day was short, 7.5 miles, mostly due to getting to the
trail too late in the day. by the fourth day, I was up to 17 miles a day,
with little to no lingering soreness in the legs. usually all the stiffness
and soreness was gone by morning. I have read on here many times that there
is no substitute for hiking. I honestly do not think I could have made this
backpack a success without having first trained on trails with ALL my gear
EVERY time I went out for a day hike.



On Sat, Dec 18, 2010 at 9:06 AM, Gary Wright <gwtmp01 at mac.com> wrote:

>
> On Dec 18, 2010, at 11:42 AM, Scott Williams wrote:
>
> > I did the same, starting with a light pack and upping the lbs as April
> > approached, and hiking between 12 and 20 miles.  When I began the trail
> > however I backed off and did only 10 mile days the first week, 15 the
> > second, and hit my first 20 mile day in the third.  I'm older, and prone
> to
> > overdo it when the endorphins kick in, and I didn't want to start off
> with
> > an injury.  Three older folks I hiked with later had begun at 20 mile
> days,
> > and had quickly spent time healing overuse injuries.
>
> For anyone in the southeast, you might consider hiking for a couple weeks
> on the Appalachian Trail.  Before my 2004 PCT hike I hiked from Springer
> Mountain to just past the Smokies.  Travel logistics can be tricky if you
> don't have someone in the area to help though.
>
> There are lots of folks on the AT starting from March 1st on so it is
> quite easy to get two to six seeks of hiking in before heading out to the
> PCT.
>
> On the AT it is much easier to hike short days.  Water and resupply are
> more accessible and you'll have a chance to try out your gear, especially
> your bad-weather gear.  I had sun, rain, and snow during this warm-up
> hike.
>
> Radar
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
>



-- 
*Alphabetsoup*
*~Soon to be PCT Thru-Hiker April 2011~*
* www.postholer.com/alphabetsoup*
*
*