[pct-l] I failed my thru hike this year!!!!!!

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

Great advice, Scott! I hope everyone is listening.

I just want to add that it is, indeed, harder for us elders to get into 
shape. It takes longer and is more painful than I remember experiencing when 
I was younger (say, 20s or 30s). Once in shape, though, it is just as easy 
to maintain it. But any training for a specific event must be 
muscle-group-specific as much as you can.

However, the only way to really minimize injury that first week on-trail is 
to prepare yourself by hiking like you did. I never got a blister the whole 
way on either the PCT or CDT and I was wearing (and still do) major leather 
boots! Training and Practice are the key, yet things can still happen (just 
the way it is)...


"Just remember, Be Careful out there!"

Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Williams" <baidarker at gmail.com>
To: "Gary Wright" <gwtmp01 at mac.com>
Cc: "PCT-L" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 8:24 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] I failed my thru hike this year!!!!!!


> Hey Michael,
> Thanks for sharing your post season insights as they are invaluable for
> others.   I knew a few folks who started without any serious training and
> made it all the way, but most who tried this did not.  Most of the ones 
> who
> did make it were young, and therein lies the rub.  Just as an idea for 
> your
> next attempt, I was 57 when I started, prone to injury when I get an
> endorphin rush and go beyond what I'm actually capable of doing safely, 
> and
> therefore set some hard numbers for myself right at the start.  I trained
> for months before at 12 to 18 miles per day, 3 or 4 days per week up a 
> very
> steep set of trails with easier hikes in between, but when I started at
> Campo, cut back to not more that 10 mpd for the first week, 15 mpd the
> second, and only allowed myself to break 20 during the 3rd week.  I felt
> like I could have gone much further, but forced a stop and an easy 
> evening.
> As a result, I never got a blister all summer, and other than some 
> plantars
> faciitis at the beginning and end of the trip, didn't suffer any serious
> injury, something I'm still incredulous about.
>
> I met a few people on this forum, all of whom wanted to start at that kind
> of mileage, and stayed with one of them until the 3rd week when my 
> mileages
> out distanced hers, and we separated, but remained in contact all the rest
> of the summer as good friends.
>
> The rest of your issues you can get great insight for changing by 
> listening
> in, and asking questions, on this forum.  But I think for us 50+ folks, 
> the
> devotion to training is paramount.  Get to like it.  Hike often, and with 
> a
> pack, although, 25 lbs, not 65.  That would have killed me right from the
> start.
>
> Shroomer
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