Training - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

True, hiking is the best way to prepare for a hike; however, anything aerobic is a benefit. I run frequently and, when I do get a chance to hike, go very lightweight. With the exception of morning-after soreness associated with any hike where you cover 20+ miles in a day, I find I’m in just as good trail shape as anyone on the trail. I know there are some who will disagree, but this is my personal experience. If you enjoy jogging, swimming, and biking more than filling your pack and walking around your neighborhood (assuming trails are not available), by all means train in the way you enjoy most. If you enjoy training, you will be more inclined to exercise more often and, thus, will be in better shape (aerobic, at least) when you do get on the trail for an extended period.

Ozone

#2

The above message was supposed to be a reply to the “Training” thread. Sorry about that.

Ozone

#3

Ozone is correct. Any excercise is a lot better then none. I took my girlfriend backpacking for her first time last summer. She is an aerobics instructor and had never hiked. I work in an office and just do weekend hikes for excercise. She kicked my ass on the uphills. On downhills and flat areas and toward the end of the day I had a slight advantage due to better technique on the downhills and crossing streams etc. Someone in the related thread eluded to training the other parts of the hike that are just as important. Practice packing and unpacking your pack, setting up and taking down your tent and cooking with your stove. I recently changed all my gear to lighter stuff and would pack my pack hike the half mile to the pond behind my house and make camp. I would cook supper, eat then pack up and walk home just to ensure I knew how everything worked before I went backpacking.

Big B

#4

If you don’t enjoy walking, why on earth consider a long hike? That’s what thruhiking is: walking all day, every day, for day after day, week after week, month after month. If you don’t enjoy walking - better find another way to spend your summer.

Ginny

#5

in 03 the number 1 rememberable training suggestion to me was shakedown hikes, shakedown gear, shake down mentally. Testing yer metal at getting away. How much steel fills yer innurds.

the folks that mentored me at Trail journals and trail forums suggested i find out what my gear was designed for and if i could figure out how to use it in as many different conditions as possible.

the personal fitness issue was not the key…heck fat people start and finish the AT every year. And there seems to be no difference in morale of the slow and steady folks and the lean and mean folks.

the remarkable difference in attitude tends to be in the folks who are prepared for gear failures, slop and muck, freeze and foggy white out on a summit view.

i would add, that having a nervous breakdown on trail, over any reason whatsoever, has no bearing on if you keep hiking or not. I saw a few, even had a few meltdowns myself. People just cry some times I guess, esspecially when dreams are high but the highs and lows of the ordeal seems tougher than yerself.

I would get out in the weather asap and find a way to enjoy! That is training enough for me. Break in that pack like yer boots…learn what yer adjustable straps do so when something rides wrong or pinches or places the ride of the pack off balance, you’ll find the sweet spot. It generally changes for me.

PS. on my hike this year, well so far, it took me 4 days to break the 20 mile day. It was torture, and yet, some of my greatest days out. the body will adjust.

i walked 3 miles a day every day before my hike as many as 6 miles a day the week before i left for springer.

burn

#6

my training requires me to hike down the street, to the Dunkin Donuts and fill my face with all kinds of wonderful sugar coated delectibles so I can have as much fat on me as possible because I know that I will lose 20 lbs the first month and about 10 or so thereafter.

CAPTAIN CAVEMAN!