A modest proposal to slightly decrease rescues on Skyline ..

[asabat]

My training consists of two daily routines:

1. Walking - to the car.

2. Elbow bends - using 12-ounce weights (soda).

That's it.

I don't get on the trail near as often as I'd like, but when I do, it's usually more than a nature walk. My last Skyline was a leisurely 7 hours. My next hike won't be until later this summer, 260 miles of PCT over 2 weeks.

I get in shape on the trail. And less you think I'm a youngster, my first San Jac hike was in 1972.

So, what am I trying to say? I guess anyone could do it, but most following my training system will have a difficult time or fail. I'm sure I'd do better with regular exercise, but I'm too lazy after w*rk.

BUT, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND MY METHOD TO ANYONE. My body seems to remember how to hike and fall into the routine easily, and I'm more comfortable on the trail than off.

Gotta go, it's time for my nap.

[Hikin_Jim]

I'm too lazy after w*rk.

Hey! Watch your language pal. We don't use words like that around here.

My style is more asabatic -- I'm too freaking tired when I get home at night to contemplate going to the gym. I used to hike in the evenings once or twice a week, but now with my new job, I have to be in bed by 8:30 or 9:00. Basically, I now hike on Saturday. Period. Not a recommended approach to fitness.

I took the train today to work. It wasn't so bad. Maybe that'll change things up a bit.

HJ

[halhiker]

Training is overrated. I've been really storing up fuel around my midsection for many years now so I'm ready for just about anything. Fuel storing is much more fun that any silly training.

What keeps me going is stubbornness and a willingness to suffer.

[Florian]

I don't have a training schedule per se. I just hike and ride a road bike because that's what i like to do. During the summer i only work two days a week so this is roughly what i've been doing ..

Mon: Bike 10-20 miles
Tue-Wed: Work but on my feet a lot and up and down stairs frequently
Thurs: Bike 10-20 miles
Fri: Hike 10 miles
Sat: Bike 20-30 miles
Sun: Hike 10-20 miles

I find that i'm sometimes stiff the morning after a long hike but going for a bike ride always loosens me up and i'm fine after the bike.

-Florian

[bdog]

Ze directed me to this thread and suggested I comment and so I'll give my two cents. I can only speak from experience--and by no means claim to be an expert--but I would say the single most important thing for getting fit is the intensity of the workouts (and I completely agree with what Ze has written above regarding workout duration and distribution). Only a handful of relatively short but intense workouts per week are necessary to get into 'great shape' by most people standards. Over the years there have been numerous occasions when I was more fit than someone else despite training less. Every time I was able to probe the other person's training regimen I discovered he/she trained at a considerably lower average intensity. If you want to get in the best shape possible with a constraint on the time you can devote to doing so, then the workouts should be painful!

As an aside, from a cardio health perspective (not training for a sub 4 hour skyline) my guess is that only 3 1/2 hour intense, say stair master, workouts per week are enough to enjoy the vast majority of the health benefits from exercise. If only everyone in the country knew this!

[Ellen]

What keeps me going is stubbornness and a willingness to suffer.

I resemble that remark

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[zippetydude]

I am in the same camp with Ze and bdog regarding the physical aspects of getting in shape, and I'd add a small footnote which is this:

Don't do workouts that you make you hate exercising.

I always show up for the workout, and I have a bunch of ways I use to keep workouts interesting so that I will maintain my intensity. But sometimes I just don't feel good and will end up hating it if I do the workout I had planned. So I don't. Long or short, I don't do it if it makes me hate exercising.

I once had a long run scheduled to go up Forsee to San G and back, which I've only done a couple of times. I was looking forward to it all week, and the morning I was supposed to go, I felt nauseated as I drove up. Despite trying to shake it off and get started, after a mile I lay down on my back on a big log and watched the tops of the trees sway back and forth in the breeze. After a while, I walked back to the car, then drove home. I didn't feel defeated - I just had my body tell me "no". It happens. No worries. Anyway, just my 2 cents.

z

[cynthia23]

Zip, your response is almost poetic ...

I'm amazed by the variety of responses here--who knew there were so many ways (or not) to train. This has been incredibly informative, at least to me. Thank you, Sally, HJ, asabat, Hal, Florian, bdog, Zip. Ellen, that was funny, but seriously, I'v always wanted to know--what is your training methodology? Any more folks want to share? I'm truly learning something from this.

[CA]

Hello Everyone,

I just felt like I had to add my thoughts to this thread as it seems it has wandered on and off the trail for 58 posts. Also it seems like it has everyone's attention at the moment.

BTW, I also got through about 7 pages of 10 of:
C2C/SKYLINE: CLOSED FOR THE SUMMER. COME BACK IN OCTOBER.
After that I couldn't take anymore.

I wrote a post this morning looking for Beta on C2C for next Monday before fully reading this thread or the 10 pages of the other. I am glad I posted first, because I would not have asked for any info had I read these two threads first.

It seems like there is an active and strong community based in and around San Jac. It also seems like there are some world class athletes on this board as well. It makes me so happy to see all this stewardship for the back country and general concern for the well being of all users of this wilderness area. From reading, I have also gathered that many people who post on this forum are locals to the area and have perceived concerns about the future of Skyline with the increase of rescues on the trail during the hotter months. I am not a fan of quoting in forums like this, so I will leave it at this, I did read some interesting points of view here and in the other ten pager.

Thanks Ellen for the reply to my request for beta on C2C. The info that you provided is exactly what a hiker/climber is looking for when putting out a request. There was a subtle warning about the weather and a trail report. Voilà!

There are many reasons that people are drawn to the outdoors. It is different for everyone. Just like everyone's skill set and fitness are different. I freely admit that I get super hot under the collar when I come across knuckleheads when I am out on a BC Ski tour. These people don't even know the difference between their Cell Phone, Beacon, or SPOT. Basic navigation, forget about it. Route finding, "whats that?". I want to blame it on REI, GoPro, Outside Mag, X Games, TV.... "Who are all these people out here, they are just ruining it for everyone that really know what we are doing." Then I look up and realize that for me, one of the reasons I am in the back country in the first place is to get away from that kind of elitist attitude. I tell myself "Shut the f''' up, now you are thinking and acting like the very people you are trying to escape from." The beauty of the back country is that people are out doing their thing, their way. And for the most part are not really affecting me at all.

It is really sad when you hear about a person being killed in a car. Just like it is sad when a outdoor enthusiast is killed or injured. People meet their fate one way or another. Sometimes because they were stupid and sometimes because of nothing that they did incorrectly except to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Heading out into the back country is dangerous just like getting on the freeway with people talking on their phones and texting. Yet everyone in this forum does both.

If you want to protect the future of Skyline, whipping up a tizzy (199 posts at last count) on the forums is not the way to do it. It will just become fuel for some Forest Service person or local politician in the future. They will use your own words against you and the Skyline trail. Also, the kind of people that are going to get themselves into an EPIC and need to be rescued are A- Not reading this forum or B- Using the frenzy that is going on in these two threads as another reason to head out on the trail. If you tell someone not to do something, it is basically daring them not to do it, and we all know what happens then.

You can catch a lot more bugs with honey then vinegar. If you want to do something good for San Jac and Skyline, try some honey. Seems like there are a few people on this board that have time to spend helping the San Jac and Skyline community. Some thoughts: outreach with the local media, seminars and talks at regional outdoor shops, new signage at trailhead, general discussions about fitness at all athletic levels, etc.

OK, thats my bit. I am sure that I just stoked the flames, figuratively and literally. See you at the trail head Monday morning around 9:30 or 10. I will be the guy with the 60lb pack, La Sportiva Spantik boots, and a huge cup of Starbucks……….That's me being cheeky!

[zippetydude]

BTW, I also got through about 7 pages of 10 of:
C2C/SKYLINE: CLOSED FOR THE SUMMER. COME BACK IN OCTOBER.
After that I couldn't take anymore.

Wow! If you got through 7 pages of that without skipping, you have more than enough endurance for Skyline! Yours was an honest post and you're right, there is a very strong, positive community and a portion of it is reflected admirably on this board.

Incidentally Cynthia, as far as the workout regimen I use now, it's very different than it was 10 years ago. I have become ever more the pragmatist, so here's what I do.

Cardio / Endurance: I try to run about 50 miles a week, and I try to do something every day. I figure at least a day or two will get omitted due to work or family obligations, and a few of the miles may be reassigned to mountain biking (only the uphill counts, though) or elliptical.

Strength / muscle mass: Lift weights for all the major muscle groups twice a week.

Coordination: Do something that improves my balance or coordination for just a few minutes each day. This includes playing (aka crashing) on the slackline, trampoline or unicycle, and occasionally doing a Zumba class. (Okay, no laughing here! And do NOT start calling me Zumbadude!) This does not fall under cardio/endurance because I'm not good enough at it to get my heart rate up.

BTW, Cynthia, you mentioned that your HR monitor will say more than 100%? It seems like you might want to calibrate it. And, incidentally, don't believe any of that nonsense that says your max HR declines over the years. I've had my HR monitor over 10 years now, and my max HR is still exactly what it was when I first started tracking it.

Anyway, anybody else split their training into categories like I do? Just curious.

z