High Sierra Topix

Kathy, check out this link for crossfit, some may say its just the flavor of the month workout. I have been a gym rat for a good 37 years and recently started to incorporate these high intensity, super anaerobic routines into my daily workout, I have dropped 12 ugly pounds in the last two weeks. click on the wod's (workout of the day) kinda motivating.

http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/excercise.html

Trekker: I may try a personal trainer this fall/winter, so if you don't mind I'll drop you a message for some pointers as far as looking for one before I go that route.

Ridgeline: I've seen crossfit mentioned on summitpost too, but I haven't done any research on it. 12 pounds in 2 weeks is a lot of weight. Thanks for the link - I'm going to check it out.

With being so busy at work this week all I've done is a 45 minute slow run on the treadmill at the gym - too hot to run outside here in Redlands - it's been over between 90 and 95 degrees when I get home most days between 6:30 and 7:30 pm.

Lightning - your routine sounds like it includes enough variety to avoid getting bored. Adding that weight to your back on your hikes is so smart. While training for my Rainier trip I made the mistake of not increasing the weight I was carrying as I got closer to the trip.

This past year I learned that as much as I like desert peaks in the winter, most of the time the terrain is rugged and doesn't allow for as good as an aerobic workout as hiking on a steep trail because you have to stop so much in the process of route finding and making sure rocks are solid. The Sierra Peaks are often a nice mix of trail and x-country.

I don't. I just make sure my trip is long enough so that I can get in shape on the way. I don't have time to stay in shape on a daily basis.

I hit the gym five days a week. Since starting this routine of 3 days of weight training and five days of cardio about 9 months ago, I've lost my packweight (30 pounds)plus 10 more pounds! I like to work mainly on my legs with presses, curls and calf raises with a 30 pound dumbbell on my shoulder. I also work my back, chest, arms and abs...

I do 30 minutes of cardio on the lifting days and 45 minutes on non-lifting days. I do eliptical at high resistance and cycling. I live in a hilly area, so my cycling routes are challenging. I do not train with a heavy pack. I think that this can put unneeded stress on the joints for limited returns. I do mix in some dayhikes on the weekends, but I only carry the usual day load of about 10 or 15 pounds max. This routine has worked very well on the 30-40 mile hikes that I'm able to do with my limited time off.

I run ~ 4 miles on Pismo Beach a couple times a week. It can barely be considered a workout cuz it's so much fun. But it keeps me feeling young. I also do some light weights. This works really well for me.

One thing I do that has seemed to help with leg strength is making the most out of my stairs at work. I go up and down a 15 step flight of stairs to and from my office probably 30 - 50 times a day.
Unless I am in a super hurry I go down the stairs slowly, lowering down each step to land on my heel - has really helped those downhill muscles. For going up, I step up without pushing off with the back foot but raising up only using the leg on the upper step, and then sometimes doing that two steps at a time. Sometimes I go up sideways like side-stepping up a snow bank or hill.

I do 21 perfect push ups every morning, arms vertical and directly under the shoulders, torso and legs straight as a board. Slow down then slow up. My wife says this is a yoga move but I how would I know? Then I ride my bike to work which involves one short hill climb. I am lucky enough to live near some great bicycle paths and within 5 miles of work and shopping. I use to be a runner, but no more, it really started to make my knees sore so I stopped. As I get older I need to choose exercises that will not do damage, is relaxing but will still stir up the endorphins at the end of a session and is a part of my daily routine. Of course there is no better way to stay in shape for hiking than actually doing a hike, so the weekend involves at least one good long beach walk. I summited Whitney in August and turn 60 this month so it must be working for me.

After 2 1/2 years of shoulder surgeries (4) and rehab, yesterday I took my first bike ride since then. What a great feeling it was. It felt so normal, like I had just gone last week. I have to be badly out of shape but didn't feel like it today. Despite all this and the Cancer I have, I plan on a full recovery. Why wouldn't I. I played 18 innings of senior softball today (I was 9 for 12 --- who knows what that means?)
Knowing what great people backpackers are I'm sure that virtually all of you are pulling for me. Thanks! I believe most of you would have the same positive attitude I do.

Gosh, it was bad enough for me to recover from just one shoulder surgery, let alone 4 + cancer. Great to hear of your progress! Hang in there.

Hapkido