Started my training for next summer's hikes

[Hillclimber2011]

Ha Ha!! Prolly why I made it all the way in to where I met you, the beer & chips energy pack above my belt buckle was the reserve energy boost!!

[bald tires]

So instead of trying to get rid of the energy pack above my my belt I should nurture it so I don't need to carry all that extra food and water? Hillclimber you seem to be a self taught expert on this. Is there a book in your future? Could be a million seller.

[Hillclimber2011]

Ha Ha!! I can't be the only slightly pudgy old man out there can I? I don't get there and back nearly as fast as most I figure, I just take more days off to pull it off for sure!

[bald tires]

There's the old adage that old age and trickery will over come youth and enthusiasm any day of the week. I had met some young college kids in Little Yosemite valley campground that were doing the JMT. We were all headed for Tuolumne Meadows. They soon left me in their dust as we headed up the trail. I took the trail to Tenaya Lake and the next day caught the shuttle to Tuolumne Meadows. I had my tent all set up and was kicking back relaxing in the backpackers campground when they arrived late that afternoon all tired from hiking all day. They wanted to know how I had beaten them to Tuolumne Meadows. They hadn't seen me pass them on the trail. I just smiled.

[bald tires]

Upped the game on my hiking today. Still walking about a 1.5 miles in 35 to 40 minutes. Took a different trail today that has a good 500', maybe 600', of elevation gain. Most of the gain is in a long climb over a hill with shorter up and down sections. After a month of this I will hike the two original trails to see how I do on really steep trails.

[Schleppy]

Upped the game on my hiking today. Still walking about a 1.5 miles in 35 to 40 minutes. Took a different trail today that has a good 500', maybe 600', of elevation gain. Most of the gain is in a long climb over a hill with shorter up and down sections. After a month of this I will hike the two original trails to see how I do on really steep trails.

Nice! suggest you slowly add a bit to that hike. Maybe this week, go up and down a small hill twice. Next week, go up a larger hill twice.

Or, if you're going twice a week, try going three times a week.

Whatever you do, don't just double it all of a sudden. You've got time. No reason you can't be doing 5 miles and +1,000 feet days by Memorial day.

Gradually building up the distance is a smart way to get back in shape.

This

[bald tires]

I am walking 3 to 4 days per week. Depending on which trails I hike the distance can vary from 1.5 miles to 3 miles. I am sticking to 1.5 miles for the next week or so and then will do the 3 mile loop to see how it goes.

In late March or early April I plan to do a 3 night 4 day backpacking trip in the Silver Peak Wilderness. Depending on which trails I hike the total distance will be 17 to 21 miles or so with maybe 3000' of elevation gain. The Silver Peak Wilderness is about 15 miles north of Hearst Castle. The trailhead is about 400' above sea level and Silver Peak is 3,590'. Not high altitude but still a good first trip of the year.

[bald tires]

Instead of walking today I went kayaking in Morro Bay.

[swimjam]

Hi bald tires, you must be in the SLO area. My girl is in her last year at poly. I also went there, class of 94.
Have you considered some upper body exercises for your training? I find that shoulder shrugs, military press, and push-ups help make it easier (less painful) to carry a pack for hours. Also, yoga poses that stretch the hams and calves are just as important as building leg strength... just my 2 cents.

[bald tires]

I have thought of doing pushups and sit ups. Not so much to build strength as to not lose muscle mass because I am also trying to lose weight. Got 10 more pounds to go to get back down to what I weighed when I graduated high school 57 years ago. I have above average strength for my age.

Thanks for the suggestions.