Training in flat southern Florida and other flat places makes physical conditioning for relatively high altitude packing and peak bagging a little more interesting, but it still can be done. Following the conditioning guidlines in the Philmont Advisors Guide and in Backpacker Magazine (for day trips to peaks) worked well for me. Running 2 to 3 x per week 3 to 7 miles at a wack, walking fast with backpack 3 to 6 miles at a wack 2 to 3 times per week, bicycling hard for 1.5 hours once a week, working at the gym twice a week at 11% grade walking equipment was my routine by the time I left for Philmont. I don't like to run in the morning (cranky knees), so 90% of my workouts were after work, most in the dark, many after various types of scout meetings. It can be done even on very busy schedules. Our crew went on monthly to bimontly backpack trips of 15 to 22 miles over two days during the last year leading up to our trek. Specifically, I carried a 52 pound pack out of camp with four days food and 3 quarts of water on trek 4. I am 6' 1'' and started out at 177 and lost 7 pounds during the trek, even though I ate everything that was available in our daily rations and brought extra food (such as banana chips and dehydrated cranberries for extra potasium). We elected to carry our packs over Trail Peak rather than dayhiking it out of Beaubien. I feel that I was very well prepared for the trek and would go again, anytime. You will have a much better time if you are in shape for this activity. You will be able to take time to smell all the roses, keep up with the youth, not be cranky and bone tired on reaching camp each night, if you work hard BEFORE you go to be in shape. Go for it!
Gregg
701-O3
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Received on Sat Aug 14 03:21:43 2004
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