RE: [Philmont]: Shakedowns - Physical Conditioning?

There is a wealth of information regarding cross training and this is
something that we can all use to our advantage. I live at 700 ft. There is
nothing I can do, especially on a daily basis, to simulate altitude. What I
can do, even if not backpacking, is swim, jog, use an eliptical- my
personal year round favorite, bike, stationary bike, treadmill, etc. All of
these will help with getting you into some kind of aerobic state where many
advisors do not live. That being said, nothing substitutes for the actual
activity you are training for. You have to get out there. The one major
advantage many advisors have is a great attitude, which while being no
substitute for training, can push you through with less complaining than
might be expeted. After all, by this point the advisor knows he/she didn't
prepare well enough, so who can they blame.
John Sucher,MD

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Dr. Bob Klein drbob@troop111.org
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 11:04:07 -0500
To: philmont@troop47.com
Subject: [Philmont]: Shakedowns - Physical Conditioning?

It would be if you did it every day or on a very regular schedule. For
example, I hump 50 pounds of telephone books for either 4.3 or 10 miles,
virtually every day for the three months leading up to Philmont. In
fact, I fast-hiked 4.3 miles this morning, getting ready for my 50/20
hike in two months. But while very valuable training, three backpacking
overnights or even full weekends in the 5 months before Philmont simply
doesn't do the job vis-a-vis physical conditioning. This is a classic
mistake, and is a major cause of the well-recognized "Day III Syndrome"
at Philmont. Though I will concede it's better than doing nothing at
all, which (according to Philmont) is exactly what about half the
Advisors do prior to Philmont - or rather, don't do.

Anyway, don't fall into this trap. Shakedowns are for training and
team-building. Physical conditioning is what you do *every* *day*.

- Dr. Bob

Daniel Preston wrote:
> I really don't understand the thinking that shakedown hikes cannot be
> for physical conditioning. Of course shakedown hikes prepare the crew
> to work as a team, but there is nothing that prepares you physically for
> backpacking like backpacking. Exercising and running stadium steps are
> fine but backpacking over steep terrain is the best physical
> conditioning you can do. Doing this as crew provides both teamwork
> training and physical conditioning, not just one or the other.
>
> Dan Preston
> Louisville, KY
> '70, '72, '02

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Received on Wed Jan 18 01:18:43 2006