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Physical Training For Mountain Hunts & Backpacking
Getting in mountain shape with no mountains around?
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<blockquote data-quote="Rcritch" data-source="post: 2791802" data-attributes="member: 125956"><p>I was just reading through the first four pages of this thread when the content offered by Alex Wheeler, CoachChris and Hand Skills convinced me that I didn't need to read any further before offering up my own two cents' worth. With regard to getting and staying in shape virtually everything I've seen here makes sense to me, but I also sense that there is a good bit of valuable advice on the subject that is missing.</p><p></p><p>I was born at an elevation of 7200' and have spent the bulk of my life at or well above that elevation ever since. I last climbed a Colorado Fourteener while in my sixties (at an MSL height of 14,351 feet the 4th highest in the state). Regardless of age, if you are healthy enough to hunt big game, you could follow my guidance here and summit the same peak. Some of the things I have learned about dealing with high altitude I learned the hard way, some I was taught by my parents (who were Rocky Mountain technical climbers) and some I learned from my own studies as a private pilot. And so I have a few pointers that might prove valuable to the readers here.</p><p></p><p>Staying hydrated at altitude is indeed very important, especially in the Western US mountains where low relative humidity is predominant. However there have been a number of occasions where I had to rescue well hydrated flatlanders who had succumbed to the high altitude due to salt depletion. Just a handful of salty nuts or chips can quickly relieve the muscle cramps, vomiting and dizziness of salt depletion which ultimately might render a victim helpless. It doesn't take long for exertion at altitude to sweat way too much of the necessary salt out of your system. So don't overdue your disdain for a salty diet, as a modest and healthy salt intake, in addition to hydration, is crucial to functioning at altitude. Carry with you both a source of hydration and salt in some form or another.</p><p></p><p>As mentioned here earlier the very best, and virtually the <strong>only, </strong>way to acclimatize your body to altitude is to be at altitude, preferably while getting some mild aerobic exercise. So, if at all possible, spend 5 days to a week at a higher altitude than you are accustomed to before starting your hunt. That will make your continuing acclimation during the hunt less arduous and will have you in good shape for hunting at altitude all the sooner.</p><p></p><p>As for not succumbing to high altitude sickness, hypoxia and total collapse during your time at altitude that's an easy thing to plan .... yet it can be a very difficult thing for most to accomplish. Here's the plan. Anywhere at sea level or above, find some steep terrain to explore and practice walking as slowly as possible. When you get that "slowly as possible" gait down pat, cut it in half. With that ultra slow gait mastered practice taking several steps in succession (say, no more than a dozen) and then just stand still and scan your environment for at least the same period of time that you had just walked. Do that repeatedly and get it down pat to the point that you can hunt at altitude with the same unhurried ambulatory movement. Our western big game animals spend most of their daylight hours bedded down and you will need to move slowly, quietly and very observantly to have any hope of spotting them before they are aware of your presence. Even when they are out in the open during daylight hours they're much better at spotting movement than we humans are, and your chances of filling your tag get better the less and slower you move. Use your binoculars more than your naked eyes, even in heavy cover, as you'll likely spot a hoof, a tail, an eye or the twitch of an ear long before you will be able to make out the body of your prey. And you'll be amazed at how much country you can cover at the snail's pace you're using, all without ever having to catch your breath.</p><p></p><p>Stay safe at high altitude and have a good hunt!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Rcritch, post: 2791802, member: 125956"] I was just reading through the first four pages of this thread when the content offered by Alex Wheeler, CoachChris and Hand Skills convinced me that I didn't need to read any further before offering up my own two cents' worth. With regard to getting and staying in shape virtually everything I've seen here makes sense to me, but I also sense that there is a good bit of valuable advice on the subject that is missing. I was born at an elevation of 7200' and have spent the bulk of my life at or well above that elevation ever since. I last climbed a Colorado Fourteener while in my sixties (at an MSL height of 14,351 feet the 4th highest in the state). Regardless of age, if you are healthy enough to hunt big game, you could follow my guidance here and summit the same peak. Some of the things I have learned about dealing with high altitude I learned the hard way, some I was taught by my parents (who were Rocky Mountain technical climbers) and some I learned from my own studies as a private pilot. And so I have a few pointers that might prove valuable to the readers here. Staying hydrated at altitude is indeed very important, especially in the Western US mountains where low relative humidity is predominant. However there have been a number of occasions where I had to rescue well hydrated flatlanders who had succumbed to the high altitude due to salt depletion. Just a handful of salty nuts or chips can quickly relieve the muscle cramps, vomiting and dizziness of salt depletion which ultimately might render a victim helpless. It doesn't take long for exertion at altitude to sweat way too much of the necessary salt out of your system. So don't overdue your disdain for a salty diet, as a modest and healthy salt intake, in addition to hydration, is crucial to functioning at altitude. Carry with you both a source of hydration and salt in some form or another. As mentioned here earlier the very best, and virtually the [B]only, [/B]way to acclimatize your body to altitude is to be at altitude, preferably while getting some mild aerobic exercise. So, if at all possible, spend 5 days to a week at a higher altitude than you are accustomed to before starting your hunt. That will make your continuing acclimation during the hunt less arduous and will have you in good shape for hunting at altitude all the sooner. As for not succumbing to high altitude sickness, hypoxia and total collapse during your time at altitude that's an easy thing to plan .... yet it can be a very difficult thing for most to accomplish. Here's the plan. Anywhere at sea level or above, find some steep terrain to explore and practice walking as slowly as possible. When you get that "slowly as possible" gait down pat, cut it in half. With that ultra slow gait mastered practice taking several steps in succession (say, no more than a dozen) and then just stand still and scan your environment for at least the same period of time that you had just walked. Do that repeatedly and get it down pat to the point that you can hunt at altitude with the same unhurried ambulatory movement. Our western big game animals spend most of their daylight hours bedded down and you will need to move slowly, quietly and very observantly to have any hope of spotting them before they are aware of your presence. Even when they are out in the open during daylight hours they're much better at spotting movement than we humans are, and your chances of filling your tag get better the less and slower you move. Use your binoculars more than your naked eyes, even in heavy cover, as you'll likely spot a hoof, a tail, an eye or the twitch of an ear long before you will be able to make out the body of your prey. And you'll be amazed at how much country you can cover at the snail's pace you're using, all without ever having to catch your breath. Stay safe at high altitude and have a good hunt! [/QUOTE]
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