Alaska and Knees

imyourhuckleberry said:

I would recommend that you do some rucking. That is walking with a ruck sack on your back. Start light about 40 pounds and do about a two mile distance. If you have access to a football field walk up and down the bleachers. If you have access to back country even better if you have hills. After about a week of this increase by 10 pounds until you work yourself up to 100+ pounds on your rucksack. If you are able to do this without issues, than increase the distance you walk. Your body will let you know if you can handle the type of hunt you want in Alaska. Slow and steady will require a lot of patience from you as well as discipline to be smart about working yourself up to a physically fit condition that will not injure you further in your knees.

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Just like Uncle Sam taught us, test yourself in a close to the same conditions as possible.

I've spent a lot of time studying Kodiak Island considering a hunt there myself and it doesn't look to me to be as challenging as some of the coastal range where in a few miles you can go from sea level to over 15,000 feet really fast.

I definitely would not be afraid of a bear or deer hunt there for sure.

All great points and things to consider. I will keep testing the knees as much as I can and with any luck be able to go. I want to experience Alaska so will push as hard as possible to get there.

Lots of the mountains are covered with shale. Each step only covers half the distance taken because your feet sink and slide back down hill. Often I would be standing getting my breath and a 10-12 ft area of shale surrounding me would break free with me in it heading for the nearest cliff or drop off. Had to move fast right now to not go with it. Look for construction sites with large sand piles (30+ ft high). Get permission and climb up them with full pack and gear. Do this 20 times a day and this will really help. JM

werth338 said:

All great points and things to consider. I will keep testing the knees as much as I can and with any luck be able to go. I want to experience Alaska so will push as hard as possible to get there.

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Just be smart, get a workout/camping/hunting buddy while you're building up and whatever you do, do not try to hunt Kodiak alone.

IF you do, be sure you have a panic button GSP so they can find the bear poop.

You aren't getting any younger so don't miss the opportunity to experience Alaska. No matter what you envision it to be you will be wrong. Get into the best possible shape you can and commit. If possible I would explore the possibility of hiring a packer if it will make the difference of whether of not you go. It will not be a cake walk but at least you will be in the category of "been there, done that". The longer you wait the more you will wish you had gone sooner. Good luck.

I will take a look at a packer as well. I definitely agree that Father Time is working against me and us all unfortunately. I will get on it and see what I can make happen with the exception of going Kodiak alone.

John McLaughlin said:

Lots of the mountains are covered with shale. Each step only covers half the distance taken because your feet sink and slide back down hill. Often I would be standing getting my breath and a 10-12 ft area of shale surrounding me would break free with me in it heading for the nearest cliff or drop off. Had to move fast right now to not go with it. Look for construction sites with large sand piles (30+ ft high). Get permission and climb up them with full pack and gear. Do this 20 times a day and this will really help. JM

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Very good point. Volcanic deposits are even worse as they'll just roll right out from under your feet and send you sliding downhill like you're on a sled.

I got used to shale and granite rubble in NM and CO but the first time I hit the NW hunting chukar around the old volcanoes I got a whole new kind of mountain education.

For strength building and building your wind climbing the local stadium bleachers is also good training. I's three miles uphill to our stadium and then the climb begins.

I don't even get looked at like I'm crazy anymore as long as I'm not doing it during games HA!

I haven't ran into anything close to volcanic shale. Sounds like a whole new world. Is Kenai a high volcanic shale area?

werth338 said:

I haven't ran into anything close to volcanic shale. Sounds like a whole new world. Is Kenai a high volcanic shale area?

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The difference is that the volcanic lava/conglomerate is usually pretty well rounded. It's like trying to walk across rough golf balls. Your feet will leave you completely with zero warning and it's absolutely hell on your ankles.

Of course the shale slides can simply let go as you cross them like an avalanche. I was used to the latter, the former was a whole new world for me.

I asked my mountain goat buddies how they handled them and basically they said, Prayer and Hope". A few chukar hunters and quite a few dogs have met their death due to it.

Ok. That makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.

werth338 said:

Ok. That makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.

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If you're ever headed up around Fruitland, Brownlee, Weiser or over in The Quilomene I can point you to quite a bit of it. Some of the worst I got into was over near Ontario and in the Owahees.

God it's beautiful country though, just wear good boots, better pants, and bring spares. HA!

I think with the proper attitude and patience you can get it done. The mental aspect is as important as the physical. I would do a lot of leg presses and goblet squats and there is no substitute for the rucking and the use of trekking poles.. I did an Alaska sheep hunt in August at age 69 and after having 31 surgeries including 5 surgeries on my knees. One of those was a total replacement. I can't run up the mountains like I could 30 or 40 years ago but I got it done and enjoyed myself as well. Took it slow and easy and relied heavily on the trekking poles. I cannot emphasize their importance enough when you have bad knees. I have been told that their use can reduce the stress on the knees 30%

Lpart. Thanks for the perspective on this. If I do go, I was looking at some trekking poles. Probably Leki or Black Diamond. Any advice on them?

I use the Black Diamond Alpine corks. I have been told they are stronger than the Leki. I like the cork grips when your hands are hot and sweaty as they don't slip. I actually fell and broke one of mine on the climb down with a heavy load. Got it wedged in some rocks and then fell on it. Not the poles fault. Black Diamond customer service was great and gave me a 40% discount on a new pair and I now also have a spare. I do not like the 2 part poles as they do not collapse down to be easily carried in my pack. At his point with the knees I wouldn't even consider a descent without the poles. Going up is doable, but not down. Don't skimp on the poles. I started with an inexpensive set when my knee was terrible just before I had it replaced the cheap poles would not hold my weight. Nothing worse than going down hill and having to put a big portion of your weight on the poles and having them collapse. Took a month to get rid of the black and blues.