Altitude help

[guitarpreston]

Went for my first western hunt this year, (remind me to Google tag soup recipes later) and had an absolute blast. Prior to the hunt I did mtn tough and started really focusing on health, dropped roughly 25-30 pounds through diet and exercise, and generally feel good at home. I live in Texas at roughly 500 ft...Now I head to the mountains on diamox, and don't get "sick" but I got winded so easily. I was hiking roughly 5 miles or so a day and did not really have any muscle fatigue that was noticeable but I just kept having to stop to catch my breath and pound water. Aside from an altitude tent, what can I do to help fight that next year?

 

[V2Pnutrition]

Get there earlier. There's no shortcut to acclimation.

We did a podcast with the good folks at Uphill Athlete on the topic here.

(Without knowing more about your training, there's a chance you had some aerobic deficiency syndrome going on, too).

 

[MThuntr]

There really isn't a replacement for being at elevation for extended periods of time. Don't waste your time with elevation training masks...not to mention you'll probably end up on some sort of watchlist when people see you outside with one on.

Working on your endurance and lean muscle mass are important

 

[guitarpreston]

Get there earlier. There's no shortcut to acclimation.

We did a podcast with the good folks at Uphill Athlete on the topic here.

(Without knowing more about your training, there's a chance you had some aerobic deficiency syndrome going on, too).

I should add during the offseason most of my cardio aside from the mtn tough programs came from mountain biking (though less after having a kid). I was getting in a few 10 mile+ rides a month, but my HR is all over the place. I think I need to try and spend some extended time in zone 2 grinding

 

[bcjoe]

Sounds like u r doing everything right. I am a Colorado native and now live at sea level in south Texas for the past 2 yrs. I experience the same issues, this year I got to almost 10k 2 days early hoping that would help but I still found myself with shortness of breath. I felt by day 5 it was starting to improve. I think it just takes our bodies longer than we like to adapt. When I lived in Colorado I never noticed it because I was climatized all my life to the elevation. Sorry to say my friend it just takes time.

 

[guitarpreston]

There really isn't a replacement for being at elevation for extended periods of time. Don't waste your time with elevation training masks...not to mention you'll probably end up on some sort of watchlist when people see you outside with one on.

Working on your endurance and lean muscle mass are important

Who says I'm not on one already?

 

[Runwilderness]

My 2cents: altitude will suck even if your base cardio is better. I find the key is not let that impact you psychologically. When you’re having to go slower to keep from getting winded, remind yourself there is less oxygen, it’s not your fault. Just keep it slow and steady. When I start to mentally compare my low altitude capabilities to how I’m performing at altitude I get discouraged, with leads me to performing worse, and down into a bit of a spiral.

 

[Marbles]

Get more steady state, low intensity cardio. Look into Evoke Endurance and Uphill Athlete. It sounds like your aerobic base is lacking. Also, bikes do not put the same load on your cardiovascular system as upright exercise like running and rucking. It is great to mix in, but should not be your primary cardio.

You have to spend a massive amount of time for something like 90 days in an altitude tent, working on your aerobic fitness sounds easier to me.

Diamox works by making you breath more, it could be contributing to your feelings of dyspnea.

 

[V2Pnutrition]

but my HR is all over the place. I think I need to try and spend some extended time in zone 2 grinding

Now you're on to something...

@Runwilderness has a valid point, too. You're not looking for it to "not suck". It'll always suck...that's what makes success so sweet. You're just looking for it to suck less than you may have experienced in previous years/seasons/attempts.

 

[bcjoe]

Went for my first western hunt this year, (remind me to Google tag soup recipes later) and had an absolute blast. Prior to the hunt I did mtn tough and started really focusing on health, dropped roughly 25-30 pounds through diet and exercise, and generally feel good at home. I live in Texas at roughly 500 ft...Now I head to the mountains on diamox, and don't get "sick" but I got winded so easily. I was hiking roughly 5 miles or so a day and did not really have any muscle fatigue that was noticeable but I just kept having to stop to catch my breath and pound water. Aside from an altitude tent, what can I do to help fight that next year?

What is your current VO2 max if u know it??

 

[guitarpreston]

What is your current VO2 max if u know it??

Do not know..rarely run and my watch doesnt read it riding

 

[bcjoe]

Do not know..rarely run and my watch doesnt read it riding

Because I had the same problem this year I looked at past years and my VO2 max was around 45 and this year it was below 40 and I did notice a huge difference what I’m doing this year is rucking five days a week as fast as I can with as much weight as I can do Plus strength training. I don’t like to run or cycle, but I love to ruck It also helps me get more comfortable with my backpack. Overall, sounds like you’re on the right road to success.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Titan]

You won't ever escape that feeling...you just go further/faster before hitting it.

 

[Old_Norther]

Get there earlier. There's no shortcut to acclimation.

We did a podcast with the good folks at Uphill Athlete on the topic here.

(Without knowing more about your training, there's a chance you had some aerobic deficiency syndrome going on, too).

ASD will get you every time. Especially following a HIIT type training plan. Uphill Athlete is an awesome resource. Highly recommend both of Steve House' books.

 

[Old_Norther]

I should add during the offseason most of my cardio aside from the mtn tough programs came from mountain biking (though less after having a kid). I was getting in a few 10 mile+ rides a month, but my HR is all over the place. I think I need to try and spend some extended time in zone 2 grinding

Typically a program that is directed at general fitness, like mountain hunting, will have you doing at least 4 hours of zone 2 cardio per week. That would be entry level. If you think about it, thats only about once per day of 30 minutes.
Sucks to say, but you really cant count hikes for this. For most of us, hiking just aint zone 2. If you are wearing a HR monitor, check your HR trace after the hike. Likely, most of that hike was spent in zones 3,4 or even 5. I mentioned already, but definitely read Steve House' books and read up on Uphill Athlete. Great resource

 

[Poser]

There's just no substitute for time spent acclimating. I'm not talking about getting to CO a day early. While 1 day is better than 0 days, that's not much time acclimating at all. A week spent being casual on the front of your hunt will do wonders for your acclimation. Yeap, that adds a week to your trip length, but if you want to perform at elevation to your expectations, you're going to need at least a week spent acclimating and even that won't have you fully adapted.

I live at 6500 feet and start to notice altitude slowing me down around 11,300-11,500. The higher you go, the more you will need to manage your speed.

 

[mtbraun]

It takes approx. 13 days to fully acclimate, and the best method is to sleep at altitude. Get the tent.

 

[guitarpreston]

I spent 1 night and morning hunt at 10,500 and backed down to 7500ish and the difference was SIGNIFICANT

 

[Bubdog]

I went on my second trip to Colorado (10,000') to hunt this year, the first trip was in 2020. I am 46 years old and live in the Atlanta, GA area (1000'). The first trip really sucked for me for being able to breath, this time I was at a higher baseline of fitness. I think two things really helped:
1. For most of this year, on Sunday mornings I went on six mile rucks that took me about 1.5 hours where I was mostly in zone 2 and some zone3.
2. The three months before leaving, I did the Norwegian 4x4 method on an Assault bike once a week.

 

[Old_Norther]

I went on my second trip to Colorado (10,000') to hunt this year, the first trip was in 2024. I am 46 years old and live in the Atlanta, GA area (1000'). The first trip really sucked for me for being able to breath, this time I was at a higher baseline of fitness. I think two things really helped:
1. For most of this year, on Sunday mornings I went on six mile rucks that took me about 1.5 hours where I was mostly in zone 2 and some zone3.
2. The three months before leaving, I did the Norwegian 4x4 method on an Assault bike once a week.

4x4 Norwegians are a great workout. I do them on a Wattbike pro trainer. Assault bikes are a love/hate piece of equipment