Out of shape flatlander, solo help

[freshta]

I am from NC and I'm heading to CO again this year. Last year I was in good shape and the area I hunted kicked my butt like nothing since back in my military days. This year due to business obligations and a long term emergency with my son that has taken my time and my motivation to train, I'm not even close to last year's fitness level. I'm training hard now, but playing catch up just don't cut it. I advertised on here for a partner and got two hits, but other obligations or health issues took them out of the game.

Anyway, enough with my sob story. I have the spot I hunted last year all scouted out, but I'm looking for an OTC Archery GMU that is a little bit 'easier' to hunt. I know this is a relative term and easy for one person is hard for another, but I live at 720' and 11,000' was just too much to deal with. I had headaches for 3 days and never really felt 'good' the rest of the time. I'm not asking anyone for GPS coord's or anything, maybe just a PM with a direction to head. I would never intrude on another person's hard earned honey hole.

Thanks for any help/advice

Tony

 

[robtattoo]

Can't help with a unit, but I can highly recommend going to your doctor & getting a prescription for Diamox.
It ain't going to make you fit, it ain't gonna stop your lungs feeling like you've just been thunder-punched in the diaphragm, but it WILL get rid of the headaches, it'll let you sleep at night & it really does speed up your recovery time.
Also, eat a pack of Rolaids a day. Don't know why it helps, but it really does!

And don't forget to drink! A gallon per day will help immensely.

 

[freshta]

Yep, I thought about the Diamox. Never heard about the Rolaids. Thanks for the advice!!!

 

[GotDraw?]

I believe the thought process behind the Rolaids is to offset lactic acid built up in muscles.

Don't know if there is actual science behind it.

 

[rayporter]

my doc told me last week that a teaspoon of soda will do the same as the rolaids and the diamox. it is the acid thing.

 

[freshta]

Wow! I never knew. I'm definitely going to try this out!!

 

[Laelkhunter]

The Rolaids thing was written in a Colorado Outdoors magazine back in 1988 when I started hunting in Colorado. I have since given them up, and have been using Wilderness Athlete Products:
1- Multi Vitamin
2- Altitude Adjustment pills
3- Hydrate & Recover. It is a powder that helps with altitude recovery.

I live in New Orleans, at (or below) sea level, and have been going to the Rockies Elk hunting since 1988. When I go to hunt I stay in Chama, NM at 7850 feet, and everything is uphill from there to the Ranches I hunt.

The products I have mentioned have made the difference from being miserable, to enjoying every minute of my 2 weeks there.
Drink plenty of water (as someone said at least a gallon a day), and carry a Camelbak or hydration bladder of some type. Put some Hydrate & Recover in it, and you will see a difference. I speak from experience on this. GOOD LUCK !!

 

[LifeAndLiberty]

The Rolaids thing was written in a Colorado Outdoors magazine back in 1988 when I started hunting in Colorado. I have since given them up, and have been using Wilderness Athlete Products:
1- Multi Vitamin
2- Altitude Adjustment pills
3- Hydrate & Recover. It is a powder that helps with altitude recovery.

I live in New Orleans, at (or below) sea level, and have been going to the Rockies Elk hunting since 1988. When I go to hunt I stay in Chama, NM at 7850 feet, and everything is uphill from there to the Ranches I hunt.

The products I have mentioned have made the difference from being miserable, to enjoying every minute of my 2 weeks there.
Drink plenty of water (as someone said at least a gallon a day), and carry a Camelbak or hydration bladder of some type. Put some Hydrate & Recover in it, and you will see a difference. I speak from experience on this. GOOD LUCK !!

I've usually shrugged off most of that supplement stuff as hype. I don't watch too much hunting shows, but it pains me whenever Jim Shockey plugs Sqwincher or whatever its called. Glad to see maybe its not all baloney.

 

[Ross]

You still have plenty of time to get ready ! Dedicate yourself for the next 60 days and have a good time...good luck.

 

[freshta]

thanks Ross, I'm doing that now. Today did 30 mins of box steps with a 20 lb pack. Tomorrow I do sandbag workout and sprints. Saturday I hike 4 hrs with 30 lbs. Hope to get up to 8 hrs with 60 lbs by the end of August. Been looking for slightly lower elevations to hunt on the CO hunting atlas. I've been researching now for the last 4 hrs. I've learned a lot in the last 4 hrs.

 

[gauge]

Plus one on what Ross said. Don't take this the wrong way, but looking for an "easy" unit and deciding you are not in shape for September seems like an easy way out. Remember, an "easier" unit means more people and often less elk. There are people that train for marathons in the time frame you have to train for an elk hunt. Also, don't assume that you are guaranteed altitude sickness just because you did before. If you workout 5 days a week, eat clean, and stay focused you can easily be mountain ready. Good luck!

 

[Usmcvet]

I am from NC & hunt around 11,000 feet in CO. For the past 5 years I take ibuprofen & it's worked great for me so far. Found this article you might find interesting:
Ibuprofen decreases likelihood of altitude sickness, researchers find | News Center | Stanford Medicine

 

[freshta]

Thanks Usmcvet for the link! I appreciate the pep talk gauge. I'm definitely going regardless. Just being out there will be worth it.

 

[fltlndr]

There's certainly easier terrain in Colorado. I'd start on Google Maps using the Topo feature to look at gradients or use the Colorado Hunting Atlas. Last September, I found elk at 11,000+ feet where I was in the steeps all day. And I found elk below 9,000 ft in much milder terrain. None of it was a walk in the park, but there was a noticeable difference in my exhaustion level at the end of the day. If you're solo, it's not the hunt that'll break you, it's packing out an animal...

 

[FigureItOutdoors]

I second the Wilderness Athlete thing. You can get their HY-Altitude kit and follow the directions. As a fellow flatlander, I can attest that it certainly does help. Obviously nothing will replace fitness but it will certainly aid in preventing AMS. On the scouting front, check out OnXMaps, they have great topo mapping software that will aid in finding that perfect location for what you want to get out of this years hunt. Good luck, hope you tag out.

 

[FigureItOutdoors]

Check out the training mask. Im using it again this year and I can say its quite effective at helping adjust to the rigors of altitude from a cardio standpoint. Fair warning, it sucks while you use it but that sweat will save you on a mountain.

 

[huntstrong2850]

I'm also from NC and recently spent a week above timberline in Utah and about to return for a second trip in a few weeks. I second the ibuprofen and the products from wilderness athlete, I also understand time issues with training as I also have a family, but I've learned it can be as simple as finding a steep hill and you hike that hill up and down 20-30x's a day, and yes it's hot and humid but if you want it bad enough you'll get out and do it. I also hike often when can but I don't concern myself with the length of time I can hike as much as I do how many miles can I cover today in this time period? For example Saturday I went 8 miles 20-25lb pack in 3 1/2hrs round trip back to the car. Turn it into cardio basically. And I do that at uhwarrie.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bonedalien]

like others have said, you have time to get into shape.
i want to suggest a plan B, If you feel you havent quite got where you want.
Think of bringing a tree stand. you have hunted there before,and probably already know a wallow or watering hole or a good trail that would work.
It might be a son of a gun to get in,but once up you can hunt as long as you want.
more and more guys are sitting over water for elk these days,and doing well.

 

[freshta]

Thanks a ton for all of the responses. You've given me much to think about. I've begun training again and I'm already feeling better. The mental part of the game is coming into focus and as everyone knows, that's the most important part of training. So, I'm gonna chug along and get as fit as I can with the time I have left and see what happens.

 

[philos]

I am in South Carolina and have hunted at or above 10K a few times. It mind sound simple but I believe acclimation helps a ton. Certainly getting in shape helps and definitely staying hydrated is crucial. On my last elk hunt I could hardly keep up a snails pace on day 1 but I made sure not to overdo it. By day 5 I was walking very fast with 70+ lbs of elk meat on my pack.

On a previous trip I exerted myself on the first day and had to go down to 6k or so and never was quite right for remainder of trip. Every since then I give myself 1-2 days to adjust and it works for me.

I also believe driving out west helps to acclimate you as opposed to flying.

Hopefully you will be posting some "elk down" photos in a few months.

philos