MosquitoCoast
FNG
I'm just looking for some solid advice from those that have done this a lot as to whether I am on the right track or not.
This August I will be going on my first sheep hunt. Going for Dall in the Yukon on a 10 day hunt. I've been up there before to hunt other species as kind of prerequisite if you will prior to committing myself to a sheep hunt. I'm 47 years old and not getting younger. At about 6'1" 180lbs I'm on the skinnier side and my runner legs aren't probably best suited for mountain wear and tear. That said, I have "embraced the suck" on many a hunt and expect to on this one.
I live on the East Coast United States literally 20 mins from the Atlantic Ocean and am basically training at sea level.
I've been working out about 5 days a week for what seems like the last 2 years. Up until recently I just ran 3 miles or walked 5 miles with 55 lbs in a pack, and did a lot of Yoga. For the last 3 months, I've changed my routine because there is virtually NO terrain where I live. Now my routine consists of a mixture of incline (5%-15% inclines) treadmill work at a fast walking pace for 40 minutes, finished off by a 1.5 mile run, OR on short days I do 30 mins on the stair master in two 15 minute sessions which can be grueling but I get through it ok. Usually after either of these exercises, I lift weights on the machines doing 15 reps, 3 sets over a variety of about 5 different machine exercises for another 30-35 minutes after treadmill or stair master work. In addition to those workouts, I do hot Yoga to stay limber two days a week religiously and sometimes 3 if I can fit it into my work schedule.
Even though I used to walk the neighborhood with 55 lbs in my pack for the last two years I've stopped that because I wasn't getting any incline work. So three months ago I started the gym routine above. Recently I bought a 45 lb weighted vest and I wear one of those masks that simulates elevation by reducing oxygen intake cut my workouts to half the time. Usually with the vest and mask, I'm doing 5 min intervals at 5% incline, 8% incline, 6% incline, 10% incline, 8% incline, and then 12% incline with a 3 minute 15% incline then cool down for 7 minutes at 2% incline. Weight hasn't been an issue yet but man the mask has kicked my ass.
I feel like I am doing enough but really I am a fish out of water here. I always feel a slight struggle with elevation on any hunts or activities I do around mountains. At least that happens the first couple of days before I start getting used to it. i will say that I feel in excellent shape but the last thing i want to happen is to feel fine the first two days of the sheep hunt only to deteriorate physically by the 4th-5th day. I plan on packing light, but i am going to be taking a bow and a rifle on this hunt so I expect my overall pack weight will be averaging around 35lbs or so.
I'm going to keep this pace up until about 3 weeks prior to my hunt where I will just go into rest mode and practice Yoga to stay fit. Am I on the right track? Am I doing too much, too little? I want to physically be able to dominate this hunt because I feel like if I can do that the mental side of things won't be nearly as tough.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. It is a little weird prepping for something you have never done nor understanding what exactly is in store for you.
This August I will be going on my first sheep hunt. Going for Dall in the Yukon on a 10 day hunt. I've been up there before to hunt other species as kind of prerequisite if you will prior to committing myself to a sheep hunt. I'm 47 years old and not getting younger. At about 6'1" 180lbs I'm on the skinnier side and my runner legs aren't probably best suited for mountain wear and tear. That said, I have "embraced the suck" on many a hunt and expect to on this one.
I live on the East Coast United States literally 20 mins from the Atlantic Ocean and am basically training at sea level.
I've been working out about 5 days a week for what seems like the last 2 years. Up until recently I just ran 3 miles or walked 5 miles with 55 lbs in a pack, and did a lot of Yoga. For the last 3 months, I've changed my routine because there is virtually NO terrain where I live. Now my routine consists of a mixture of incline (5%-15% inclines) treadmill work at a fast walking pace for 40 minutes, finished off by a 1.5 mile run, OR on short days I do 30 mins on the stair master in two 15 minute sessions which can be grueling but I get through it ok. Usually after either of these exercises, I lift weights on the machines doing 15 reps, 3 sets over a variety of about 5 different machine exercises for another 30-35 minutes after treadmill or stair master work. In addition to those workouts, I do hot Yoga to stay limber two days a week religiously and sometimes 3 if I can fit it into my work schedule.
Even though I used to walk the neighborhood with 55 lbs in my pack for the last two years I've stopped that because I wasn't getting any incline work. So three months ago I started the gym routine above. Recently I bought a 45 lb weighted vest and I wear one of those masks that simulates elevation by reducing oxygen intake cut my workouts to half the time. Usually with the vest and mask, I'm doing 5 min intervals at 5% incline, 8% incline, 6% incline, 10% incline, 8% incline, and then 12% incline with a 3 minute 15% incline then cool down for 7 minutes at 2% incline. Weight hasn't been an issue yet but man the mask has kicked my ass.
I feel like I am doing enough but really I am a fish out of water here. I always feel a slight struggle with elevation on any hunts or activities I do around mountains. At least that happens the first couple of days before I start getting used to it. i will say that I feel in excellent shape but the last thing i want to happen is to feel fine the first two days of the sheep hunt only to deteriorate physically by the 4th-5th day. I plan on packing light, but i am going to be taking a bow and a rifle on this hunt so I expect my overall pack weight will be averaging around 35lbs or so.
I'm going to keep this pace up until about 3 weeks prior to my hunt where I will just go into rest mode and practice Yoga to stay fit. Am I on the right track? Am I doing too much, too little? I want to physically be able to dominate this hunt because I feel like if I can do that the mental side of things won't be nearly as tough.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. It is a little weird prepping for something you have never done nor understanding what exactly is in store for you.