What do you do for exercising when you are getting ready for a hunt?

[ElkArcher918]

Hello,
I am fairly new to Rokslide and also to exercising. So far all I have been doing is riding a airdyne bike every other night and sit ups and push ups the opposite night. I have a few hunts this year but neither of them are going to be very strenuous. I still want to continue to get into shape so far I went from 213 to 195 in 4 months. I am just asking what you would recommend for getting into shape and maybe getting a bit stronger and making that leap into mountain shape that much easier. I am 48 years old so I want to make sure to avoid injuries too. Thank you in advance for your input.

I would focus on cardio endurance, leg strength, and flexibility. Do enough upper body weight training at the gym to stay funtionally strong for your size. Western hunting is more of a marathon rather than brute strength. Ride a mountainbike, hike with a backpack off-season, winter time snowshoeing/xc skiing, etc.. The less excess body weight (fat) you carry in the mountains the easier it is to chase elk and deer.

 

[McKolorado]

Every year has “progressed” for me over the last 3-4 years. Year one was more general fitness and I did Simple and Sinister (kettlebells). Year two I stuck with a general program and incorporated rucking. Year three I read Uphill Athlete and tweaked that program (it included general strength, core strength and hiking/rucking) that increased in duration over time. Third year I started a hunting specific program (but scaled it based on my time/lack of fitness). This year I’m doing the same plan but started in much better shape and have/made the time to do the program (box step ups, running, strength, rucking and core).

 

[Doc Holliday]

After my first backpack hunt, I found that time in the pack (with weight) was the #1 thing I didn't do enough of. Starting today with that for a hunt in late July

 

[KenLee]

I park at the liquor store and walk from and back to the truck

 

[justinspicher]

I generally stick with a simple program of daily pushups/squats, try to walk daily and kettlebell work. It helps that I live within half an hour of where I hunt and it’s all above 7000’.

 

[dtrkyman]

A general work out routine combined with carrying heavy shit up stairs, hills or mountains!

 

[FLATHEAD]

Walk.
Walk with weight.
Walk up the hill.
Walk down the hill.

 

[mighteywhitehunter]

Lots of good suggestions so far, I will echo most, start off slow and build up. Hiking with a weighted pack is the best if you time your hikes with an app such as runkeeper and push yourself to beat your previous time. Basically racing against yourself. I would do that 3ish times a week, then do some form of upper body workout along with kettlebell swings to hit the legs. In my opinion you dont need to do crazy long hikes, for me 2-3 miles is the sweet spot if you are pushing yourself. It doesn't take forever to do, so it is enjoyable, not monotonous. Trail running is another great workout. Find a trail that will give you 1-2 miles of uphill and take off. Same as before time yourself and race against yourself.

Intensity is everything.

 

[Raghornkiller]

We have found that packing out elk late August gets us ready to pack elk out in September and October.That first time sure hurts but I imagine the first time packing weight in June also hurts.

 

[Poser]

Summer schedule:

Monday: Rest
Tuesday: strength train
Wednesday: training hike (unweighted) or row.
Thursday: strength train
Friday: rest (or short hike)
Saturday: backpack/scout/hike/peak bag
Sunday: backpack/scout/hike/peak bag

Couple of 3-5 day backpacking trips thrown in there.

 

[elkguide]

Whatever you do, make it something that you do a lot of regularly. I'm a bicycle rider. Roadie but as I've aged, I've cut back to only 5K or 6K miles outside a year. When the weather gets bad, (yes I am a fair weather rider) I ride on a trainer inside for at least an hour a day. I will row on my Concept 2 rower three or four days a week and the other days, I use my Bowflex Max Trainer. I also lift at least three days a week. I've never had much adjusting to do when I get to my favorite hills out West that usually start at 5-6K feet, even though I live at 270' above sea level.

I think that consistency is the real key. Find something that you enjoy, that gets your heart rate up and keep it there and do it as often as you can. I also have found that taking one day off every week helps your body recover.

 

[keystone112]

When I hike/ruck, do it off pavement. It’s important to build strength in the ankles walking on uneven ground.

 

[Grisha]

hiking w a weighted pack is for me super important. There are a lot of muscles that will work differently with weight compared to normal hiking. I try to get out even if its walking the dog with a cement bag in my pack daily.

Other than that, biking, kettlebells, body weight stuff and I wrestle (works different muscles and keeps me moving my weight and another adults). I still feel unready with all that based on previous hunts, but its about all I can do with work, etc.

 

[Sboliver]

Does anyone have suggestions for people in the flat lands? I try to do stairs where I can find some. Its not quite the same as being up in the mountains.

 

[Holmes]

I've found these two books to be life changing for how I approach fitness and training. Nobody knows how to suffer with huge pack loads in tough terrain better than alpinists like Steve House, or his sometimes partner Mark Twight.

 

[Sboliver]

Thank you. I see if I can find them on audible. If not ill have to sit and read it lol.

 

[eddielasvegas]

As of last night, 35 consecutive nights of three miles at a 3.7-4.0 MPH pace. No elevation change given where I live.

I will start carrying my pack, with increasing weight in it, this week and eventually work up to running the three miles, but w/o the pack.

This is in preparation for our elk hunts in Oct. (son's youth hunt) and Dec. (my late rifle).


Eddie

 

[FLATHEAD]

Does anyone have suggestions for people in the flat lands? I try to do stairs where I can find some. Its not quite the same as being up in the mountains.

If you can get access to a local football stadium, would be great.
H.S. football coach made us do "stadiums" on a regular basis.
Running up and down those things in full gear on a hot August
day was brutal!!

 

[Sboliver]

football

Thats a great idea. There is a football field close by. Ill have to check this week to see if its open. Thanks for the idea.

 

[Mule3006Elk]

Days I don't work I bike my dog 4 miles, run 1 mile, ruck 1 mile with 32 lbs, road biking (20 miles).
Days I work: light cardio bike ride with dog, 1 mile run, 1 mile ruck, and weights.

This year I'm going to do more leg focused workouts.