Cross-Training for the Outdoors

[DancesWithKnives]

I try to hike or cycle nearly every day. I usually get 5 per week in, sometimes a little better. If I didn't, I'd be a 300 lb couch anchor in about a year. I've been trying to incorporate a few weight workouts but I don't enjoy them as much and there's a limit to how much time even a single guy can devote to conditioning. I should also swim more to improve my spearfishing.

What do you all do to keep in shape for hunting (and just keep in shape in general)?

DWK

[LampLighter]

What do you all do to keep in shape for hunting (and just keep in shape in general)?




Ride my mountain bike around my land. See "my 09 Gobbler" turkey board

Always park way out in the park lots and walk into the stores/also prevents basket dings on my truck.

Never take the elevator

I do not eat partially hydronated fat stuff, greasey chips, etc. Drink diet coke, eat baby carrots and bananas, and lots of deer sausage :eek:

Most of all- I have a philosophy that I must accomplish something every day. Something. Absolutely NO lounging around watching tv on a nice day. There is still Katrina logs to cut up, vinyl siding to wash, I am heavily involved in the shooting sports and getting more involved. I love to shoot for accuracy. Just DO something. NO chee-wees, Hawaiian Punch, or other junk. Absolutely very little junk food. NO white bread. Whole wheat only or 9 grain.

BUT, I gobble up some crawfish with lite beer. Oh man, it is time for that. We're going to a boil Saturday in Baton Rouge.

Come October all through the end of March, I spend alot of time in the woods. I walk many, many many miles. Not necessarily Through my hunt areas, but TO my hunt areas, via grassy roads and field edges.

On the job, if I need a PARTICULAR special tool, I get off the roof, out the attic, off the ladder whatever, and go to the truck to get it. No matter how many times. I won't "make do" with the crescent wrench in my pocket if what I really need is a refrigeration service wrench. Man oh man, you'd be surprised how many rounded off isolation valve stems I find due exactly to this. MOVE ! Motion ! Go get what you need.

ALL of the above leads to pretty good health, but I still need to get the cardiac rythem up. I like to run, but admittedly have not done so since 02. I used to wear out $80 Nike Running shoes regulary. You must get that cardiac rythem up. STAIRS, like a big city courthouse , are very good for this. Even if you live in places like Eureka Springs Ark. , the inclines on the roads are good for this.

I think you come up with a very good thread.

[DancesWithKnives]

Thanks. I agree about the benefits of stairs or inclined trails. I just got back from my (nearly) daily hike. We did about 4 miles and 800 vertical feet up to Skull Rock (Temescal Cyn, Santa Monica Mountains). Not a huge hike but if you do something like that most days, it keeps you in reasonable condition.

Diet is also very critical---thanks for bringing that up. Just today I bought another 5 lb bag of the "Bunny Love" mini carrots. With as many of those damn things as I eat, I ought to be able to see at night without NVG.:D

I appreciate your contribution,

DWK

[Sabre]

Just move somewhere with severe winter weather, get yourself a woodstove for heat and a chainsaw and monster maul to secure your winter's fuel supply. No more worries about staying in shape.:D

[dave-t.]

;):D

[DancesWithKnives]

My hunting buddy in Missoula has a wood-heated house and uses exactly that approach!;)

DWK

[Deerslayer]

To stay in shape for hunting, especially elk hunting, I like to run stairs. I live at about 600 ft above sea level and generally elk hunt at 8000 - 10,000 ft above sea level. So no matter how in shape I feel at home my butt is always dragging the first few days in elk camp. I find that doing them 2 - 3 times per week over the course of the late Spring and Summer months gets me in great shape for the mountains. There is a set of stairs a short drive from my house that have about 130 ft. of vertical climb to them. I run up them and walk down 16 times. The more you do them the easier it gets but that first month or two (like now) its a killer after a long winter of not doing them because of the ice and snow.

I haven't done this for years but if I was planning a backpack hunt like I used to do where we pack into the back country to hunt, in addition to running the stairs I did the same stairs with a pack on once a week. In the pack is an 80 pound bag of cement. You don't run with an 80 pound pack on your back just slowly walk up and down. On a cool morning the sweat is starting to just roll off of you after rep five or six so you have to have plenty of water or Gatorade to stay hydrated. That will really build up the thigh and calf muscles.

[DancesWithKnives]

When getting in shape for backpacking, I fill a 6 gal. plastic jerry can with water and carry it in an 8lb Gregory expedition pack. With the other gear I carry, that gives me about 60lbs. I hike the local hills with it. I admire your ability to train with 80+pack but that would be a bit much for me.

DWK

[StringJumper]

I have a 25 lb weight vest that I wear around the house. I try to wear it for a few hours each evening. Sometimes I add ankle weights. I also walk and have a gym workout 3 days a week. And I still feel out of shape...:(

[DancesWithKnives]

When I worked in an office I used to wear a 5lb ankle weight on each leg, under my suit trousers. Made it easier to get used to boots. The weight vest is a good idea. I'll have to look in to that.

Thanks,

DWK

[Hi Ball]

I remember reading somewhere that the US ARMY figured out that the Max weight a combat soldier should carry on his back is 32-lbs, rifle 10-lbs canteen water etc. would make 45-lbs the Max limit.