How are things progressing this year? In keeping with the idea that you are only as good as the numbers you post, I'm up to 61,436' of elevation for the year and a modest 132 miles.
Added August 2019: Looking back 10 years later, I honestly can't think of anything more offensive or unhealthy to say about one's hiking, than the above statement. Thats was my OP in 2009. Hiking should never just be about the stats recorded.
January 31, 2023: Have at it.
Last edited by Jim on Dec 31 2023 8:54 am, edited 16 times in total.
I think this time of year is generally pretty busy for people. Mine has been busier than usual-- most years I'd be hitting pretty long days in the Supes or Mazzies pretty consistently right about now but that just hasn't been in the cards lately.
Zazzle posters are 75% off today after they jack 'em up. Anyhow I found some of the fitness posters amusing...
Fitness is a journey, not a destination.
Nothing tastes as good as fitness feels.
If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you.
Get fit, don't quit.
The best ab exercise is five sets of stop eating so much crap.
Suck it up, Buttercup.
The only bad workout is the one that didn't happen.
A one hour workout is 4% of your day, no excuses.
Get fit or die fat.
Make changes, not excuses.
One life. One body. One chance.
Sometimes you just have to pull up your big girl panties and do it whether you want to or not.
Walk often, live longer.
Yesterday you said tomorrow.
Excuses are for people that don't want it bad enough.
No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch.
With the year coming to a close, I started December with 137K for AEG. I have already gotten in about 3000' this week, so I am going to make a push to try and crack 150K if all goes well. I know this doesn't stand up to some of the big dogs, but it looks pretty sweet for my about once weekly hiking fix. I should come in almost 100 miles over last year, so that is cool too. If I can somehow squeeze in 5 unique peaks in the next 3 weeks that will put me at 78 on the year, same year as my birth. Always good to have a few completely arbitrary goals to aim for in life...
Today was probably my last hike for the year since I have visitors for the holidays. Not my biggest mileage year but it was my biggest elevation, average elevation, and most uniques. It looks like I can say I had a good year for diversity and quality.
I'm really happy with my year. Even though largely carried by the 1st 6 months of 2015 in Tucson, I am almost where I was last year, and will probably tack on another few thousand feet. Mostly, I want to get over 800 miles, and could care less about crossing 300,000'. Even the miles, is just because.
The period from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015 is my greatest AEG total for any 12 month period; almost 379,000'. However, perhaps due to my knee, or the time required to drive to hikes given where I live, or maybe because I don't want to subsist on excercise hills, I have lost interest in accumulating large AEG totals, or doing so to meet an arbitrary goal, so I doubt I'll ever do those sort of numbers again.
I made my first official foray into the western deserts with 2 hikes this weekend, and have had more unique hikes this year than any prior year, by far. I never logged Palm Canyon in Jan of 2007.
Very happy with my year! With my three peaks yesterday, that puts me over 150 K for AEG and almost 550 miles. Hopefully I can get one more hike in next week after Xmas. I am up to 79 unique peaks for the year, and more unique hikes period than I have ever done before. New highs in basically all categories for me this year. December has been a great month, sprinkled in some smaller peaks and off-trail around a couple big ones I have wanted to revisit for a while, 5057 from Carney and Barry Goldwater. Bring on the New Year!
Its been a rather slow month for me in comparison to my October and November stats. Only around 25 miles so far. A combination of college finals and my knee/it band problem has had me side lined for the better part of 3 weeks. After being extremely cautious with the knee it feels pretty much 100% now.
I'm not sure if its just the season or the lack of exercise this month, but I've noticed a huge down swing in my mood lately. It just feels harder to want to get outside right now. I tried getting out this morning but I just couldn't, it felt forced. I've never considered myself as someone with "seasonal depression", but this year with all the time I've spent outside I've noticed stark differences in my mood based on the season.
I have 100 miles that I am looking forward to starting on the 27th. Oracle to Superior on the AZT. I'm hoping that'll get the fire going again.
It may be winter, but the good news is we are only gaining daylight from here until June!
Last edited by DallinW on Dec 22 2015 7:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Just rolled over 500 miles for the year, I don't care so much about AEG. Goal is 750 for next year. That's an extra 20.8 miles per month, should be able to manage that!
I think it was a good first year foundation for me settling in AZ. I've covered two of the portions that I'm interested in in the Valley and Flagstaff. Now I want to get to the GC and the Mogollon Rim areas plus Greer/White Mountains and Sierra Anchas.
Have a goal of taking at least 1 Fri-Sun trip up into California if someone's interested in a backpacking trip in '16.
Follow me on Instagram: hikingjason
"It's not the mountains that we conquer, but ourselves"
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