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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.

it was a good weekend, I need another couple of those this year for sanity reasons alone!

Oh, the brutality! I didn't see that one coming. Hopefully Grasshopper won't bump me out of my #20 elevation spot before I manhandle Capitol Butte tomorrow. 1.8 miles round trip ain't gonna cut it in taking back my mileage spot (unless I can convince Jim to hit Pumphouse Wash on the way back ).

I crested 200,000 feet (200,275') on Sunday when I got in Mt Elden once again. I'm 5th this year by elevation, which is what I care about. Basically, with only November and December left in the year, school time constraints, cooling weather, low interest in old standards like Elden, and a pledge to not do Humphrey until the Thanksboring weekend or snow conditions arrive, I am estimating my final tally for the year to be between 210,000 and 215,000. It would be great if I surpassed 215,000 and maybe made 225,000, but I just don't see that happening, especially since there is the very real possibility I will be doing something I don't really want to do by going to the far east in December.

Where do others see themselves ending up for the year? Will imike make 500,000'? Will Joe and Wally top 350,000'? Will Jake make 100,000? Does anyone care if they aren't a "top performer"?

I don't care so much. For me it is about destination, not accumulation (of elevation).
That's almost a poem there.

Oh, I'll definitely make 100,000, I just might have fudge the numbers a little come December. 5,000 ft of gain on the Fay Canyon Trail is reasonable, isn't it?

Bob keeps planning death marches for me. If I live through them I could make 350. :stretch:

C'mon Wally! It's only 13 miles!
I'm hanging @ 34 in AEG and 41 in mileage. Stiller's and my hike on Sunday should help. I've already surpassed 2007's mileage total (when I lived in the Old Pueblo), and Sunday should put me pretty close to that year's AEG. Bearing Down on going onward and upward!

I'm big time distracted right now relocating off the mountain, so there is not the emphasis on training... and that changes how my weeks go. Also, I'm about to be on the road for a couple of weeks; not sure what will happen during those travels. Normally, this year was about getting out the door daily to keep the progress accumulating. When I put in that 17,000' day at the beginning of this month it sort of killed my momentum. If I return to the training on the trails, I should hit the 500,000' mark... if I go ahead and switch over to biking, then I'll likely drop the monthly average on the trail to 25,000' per month, at best.

I'm wondering if this obviously higher mileage/elevation year has those hikers feeling the benefits? Has the added efforts proved out to substantially higher levels of conditioning, or just more hours logged?

imike wrote:I'm wondering if this obviously higher mileage/elevation year has those hikers feeling the benefits? Has the added efforts proved out to substantially higher levels of conditioning, or just more hours logged?

I noticed a difference, better in some ways and others not. On a 20 mile hike the 1st ten miles was more difficult than the 2nd ten miles this year and I was rarely sore the next day. I think this may have been because the group would start fast and then slow down just as I was getting warmed up. I also found the uphill wasn't any easier if not a little tougher. I think I worked the slow twitch muscles at the expense of the fast. I definitely feel more motivated after a good rest than when hiking almost everyday. I haven't hiked for 12 days now and I can't wait to get out.

wallyfarak wrote:On a 20 mile hike the 1st ten miles was more difficult than the 2nd ten miles this year and I was rarely sore the next day.

That sounds very different from my observation of you from our Mt. Baldy loop hike, and the hike the next day, when you readily agreed to the truncated 7.5 miler....

The Mt Baldy hike involved high elevation on day one and beer before day two. It was different.

Hey Nick, I'm coming for #28! Only 12 miles to go!

hippiepunkpirate wrote:Hey Nick, I'm coming for #28! Only 12 miles to go!

oh pumpkin, that means i gotta get off my butt again...

nickfraley wrote:oh pumpkin, that means i gotta get off my butt again...

My math sucks...I'm 22 miles behind you. Not that this is any sort of competition ;)

the only competition I have is with the magic 100,000 mark. can i make it after one of the most injury plagued years i've had and a very demanding job?

...probably not, but i'll try anyway

nickfraley wrote:the only competition I have is with the magic 100,000 mark. can i make it after one of the most injury plagued years i've had and a very demanding job?

...probably not, but i'll try anyway

100,000 is my goal too!

nickfraley wrote:the only competition I have is with the magic 100,000 mark

So does that mean you want to do "that" hike sometime in Dec ;)

rlrjamy wrote:So does that mean you want to do "that" hike sometime in Dec

it would get me there a pumpkin lot faster, wouldn't it?

Pumpkin, HPP! you're killin me in the elevation this year

nickfraley wrote:Pumpkin, HPP! you're killin me in the elevation this year

I'm only up 9,000 ft, and you were injured like half the year! I got my sights on 100,000 but school and the holidays are gonna make it tough!