Mileage Vs. Elevation?

[Jim]

For me, elevation is my main interest in a big hike. I see most people who are big into HAZ trip logging seem to be more concerned with miles hiked. Why is that?

For me, I know why I like elevation, as coming from the flat east coast, a hill of 100 feet is big, so 2400' or 5000' is an incredible feat. Miles, not such a big deal. I hiked good distances before, but never got too excited about doing a 30 mile day. You have to admit, doing 20 miles with 4500' AEG is far harder than 20 miles with only 400 feet AEG. So too though, is doing 3000' AEG over 25 miles harder than 3000' over 5, but I have my preference. How 'bout you.

[azbackpackr]

But I live next to Mt. Elden now. Just wait till school's out...

I see the Elden Lookout hike that Jim_H frequently does. If I am still in Prescott Valley in the summer, I will definitely go to Flagstaff to check it out. That and Humphreys are on my list for now.

Both hikes are pretty boring*, but they are good training for the Canyon*. I have designated Elden as my neighborhood hike. Now I just need time to do it.

*"Boring" to me is anything crowded and popular. Bright Angel is also very boring, to me. By training for the Canyon, I mean, I am hoping to do Nankoweap or North Bass or Tanner-Beamer, or an off-trail route.

[Jim]

Bump.

I don't know, something interesting about how you can probably challenge your body with long miles instead of steep higher elevation hikes.

[big_load]

I get good results with my hill workouts. I focus more on AEG than distance, but I get a fair amount of distance as a byproduct. I go for a minimum of 500 ft AEG in half an hour, with two days (preferrably back to back) of 1200-1500 ft AEG in 80-90 minutes.

[Jim]

@big_load
Are you able to find trails with that in NJ?

[sneakySASQUATCH]

I try to train for both. I find elevation easier living at almost 8000’ than when I was in Az. I like to challenge myself and I still have not knocked off the ring the peak off my bucket list which is both. I did a 7600+’ day and a 11000’+ day this summer and 11000’ in 22 miles pumpkin sucked! I think 13000’ over 62 miles would be easier with the elevation gain spread out and the ability to run, hike, and climb over the distance rather than just climbing and climbing. 11000’ in 22 miles seemed to put too much strain on on uphill muscles especially at altitude. It was all I could do to get to the last summit, but every 1000’ going down and just using different muscles going down I found significantly easier. I also have had to work at efficiently hiking elevation to improve. I’ve always been good at going downhill. I run a lot more than hike these days to stay in shape. My normal running loop and hiking in my neighborhood is not flat so it has improved my ability and cardio. In the big elevation day the first two summits were easy going up and down the third and last 3900’ just took all my will power to do. It just was not fun or enjoyable and to think I tortured myself to save driving to all these separately. Dumb.

[big_load]

@big_load
Are you able to find trails with that in NJ?

There are two or three places not far away where I can get close to 1k in a single go. One is known locally as the Stairway to Heaven, on the AT near the NY border. The others are in the Delaware Water Gap, going up from roughly river level to the AT, which runs along the first big ridge.

However, my normal routine is in the neighborhood which is along the sides and top of a ridge, so I have many loop options where I can get 120-200 feet up and back down in short, connected loops. The people that live on the steepest ones are used to me setting off their alarm dogs.

[RedRoxx44]

My norm is a daily hood walk of about 3 miles that I try to do at a fast pace. I exercise 5 days a week with 40-45min on a stat bike at as high a resistance as I can do for that time. I have a recumbant and upright in my house along with an elliptical. I only use that if it's really bad weather (rare) or I don't have time. I have a strength training program 5 days a week using dumbbells, medicine balls, swiss balls, elastic cords, body weight (#ihateplanks). I do core daily using the medicine ball, a dumbbell and an elastic cord. I don't seem to be able to hike very long distances right now especially since some of my usual is off trail. I do like going uphill vs down for sure. Level is good if not too boring. Backpacking and day hiking seem to be similar as far as my endurance. Kinda weird.

[Jim]

@big_load
I would curious to see routes, photos or logs from those hikes. Not because I doubt you, just curious to see what is available in those parts.

[big_load]

@Jim_H

I'll capture one next week. Today I'm walking with my wife, so it will be less ambitious than usual.

[big_load]

@Jim_H

My wife bailed out at the last minute due to the cold, so I did an shortened version of my hill workout. You can see one of the places where I do repeats to get fast AEG, I only did two there today because of impending darkness, but I usually do at least four and as many as 12.

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