2008 How much have you done this year?

[Jim]

I was looking over my History for this year and saw that I am already up to 154 miles hiked and over 50,100 feet gained and lost. I'm doing a much better job of tracking my hikes this year. Everything worth mentioning appears to be accounted for.

What are you up to? Now is your chance to brag. You know you want to.

[Jeffshadows]

Putting speed there makes a hike into a jog then into a run. If I wanted to go running, I'd go running, not hiking. I think the categories Joe is suggesting are better, not that I care that much. Of course, someone who lives in Flagstaff is going to get most elevation/miles. Miles/hike or average...you're going to see everyone's average jump when they start counting the walk to and from the parking lot, the extra several 0.1 mile "mistakes" and such, but not the time spent milling around drinking beers.

The categories I would like to see is: most unique hikes done that are listed on HAZ (# different hikes), total miles/year, maybe total elevation/year, and leave it at that.

Plenty of people do go trail running; and, hard as this may be for some to accept, there are those among us who can hike a trail faster than most could ever jog it.

The rest of the mountaineering world uses summit speeds as a meter stick which is why I suggested it. Don't like the idea? Cool...

[Davis2001r6]

I do like that # of different hikes idea. That's a cool one and something I've been trying to go in the last year, see new places. Training hikes in town are different IMO. Well then there is the big canyon up north, never get tired of it no matter what trail I go on.

[fricknaley]

Final of 605 miles and 153,000 feet. I'm pretty stoked about that.

[Jim]

If I had summited Whitney I would be over 250,000' for the year. Instead I report a final tally of 246,027' and 671 miles. I don't expect to come close to that in 2009, but I still hope to be well over 100,000' next year.

*I don't think we can see each others history, but if you can see mine and you notice that my numbers don't match what is displayed it is because when I change old triplogs from the "Humphrey Summit Trail" to the "Humphrey Summit via the Dutchman" the computer changed my more accurate mileage and my very accurate AEG estimates over to the standard numbers given from the hike. This caused me to lose a good deal of mileage and about 1000' vertical feet.

[wyandot]

2008 Stats from my personal journal:

Total hikes: 89
Total miles: 636
Total AEG: 168,000 feet

Most memorable hike: The 30-mile Inca Trail in Peru, culminating in a sunrise first view of Machu Picchu.

[hippiepunkpirate]

Of course, someone who lives in Flagstaff is going to get most elevation/miles.

Not necessarily.....I need my short flat-land hikes to keep the variety going and see new things. Plus, all you guys that hike the Supes have the opportunity for way more high mileage hikes/backpacks than we do up here. The Peaks may be the highest in elevation, but they don't take up a great deal of space compared to say the Santa Catalinas. The number of high elevation gain/high mileage hikes we have isn't as much as you think.

[Jim]

Also, if you don't do Mt Elden and Humphrey all the time (like I did in 2008) you don't really have any other mountains to do that will bring you lots of elevation gain. I did Humphrey 18 times and Elden 31 times in 2008, removing those from the equation reduces my AEG total by 133,800'. Also, a good chunk of my AEG was from 13ers and 14ers out of state, say 45,000', so if you remove out of state climbs and Elden and Humphrey (both of which I now think I did way too much last year) I only did around 67,227' in 2008.
I have to agree with hippie, I think there are more opportunities in other areas of the state to climb a variety of mountains and get a lot of elevation accumulation. I think that is also a big misconception about Flagstaff, that we have lots of mountains here. We've really only got the 1, or 2 if Elden is a separate mountain to you. It is actually rather flat here, but thats another topic.

[fricknaley]

jhodlof, if you lived here in tucson i bet you'd hit 300,000. there's gain everywhere here.

[hippiepunkpirate]

Elden and Humphrey (both of which I now think I did way too much last year)

I can get burned out on Elden Lookout pretty easily, but its relatively short and convenient so its a good workout if you have limited time. It accounted for about 10k of my 55k. I wish the Heart trail was more accessible without having to hike the flat and boring 1.5 miles of Sandy Seep each way! I look forward to doing some more challenging hikes on the Peaks this year (Humphrey's via Inner Basin, Fremont, maybe a Weatherford-Humphrey's shuttle) plus a couple 2000'+ climbs I missed (Kendrick, O'Leary, Pumpkin/Bull Basin, Bill Williams). I'm looking into snowshoes, but the winter climbs might have to wait until next year...my next couple months will likely be flat-ground/small hill snowshoes and trips to Sedona. BTW jhodlof: if you don't mind a little slower pace, we should grab a hike someday!

[Jim]

I have gotten pretty burned out on Elden, too. The only reason I do it now is for the exercise. I was pretty lazy in the last 2 months of the year (with respect to planning and driving) and did Elden something like 10 times just for the exercise. The Peaks hikes are all pretty good, but I'm getting burned out on them as well. The last time I did Humphrey and Agassiz it felt like I was commuting. I want to do them again this winter, but I think its mostly just that I want to get high (hiking). They definetly don't have the excitement this winter that they did last year. I will need to do Elden or Humphrey at least a few times between now and March if I am to maintain some level of fitness to go back to CA and attempt Whitney in winter.

[Davis2001r6]

I would agree there are a lot of big elevation gains from Tucson. Kimball for example. 4000k+ feet in what 5 miles? Pretty much all the catalina's are like that. My vote would be to live in Tuscon in winter and Flag in Summer. That' is if I'm just talking AZ.

[fricknaley]

Don't forget the Rincons and Ritas...also both loaded with 4000+ hikes.

[JoelHazelton]

I ended up with 443.43 miles and 93,695 ft for the year.

[Davis2001r6]

I know, pretty much all the mountains down there can get you 4k feet of gain it seems. I was just comparing the Catalina's to the San Fran Peaks.

[hippiepunkpirate]

I have gotten pretty burned out on Elden, too. The only reason I do it now is for the exercise. I was pretty lazy in the last 2 months of the year (with respect to planning and driving) and did Elden something like 10 times just for the exercise. The Peaks hikes are all pretty good, but I'm getting burned out on them as well. The last time I did Humphrey and Agassiz it felt like I was commuting. I want to do them again this winter, but I think its mostly just that I want to get high (hiking). They definetly don't have the excitement this winter that they did last year. I will need to do Elden or Humphrey at least a few times between now and March if I am to maintain some level of fitness to go back to CA and attempt Whitney in winter.

I only did Humphrey's once this year, and I wasn't really impressed with that route....the mile from the saddle up the ridgeline is sweet but 3.5 miles of switchbacks aren't that interesting, and I don't particularly like looking down on Snowbowl. That's why I'm excited to Humphrey's via Inner Basin...sounds like a much better journey to the top, plus I've never hiked those upper sections of the Weatherford. I agree that the Peaks are easy to get burned out on, just because there's only 7 major trails. I've grown to love all the hikes, but the variety is limited. I'm glad I saved Kendrick and Bill Williams for next summer.

[Jim]

Well, don't be disappointed with Kendrick or Billy D Williams. I would like to do BW when the weather is nice so I can enjoy the view, but I never seem to get there when it is nice. Every time I have done BW it has been overcast with low clouds or snowing. Plus, the last half mile of hiking is on road and the towers on top detract from the experience. I know its ironic that they would bother me having done Elden so much. Also, Kendrick either follows an old road or the two other trails go through an area that is completely destroyed by fire. Some places are just bare rock now.

[te_wa]

Final of 605 miles and 153,000 feet. I'm pretty stoked about that.

we need a "raise the roof" smilie
i think some of your photos were worth every mile you hiked. keep it up!

[hippiepunkpirate]

I'm shooting for June for BW because its on a north slope. Lookout towers don't bother me too much, but I'm not expecting too much out of those hikes, just some variety from what I've already done.

[Jeffshadows]

Final of 605 miles and 153,000 feet. I'm pretty stoked about that.

we need a "raise the roof" smilie
i think some of your photos were worth every mile you hiked. keep it up!

That's for sure!!

[fricknaley]

i think some of your photos were worth every mile you hiked. keep it up!

thanks te-wa...you know i will. :wlift: