Fwd: RE: [at-l] Hiking Advice/AT2004

[Bob C." <ellen@clinic.net (Bob C.)]

This is a forwarded message
From: William Neal <nealb@midlandstech.com>
To: "'Bob C.'" <ellen@clinic.net>
Date: Friday, December 13, 2002, 8:21:04 AM
Subject: [at-l] Hiking Advice/AT2004

===8<==============Original message text===============
Many people cannot afford to go to the mountains as regularly or often as
they need to really build up for the trail as they should or want.  I
recommend getting a pack and loading it bit by bit with books.  Weigh the
pack and add more book weight as you get more in shape.  Walk a short
distance everyday.  Use a pedometer or a counting string or some method and
increase the distance bit by bit: Don't necessarily increase the distance
every day or week.  Increase by how you feel.  When it begins getting easy,
increase the distance or the weight or both.  Also, walk up and DOWN stairs.
It is not exactly walking up and down hills, but rarely (especially if you
cannot get to a good trail)are you going to get the exact same workout you
would on the AT.  But walking stairs is a good start.  I did one flight of
stairs at a slow pace, and picked up the pace gradually each day.  When it
began to feel easy, I went to two flights of stairs.  And so-on.  If you get
to where you get bored walking up and down the same flight of stairs.  Find
a route that will take you through several different sets of steps.  For
instance, from my apt. building I could go up the steep steps of the state
capitol, and then to the steps in a nearby office building, and then to a
nearby park with a long curving flight of steps from the park up to street
level.  If you do not have ready access to a building, find out who the
management is.  Go to them and explain what you plan on doing.  Ask if they
will let you in to walk their stairs.  Have a real conversation with them
and they might just let you use their stairs.  Also most malls have at least
two levels and two sets of stairs.  Don't use the escalators.  Walk up one
and power walk to the next.  Walk down and power walk back to the first.

I think y'all get the idea.  Of course if you can, go walking on a trail.
But the advantage of walking up stairs and carrying books is that most of us
can do it everyday, and mix it in with our regular routine.

 William, The Turtle

-----Original Message-----
>"...A 40 pound pack is unnecessary to start with - and not many people
start
>the Trail doing 14 mile days.  A smart beginner will start off with a 5
pound
>pack and do 5 mile days to start - and then build up to longer distances, a
>heavier pack and steeper grades" argues Jim.

===8<===========End of original message text===========



--
Best regards,
 Bob                            mailto:ellen@clinic.net