elk training ?

[twinkieman]

What's the best 60 day way to train for the upcoming elk season?
I am I very good shape, but my partner's all struggle year in and year out. I hope that some of you will post some training methods that will appeal to my friends.

[WapitiTalk1]

Old fashioned I guess but effective. Hike with weight on your back (I'm not a gym kind of guy). Start with nominal weight (25-30 pounds) and gradually increase weight up to 50, 60, or more pounds by the end of August, and, increase the distance you hike (cardio). If there are no hills where a guy lives, do HS stadium stairs. The downhill training is as important as the uphill training (ask my knees, they'll tell you why). This method has worked for me for about 100 years, LOL. Nothing can prepare a hunter for elevation changes, but, if one workouts religiously at least a few months (preferrably longer) before season, the elevation changes can be conquered by hunting/acclimation within a handfull of days for most folks that are in reasonably good shape. Just my meager .02.

[ctdad]

I would second phantom advice. If your partners need motivation, set up a couple days each week to do group hikes to keep it fun. If they aren't easily motivated, telling them to do videos or join a gym would be a waste of time.

[ElkNut1]

Yes sir, carrying the pack 3-4 days a week starting with the lower wt & working up to 60# or so is a great way to get into elk shape. Start with a mile or so & work up according to their strengths. In the end they should be able to 3 miles min & be loving it! (grin)

ElkNut1

[twinkieman]

Great ideas! thanks. I will try to organize hikes a minimum of 3 days each week. Doing it together could be fun!!!

[mrbillbrown]

Look for local mountain bike trails to hike on with your weighted pack. Changes the regular scenery of walking around the neighborhood and gives a tremendous workout due to varying terrain.

[Huntmaster]

Hiking with a pack is best, but if you don't have hills its not that much of a cardio workout. I live in a very flay area, so I do the Insanity videos 3-4 days a week starting in may. Once my cardio gets good, then I grab a pack and hike some small hills we have to build my leg strength. The interval training helps you recover quickly and the pack workout builds leg strength and adds to cardio.

[phall]

i agree with all that has been said... i try to do a little well a lot of it all gym, elipiticals, stairmaster, treadmills, road running, etc but if there is that one thing that you must do is hike with that pack... stadiums, stairs, hills whatever steep you can find...then find a big dose of heart, guts, determination, perseverance and all those other inspirational words because them mountains and elk will test them all to the max

[wawhitey]

I guess I get my training by default hiking around to all my cameras with 50 lb bags of salt on my back.

[twinkieman]

i agree with all that has been said... i try to do a little well a lot of it all gym, elipiticals, stairmaster, treadmills, road running, etc but if there is that one thing that you must do is hike with that pack... stadiums, stairs, hills whatever steep you can find...then find a big dose of heart, guts, determination, perseverance and all those other inspirational words because them mountains and elk will test them all to the max

Great idea, for a base. My hopes are that my friends see some of this stuff on here, and try some of the ideas. I am lucky, no weight problem, have been a runner my entire adult life, and staying in shape is just a way of life. My friends have to work at it, I don't want to nag them about it, but I know there hunting experience would be greatly enhanced with hard work prior to elk season.

[Elkduds]

You can alternate days of swimming. bicycling or stairclimber machine w days of hiking w pack, that will build cardio stamina while reducing impact to back and leg joints. Also, do intervals during cardio: Go hard for 3 min, then moderate for 2 min. As you get stronger, go hard for 4 min, then easy for 1 min during training.

[pointysticks]

Trail jogging. With hills.

Absolutely brutal on lungs and legs. You won't need to add weights to your back. If your knees are suspect, ignore this:)

[TJB]

Coming from the flat lands of Nebraska, it is hard for me to find hills to hike. We have good access to walking and bike trails but they are flat. I had good success last year by going to one of our local state recreation areas that has a lake and hiking up and down the backside of the the dam with a weighted pack. That is about the tallest hill you are going to find in these parts. Start light and work your way up. It seems steep because it is, but elk live in some steep country! It can't be stressed enough how important it is to get the feel for hiking DOWN hill with weight on your back. Also, throw in a fishing pole and enjoy a little fishing and being outdoors as time allows.

[pointysticks]

No hills? I'd run stadiums. It works leg muscles and cardio. And in short time. I hiked w a heavy pack and I found it takes a relatively long hike to suffer. 20 minutes of stadiums at a local high school is suffering.

[twinkieman]

All of these are great ideas, I especially like the posts about the stadium stairs, and hiking with packs. thanks for all of your help.

[pointysticks]

Yea. I have a trainer lady friend. She says the less time you have to prep, the more you have to be willing to suffer during training. Stadiums suck.

[luvelkhunt]

start a rock pile. the ridges around my house are between 1200 and 1500 feet higher than the town. so I fill the pack at the bottom and hike up, I put the rocks in a pile at the top. I get to see some critters once in a while too. . I have a couple of different piles on several ridges. I also ride the bicycle to work and back rather than drive.

[DaltonProsser]

I am on the HS wrestling team and we have been doing crossfit workouts over the summer. I feel like i will be in great shape by the time September rolls around!

[ElkNut1]

Dalton, welcome to the Forum! As a younger man & on the wrestling team you will be in better shape than most of us here! (grin) We have you in the elk smarts department though! (grin)

ElkNut1

[toasty tiger]

Mountain Climbers, Mountain Climbers and some more Mountain Climbers, Situps, Situps, and then some more situps. Mountain Climbers work on the cardio and leg strength and situps work on the core - after that - run 16-20 miles a week and work out three days with one day off. Atleast that is my weekly routine - Found out about the mountain climbers and situps via Uncle Sam and a pack named Alice. I havent seen a lot of helpful hints on the core areas - even though the pack should rest on your hips it makes it a whole lot easier if you your core is strong. Also if you havent carried a pack before ----work your way up the weight ladder. If your legs arent used to the added weight and miles you can get stress fractures.

[pointysticks]

Dalton, welcome to the Forum! As a younger man & on the wrestling team you will be in better shape than most of us here! (grin) We have you in the elk smarts department though! (grin)

ElkNut1

Hopefully we make more money as well

Welcome aboard kid!

For me trail jogging is gonna pay off huge. Bonus? I seem to have strengthen my weak ankle! I think balancing on the uneven terrain did the trick.

[cascjung]

I carry a golf bag and walk a hilly 18 hole course 2-3 x week. Of course, I also try to make par.