Hikers in the house?

[mayachel]

DF and I are going hiking up a mountain in CO in about a month. We''ve never actually done something like this before.

We will have 2 days from when we land, to adjust to the thin air. We will be doing one acclamation hike of 4 to 6 hours ascending about 2,500 ft.

The "official hike" will be strenuous because it will involve a long distance (round trip 13 miles), a large amount of elevation gain (5,400 feet) and will take place at high altitude (approximately 9,000 to 14,000 feet).

Questions:
1. What sort of supplies do we need? Recommend a backpack? Clothing?

2. We are in our late 20''s and in reasonably good shape...can run a mile, but am sore afterwards. DF can do about 3.5 miles running before sore.

Thanks!

 

[mayachel]

Date: 6/12/2009 1:48:30 PM
Author:mayachel


2. We are in our late 20''s and in reasonably good shape...can run a mile, but am sore afterwards. DF can do about 3.5 miles running before sore.


Thanks!

Just realized I didn''t finish the question...should we be doing more to get in shape for this sort of hike? (I also do some strength training, and walk a mile or so a day) Thanks.

 

[strmrdr]

Get good hiking shoes and walk walk walk in them to get them broken in.
Ideally you should be able to hike 2x the distance of you proposed hike in your area.
Shoes will be your most important thing.

A backpack is a good idea.
You need:
Water x2 both carry some. 1 Gal each is recommended.
first aid kit - include benadryl!!! and compression bandages also called battle field bandages, ice packs, ace bandages, burn cream, any prescription meds you and him are on, Tylenol and ibuprofen and a selection of sterile gauze pads and bandages including surgical pads(the thick ones), scissors and a knife. - both carry benadryl and compression bandages Tylenol and ibuprofen, burn cream, prescriptions and some gauze pads and an ace wrap and scissors.

emergency blankets x4 each
whistle x2
mirror x 2
fire starting material x 2
energy bars x 6 for each of you above your normal food for the hike. (12 total)
poisonous plant and dangerous animal guide for the area. This can be found online.
Print it and take it with you.
cell phone with gps built in.
if legal in that area 2 cans of pepper spray, 1 each.
compass and maps
gps unit.
water purification tablets and 2 filters.
food.
20 feet of rope capable of holding a human, and 100 feet or parachute cord or thin nylon rope. Some thick webbing to make slings and other devices.
Unless you know how to use it repelling gear is dangerous to take with but it is really nice to have.

Are you going to be hiking with a group or alone?
Staying over night? if so you need a tent.

backpacks - go to the store and try some on.
Overnight you will need a larger frame pack.
Otherwise look into an internal frame or soft day pack each.
Practice walking with it loaded before hand.

Clothes basically extra everything vacuum packed to keep water out.
It will get cold at night so don't forget the jackets!

 

[D&T]

Running and Hiking is so different to me, I''m not a quite the runner but I love to Hike but only for only 8-9 maybe 12 hours at the most but it sounds like you maybe doing an overnight hiking/camping trip?

well strmdr went into great details, I''m from UT and the wasatch front is quite the elevation gain, so I know colorado air is similar.

don''t forget a good headlamp too! good luck and have fun

 

[jet2ks]

To add to Storm's excellent list.

Signalling mirrors need to be metal or unbreakable plastic. When hunting in Colorado, I always carry a small multipurpose emergency tool that has a whistle, compass, signalling mirror and waterproof matches. The whole thing is only a few inches long. I carry a high quality compass for regular use, and only have this one as a backup, as it is not as accurate.

Rain gear--it can rain nearly every day in the mountains during summer and that rain is COLD.
Dress in multiple light layers rather than one or two heavy ones. More freedom of movement and ability to adjust during the day.
Water, water, water. You will go through more water at higher elevation due to the incredibly low humidity.
Camper's TP. It is different than regular stuff and biodegrades faster, just don't get it wet! It will dissolve in a hurry.
Multipurpose tool. Leatherman or something similar.

Take your time!!!!! Not sure at what elevation you live, but two days and one acclimation hike at that altitude will only tell you how thin the air really is and how fast you will get tired. Be prepared to stop often and rest. Last time out there, I was running regularly and had even just won a local road race, but I couldn't keep up with the guy that smoked a pack a day and never exercised. He lived in the higher altitude and was just used to it.

Another friend of mine regularly runs the Pikes Peak marathon (yes, a marathon UP Pikes Peak) and figures his time will be about 3x as long as a regular course, just for perspective. The marathon organizers tell runners to plan on 30 min per mile over treeline (approx 12000ft).

Any exercise you can do ahead of time will help. Walking/jogging is good, running stairs or using a stair climber will really help, as well.

Above all, be safe and have fun!

 

[rainwood]

Mayachel

Running and hiking at elevation are two completely different types of exercise. If you''re not a serious hiker already, you should think twice about doing the hike you described. This is a day hike, right? Thirteen miles is a pretty long day hike and if it''s 6.5 miles up and 6.5 back down, you''re actually gaining 5400 feet in 6.5 miles which is really steep. So even if you were starting at sea level, that is a tough, tough hike. If you don''t already have a well-broken in pair of boots and a backpack that you''re used to, you''re asking a lot of yourself. For that kind of hike, you need to carry a lot of water and water is heavy. Add all the other stuff you should have (which others have touched on) and that''s one heavy pack on your back.

And I don''t think one day at altitude prepares you to do a tough hike up to 14,000 feet. I live at sea level. I''ve hiked at 10,000+ but made sure I acclimated longer than a day and it was only really steep in places. Plus, we had supplemental water sources so I didn''t have to carry a couple of gallons of water on my back. High elevations don''t just make you tired, it can be really difficult to breathe even if you''re standing still. It''s like you''re gasping for air and not getting any. It can be really scary. And you can''t know in advance how much you''ll be affected. Being in shape can help, but it isn''t necessarily a good predictor of how you''ll do in thin air. And the difference as you get higher can be big. I''m fine at 8,000 and 9,000 going from sea level, but anything at 10,000 or over really starts to get me if I''m not already acclimated.

If you want to start training for this, I''d buy a good backpack, fill it with everything you need for the big hike, including at least 2 gallons of water, and go find a tall building and climb the stairs. Seriously. That is much closer to the actual hike than running will ever be.

 

[portia]

My DH and I are avid hikers. We used to rock climb, but now just do lots of hiking when we're out west. We always go out to Telluride, CO for the 4th of July week and do lots of day hikes - anywhere from 1.5 miles to 18 miles. Here's what we bring when doing the longer day hikes - we're talking 10 - 18 miles with up to 4,500 ft. elevation gain. Where we stay is at about 9,000 ft. and we've only hiked up to 13,500, no 14'ers.... yet!

* Day pack - We have the Mountainsmith Tour day packs. They wrap around your waist and hold way more than you think. These are awesome! Very light and comfortable. Very nice padded belt and compression straps allow you to pull the weight in towards your body. They also have elastic rigging on the back so you can quickly stuff something in there for easy access. I like to either put my trekking poles in there if I bring them or my rain jacket for quick access. They also have bottle holders on either side. My DH likes to wear this pack in addition to a camelbak. If you need something more substantial Dana makes very nice backpacks. We used those for our climbing trips and I really recommend them.
* Hiking guide
* Waterproof topo map
* Good shoes - I like Merrills
* Layer, layer, layer - can't stress this enough. I like to wear a sport top with a tee make of wicking material. Then I usually have a powerstretch fleece, another slightly heavier fleece and rain jacket. Shorts and capris work well and rain pants aren't a bad thing to pack.
* Food - We bring energy bars, granola and candy for a quick boost of energy
* Water - We usually bring two large bottles that fit into the side holders and then pack a bottle of Gatorade in the pack.
* Hat/Sunglasses
* Sunscreen/chapstick
* Bug spray - DEET really keeps them away!
* Sock liners - I don't care for these, by my DH likes them.
* Small emergency kit
* Cell phone
* Altitude watch is nice to have
* Small headlamp

Start drinking lots of 2 weeks before you leave. This will help with the altitude adjustment. Low dose aspirin helps as well and so does fish oil - both are blood thinners.

I'm probably forgetting some things. Everyone here has suggested some very good items to carry with you. We hike pretty light most of the time (we don't always bring all of these items) because we know the area pretty well and this has been working for us for years. We just know it's always a risk when you go play out there in mountains and we really try to pay attention to how we're feeling. You just never know when the altitude is going to affect you.

Have you been to high altitude before? Where are you hiking? A 14'er? That's good that you're doing a warm up hike before your big hike. That way you'll know if the big hike is doable. Have fun and be safe!!

 

[mayachel]

All the lists and additional advice is GREAT! Thank you everyone for putting these together. We are enthusiastic. DF got his hiking boots yesterday, I didn't do as well, but feel closer to what I'm looking for. The SA was definitely pushing the co-sale of "Superfeet" insoles with the hiking shoes. They seem comfortable, but I am leery of upselling. Anyone use special hiking insoles?

I am shocked at how expensive rain gear is. Do we NEED $150-200 rain jackets? I get that they are light weight and great and all, but this being our first foray...
)
backpacks-still looking. We were in an EMS over the weekend and sort of ran out of time after trying out shoes.

strmrdrYou forgot the kitchen sink! Where will we wash our hands? We will be in a semi-organized group. (Just not organized enough to give us a supply list!) It is a day hike, so we won't need the tent. We leave around 4:30am and return to the base in the afternoon. We will follow your First Aide kit to the letter.

D&T-Headlamps! sounds like a good idea, all hands free and such. I'm not a runner either (just df). I thought it would be helpful, since it forces me to push myself to the point where breathing is difficult. I figure it will help expand my lung capacity as well as muscle and longevity? Purely self-made theory. Other suggestions welcome. We live in NYC, all the "hiking" is pretty flat.

rainwood We appreciate your matter of fact advice. It DOES help give perspective where we have none

Still, we are fools rushing in. I will heed your warnings though and stick to our conditioning plan, since it's the best we can do. I promise to be smart, and no that if we can't make it all the way up, we won't. I guess we should hurry up and get packs, so that we can use them while training.

In the meantime, jet2ks stairclimbing will be added. Not to hard between subway stairs and our home. Any suggestion of how many in a go I should aim for? At home, I can go up 38 at a time before having to go down.

portia I appreciate all the specifics for brand suggestions and types of clothing. Really starting from scratch with wanting to get the "right" layers down. I've never been hiking in this type of altitude before. The closest I've been was on top of a Monte Tamaro near Lugano, Switzerland. (But we took a funicular up

) 1640 m. We will be hiking Mt. Princeton,it is a 14'er. That's awesome that you know the area. We are aiming light in our packing.

 

[rainwood]

Mayachel -

It sounds like you''ll be summitting - cool! Plus, leaving early in the morning and getting back mid-afternoon means you don''t have to carry as much water because it won''t be as warm. That will make things easier.

Please, please, please get yourselves some hiking boots ASAP and get them well-broken in before you leave. It would be a shame if you couldn''t enjoy the mountain because your feet hurt or you have blisters. You should log some serious mileage in those boots and then decide whether inserts would be right for you. Footgear, including socks and inserts, is a really personal thing. We''ve done various long hikes - the Milford Track in New Zealand, the Canadian Rockies, and the Italian coast - and it''s always interesting to hear the guides tell stories about people who come on these trips with new boots and are just miserable. One guide said that his solution for new, unbroken-in leather hiking boots was to boil them in water until the leather started to soften and then have the person wear them wet so they conform to the foot!

The same goes for your pack. You need something that feels comfortable and it helps to have worn it fully packed several times so you know how to pack it for maximum comfort - the what goes where aspect - and can adjust the straps for any chafing or discomfort. Plus, you get some experience with how a backpack changes your balance. That helps if you''re doing a rock scramble or any climbing as part of the trip to the summit. Then go hit the stairs.

Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 6/14/2009 11:43:12 PM
Author: mayachel
strmrdrYou forgot the kitchen sink! Where will we wash our hands? We will be in a semi-organized group. (Just not organized enough to give us a supply list!) It is a day hike, so we won't need the tent. We leave around 4:30am and return to the base in the afternoon. We will follow your First Aide kit to the letter.

bottle of hand sanitizer.

You should have enough stuff with you to last 24 hours in the wild and handle minor emergencies.
Also keep in mind that a s&r team call now costs a min of $2500 in CO.

maxi-pads besides their intended use also work well as dressings for wounds when combined with an ace wrap.
So bring a few with.
They can also be used as fire starters when pulled apart.
First aid stores sell them in different wrappers for 3x the cost so guys will carry them.

A small sewing kit is also a good idea.
As is 100 feet of fishing line and large needles.

 

[jet2ks]

Date: 6/14/2009 11:43:12 PM
Author: mayachel
All the lists and additional advice is GREAT! Thank you everyone for putting these together. We are enthusiastic. DF got his hiking boots yesterday, I didn't do as well, but feel closer to what I'm looking for. The SA was definitely pushing the co-sale of 'Superfeet' insoles with the hiking shoes. They seem comfortable, but I am leery of upselling. Anyone use special hiking insoles?

Insoles are a waste of money if you get the right shoes. A good pair of hiking shoes should fit well from the get go, especially the sole. Modern materials in the midsoles and outsoles don't break in, they break down. In other words, if it doesn't fit your foot right when you try it on, it never will, so find a pair that conforms to your foot, with proper width and arch support. What will break in on a good pair of hiking shoes is the leather uppers--they will get softer and conform to your feet with use. I ran a sporting goods store for several years and we always pushed the sales staff to recommend insoles, not because people should use them, but because they had great profit margins.

I am shocked at how expensive rain gear is. Do we NEED $150-200 rain jackets? I get that they are light weight and great and all, but this being our first foray...)

NO!!! Since you are going for a day hike, a simple unlined nylon windbreaker treated with waterproofer should be fine and will pack down very small. You should be able to find those for $20-30 and just buy fabric waterproofer in a spray bottle to treat it. You can either get one with a hood or wear a hat that is also waterproofed. I prefer a full brimmed hat--not a baseball cap--since it also helps with the sun. Avoid the tempation to use a cheap plastic poncho--they don't allow the freedom of movement of your arms and when, not if, you start sweating, they don't breathe at all.

rainwood has you covered on stairs. Climb them with a weighted pack. Do some flights one stair at a time and some two at time. The goal is to build up strength in the quads for the ascent and balance on the descent. I find that going downhill on a steep trail is much harder than uphill. Get to where you are comfortable going up and down at a moderate walking/hiking pace without using the handrail. Long flights of stairs are great, but if you don't have those, the 38 is fine, you will just have to go up and down multiple times.

 

[purrfectpear]

Good luck at 14,000 ft.

I drove to the top of Pike''s Peak at 30 and I had a blinding headache within 2 minutes of exiting the car in the parking lot. The gift ship employees are aclimated a week mid way up, before they go to work (according to what they said). I can''t imagine hiking up and having to walk down.

 

[annadragon]

My mom is an avid hiker. She has this advice: Get the best hiking boots, get them broken in by hiking around with your gear. Start out light and add more necessities as you practice. This is not like running at all.
Also, do you know how you and yours react to altitude?
My mom lives at 7k feet, when FI and I went out for a visit we both suffered from altitude sickness. Poor FI couldn''t get out of bed without becoming short of breath and his heart rate sky-rocketing. We are both active and he is in great shape so that isn''t an indicator of who is likely to suffer from it. The studies I saw couldn''t explain why some people are more susceptible to elevation sickness. There are some medications which your doctor can prescribe, such as Diamox or Dexamethasone.

Good luck and bring back some pictures!

 

[mayachel]

Pricescope is just a wealth of knowledge. Everything has been noted. Luckily we still have about a month. Should be enough time to break shoes in, correct?

I''ve also done a little more looking into the prevention of altitude sickness based on the suggestions in here of water and aspirin, ginko two weeks prior and during the hike also came up and maybe taking a low iron supplement starting now?

Any ideas about if an inhaler is useful for the lung gasp sensation if one doesn''t normally have restricted airways?