I recently began training with Nikki Becker from Missfit Adventures. My reasoning: if I am going to tell everyone I know that I’m trying the Appalachian Trail, I better not come home a month after I started. Nikki trains clients in her “all women’s adventure club.”
We did our consultation last Wednesday. She asked me, “How much have you been hiking?”
Adelaide tries to look buff for the camera
I told her that I play Ultimate Frisbee several times a week, bike an hour a day, and frequently lift weights.
“But,” and I could tell she was trying to be nice, “How much have you been hiking?”
As it turns out, playing Ultimate is not a good way to prepare for backpacking the Appalachian Trail. Who knew?
Well, I did, but not having a car makes it difficult to go hiking. Right?
Nikki wasn’t buying it. She wrote me a training schedule that roughly amounts to me doing everything but sleeping with my pack on. I can now be spotted tromping around Portland, to my classes, my frisbee games, to friend’s houses and bars, with my giant red backpack. My friends are getting used to me being sweaty all the time. I suppose I must look a little pitiful as several strangers have offered to give me rides.
This looking buff for the camera thing might not be working
If you are going to do a training regimen like this, make sure you go slow. Start with a little bit of weight and low mileage and gradually work your way up. Nikki suggests adding no more than 2 miles a week to your long days, while also having days that you still have your pack on your shoulders but aren’t having to work that hard. And don’t forget to take a day off! I’m carrying 12-15 lbs right now, but will eventually carry around 35 lbs (as that is my goal pack weight). By the end of our training regiment, I should be able to carry my full pack weight for hikes well over my expected daily mileage for the trail.
Today she setup a weigh lifting schedule for me. A lot of it focuses on building strength in the lats, deltoids, and upper back, as shoulder pain is something I’m seeking to minimize. We’re also doing a lot of core exercises as well as gluet and leg exercises to help prepare me for steep climbs.
“Won’t you just acclimate on the trail?” my friend asked me. He’s partially right, your body does adjust and grow stronger as you get used to backpacking every day. But with only 20% of the people who set out to thru-hike actually finishing the whole Appalachian Trail, why not do a little work to strengthen your odds?
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I have a suggestion. Do a trek in a third world country and hire a porter or horse to carry your pack and cook for you. Seriously. It’s the only way to go. Oh hey! That’s what I’m doing this summer! Ladakh, here I come!
Ah, I wish I could go with you! It sounds like quite a trip.