Training for trek specific "challenges"

OK.. here’s my two cents.

• you can’t really train for 15 mile days without doing 15 mile days.  Nothing really simulates it well enough
• You CAN do squats, etc 3-5 days before hand to help reduce DOMS / muscle soreness on days 2-3
• I’m pretty convinced that EVERYONE can do 10 -15 mile days assuming:
  • they don’t get massive blisters on their feet – 9/10 any problems are going to be with blisters. SOMEONE in your crew is going to get them and slow you down.  Bring surgical tape and moleskins.  Also, tell them to walk with LOSE shoes… that helps a LOT of the time.
  • take regular breaks.  Once an hour at least … for ten minutes. Take your shoes and socks off.. inspect and massage your feet – keep your weight off your feet during this time.  Also lay down horizontally to take pressure off your back.
  • have plenty of carbs and water

my schedule involves waking up EARLY (5AM or so.. before sunrise) and starting to hike in the DARK.  This way you get about 4-5 hours in BEFORE it gets warm.  This will seriously extend your day as it’s way easier to hike while cold.

+1 on what Kevin says, blisters will be the issue. Bleacher exercise will be great, but it you want to get even obtain better conditioning,  add lunges, squats or step ups. Add weights to make them more effective.

But I don’t see where you’re working at the cardio portion other that possibly running up the stairs, but with only going up 30 feet, that’s not going to be very much.  The cardio portion is what’s going to help out during the high altitude portions of the trip.  I recommend adding some interval training while doing the stairs,

Kenneth – will do on the Interval Training. Those of us that can are already doing HIIT – such as endless relays at the track (100 & 200 meters) along with lots of interval set pieces on indoor rowers. In thinking more about what you said it really makes a lot of sense – just focus on the cardio for the altitude, and then the lunges, steps, squats for overall conditioning. I’ve found that just doing Air Squats will work wonders.

One fellow that’s hiked in the mountains of Colorado quite a bit has told me that what’s going to really take us by surprise is the the amount of down hill hiking that we will have to do. He said it be more physically wearing on our knees and legs than going up the mountain.

Everyone is mentioning blisters so we will pay particular attention to that. Thanks for all the great suggestions.

Jon,

Which itinerary are you doing?

I would believe there are likely other BPL’ers on here that might have experience with it, even this years version might be a slight change from last year.

Regardless, it sounds like you are already well prepared, and will soon find out.

(Fwiw, pretty much any crew going to Philmont that’s from east of the Mississippi is starting from a lower altitude than 400ft amsl.)

It sounds like your group is on the right track, the hike should go smoothly.  Have fun!

Itinerary # 29

We’re in an almost similar situation – base altitude is about 600′ with hills up to 900′. It’s a little better than what you have. You can train for everything but the altitude.

The trail profile always looks scary, remember that it’s compressed so it will fit on the page.

Whiteman Vega to Greenwood Canyon – just a long day. Get started early, take regular breaks. The profile shows the two “bumps”, they shouldn’t really slow you down much.

Greenwood Canyon to Copper Park – looks bad on the profile but it’s just a long, long uphill. I’ve done it. It’s mostly boring. It’s a real relief when you finally reach the pass above Copper Park. Then, it’s a quick switchback trail down to the camp.

Copper Park to Copper Park – You’ll do your lay-over at Copper Park. Leave your tents set up, do your bear bags and start hiking. My suggestion to climb Baldy is to go back up the switchback trail and head west at the pass. The reason for this is that you will be doing resupply at Baldy Town. Have two or three of your guys carry EMPTY backpacks. This is so you have some place to put your food for the hike back to Copper Park.

Get an early start for your Baldy hike, as in as soon as you can see the trail. Storms can roll in at any time, but in June they usually don’t happen until afternoon. Baldy is not a place you want to be when lightning happens.

With your prep work, this should not be a problem. I’m a slow, fat, old guy but I managed Baldy on our 2014 trek. I was just the last one up there.

We’re crew 613-R1 doing trek 11. Mt. Phillips is high enough for us. Besides, our guys want to shoot stuff…

BTW, there is a Philmont forum here in the Scouting section.

• I am going to disagree with the advice you’re getting here for day 4.  Sixteen miles cross country and off trail?  I think that is a massive undertaking.  Most hikers average about 1 mph off trail.

Sixteen miles is too much for one day, unless you have some mitigating circumstances that we don’t know about?

+1 to Everything Ed mentioned. By the time your crew is at Whiteman Vega, I judge they will be well acclimated for the rest of the trip. The “Strenuous” trips at Philmont are very well rounded, and great for a diverse crew.

I would also impress upon the importance of making sure the kids learn how work together as a team, and genuinely look after eachother. Some kids will be more physically prepared than others, while some will be more “emotionally” prepared. Don’t underestimate what is needed for each crew member. We all go to Philmont with strengths and weaknesses, and it’s the gradual strengthening of our weaknesses which ultimately define our experience and enjoyment as a group. Therefore, It is important that the kids understand that some might need to “step up” and carry larger percent of the crew gear than others, and that there might be days where some might need to lighten their load, since their pace is impacting the crew as a whole. The difference between a 14 year old child and a 17 year old can be immense. They will all have to work differently, in order to learn to work together.

Here’s a good discussion this from the Philmont forum:  https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/philmont-training/#post-3380400

(Fwiw: The middle of our 2014 trek took us from Whitman Vega to Iris Park, then Upper Greenwood and two nights at Baldy Town via French Henry. In other words, we were pretty much on those same trails. Other than the bushwacking from Whiteman Vega, all the trails you are on are in great condition, and have pretty reasonable grade. The Copper Park-Greenwood Canyon Trail has a lot of switchbacks, but the view is majestic.)

Ed – since Copper Park will be the highest campsite of our trek I’m assuming that it will also be the low temperature campsite for us. What’s your best estimate regarding what we might expect for an overnight low temp in mid June at that location?

Copper Park isn’t on a ridge top, it’s down in a valley even if it is at 10,000 feet. I wouldn’t expect much difference in temp from other campsites. The last time I was there was 8-10 years ago. It didn’t stand out as particularly warm or cold. You don’t really have any high up campsites.

The only places that I’ve been that I’d expect a big difference would be the two highest campsites, Mt. Phillips (11,650) and Comanche Peak (11,050). Water bottles froze overnight at Mt. Phillips one year.

@Matt “The Copper Park-Greenwood Canyon Trail has a lot of switchbacks, but the view is majestic.)”

Yep, we did the trail down ONE WEEK before they opened the switchback. Straight down! Never want to do that again…

Staffed Camp Weather reports for 2015

http://philmontscoutranch.org/filestore/philmont/pdf/weather/2015WeatherData.pdf

Copper Park is a trail camp, so, no report.

@Paul

Philmont has done these itineraries for many years. The 16 mile day does not have a lot of elevation change and is across some fairly open country.

Ed – great link… thanks! Baldy Town and French Henry are close by so that should provide some relative information.

Jon – what’s your crew number?

We are 611-O-05 I believe that Philmont crews start arriving on June 8th this year and we get there three days later. The back country should still be pretty sparse when we hit the trail.

We’re 613-R1 trek 11. Your and our treks don’t cross. It’s always interesting meeting other crews on the trail.Our second crew, 613-R2 has a north to south trek – 19. I’ll check if there are any meeting points…

After reviewing your itinerary it looks like we could run into them while they’re at Baldy Town. They are at Copper Park on days 4 and 5 and we will be restocking at Baldy Town on day 8. Since that crew starts 3 days after we do then there is a good possibility that we’ll cross paths. It also looks like both of our crews will be hiking up Baldy on the same day and we also go to French Henry to tour the mine but your crew might be doing that a day ahead of us. Who should I say hello to in case we cross paths?

It’s unlikely you’ll meet up. On 6-17 they’ll be doing their Baldy hike and you’ll be getting into Copper Park. The next day they’ll be on their way to Head of Dean and you’ll be climbing Baldy. That’s as close as it gets. Matt, Glen, and Brian are the Advisors.