Elk Hunting....help

[Featherbuster]

I need some advice on conditioning.....I have been elk hunting before and thought i was prepared for the altitude, but boy was i wrong.  I live in MS and i am at 131ft above sea level and where i go hunting is 8500 to 10,000+ ft.  I dont have a problem running or doing leg work to get reayy, but the air is so thin it takes me out.  I am a large framed boy at 6'1" @ 225lbs but run four days a week (4 miles/day).  So when i get up their carrying a 70lb pack, my legs or back never tire-out its just my lungs......WHAT CAN I DO?????


I will try everyone's ideas.

thanks

[Longbow rookie]

Not sure if this will help but here goes:  I played Division I lacrosse in college and during that time we had some excellent strength and conditioning coaches.  First of all, vary your training routine.  Distance (long-short), sprint work, interval training, etc.  Yes...I did say sprints!  I know the thought of sprinting is not appetizing to anyone but I promise you it will help.  The sustained 4 mile runs are great and they will help.  But interval training work will definitely help prepare you for the climbs, uneven terrain, and stints where you really need to move quickly etc.  Your lungs will be better conditioned for those bursts.  

Cross training is another great way to condition.  Details may be for another reply.  But cycling, SWIMMING, weights, etc.  will only improve your overall conditioning.  Don't just think lungs...think whole body!!!

I'm by no means a personal trainer or professional coach but I've trained extremely hard for many sports (mainly lacrosse) which is played at both extremely fast and slower speeds.  

Besides...taking your pack and actually doing climbs.  Which it doesn't sound like you can do - start to mix in the interval training and I think you'll be surprised at the confidence you'll gain.
Do some research or just design your own specific routine.

**Also do a search and check out some of the ideas that members offered.  A good training thread ran here not long ago.

Hope this helps.  Good luck!

"If it was easy...everyone would do it!"

CJ

[Roughcountry]

Try to get to your hunting area a couple days early. A few scouting hikes with moderate pack will help get you into it.
Hunt high, sleep low if possible.

[6X5]

Your lungs are the limiting factor in any endurance type activity and there is little or nothing you can do to improve them. If I were you I'd be checking on my total body fat to see if there is some load that could be lost that way. Two ways to make a car go faster, add horsepower or lose weight. Same goes for the human body.

[snag]

Also, your lungs are use to the amount of oxygen you breath at the elevation where you live. To exercise is great and a must. But if you can train some in an envirnoment that has less oxygen is good. The gym I use to go to had a booth that had reduced oxygen in it to simulate higher elevations. It really helped me when hunting at 8-9,000ft for this 500ft valley dweller.

[Zane]

Try hiking as much as you can with a heavy pack. Start now and use a progressively heavier pack through the summer months. Mix in running and strength training as well. I run the Pikes Peak Ascent every year (13.1 miles, over 7500 feet of elevation gain) and hiking in the mountains with a pack is one of the best conditioning tools I have to supplement my running. The one thing you are missing is elevation. So - as mentioned earlier - get to your hunting area 3 days earlier and spend at least 2 days scouting hard and then 1 day of recovery...it will help with the O2 issues.

zane

[stripe55]

So far all excellent advice, especially the sprints and getting acclimated early. I would like to add kettlebell swings as an incredible builder of all things climbing. They are simple to exacute but difficult to explain. Google kettlebell swings and several video demos will come up. Done correctly they build both musculature and flexability in the hips, glutes, lower back and abs. That's all great but the real kicker for you is that the deep breathing/coordinated breathing is very aerobic and you are killing two birds with one....arrow. Other simple exercises of great benefit,run the stairs, varying number of steps you take with each stride, add pack when your footwork is good. One last easy to work on exercise, deep breathing. While driving, watching tv, whatever, fill your lungs, hold for one count, exhale completely,repeat. This is phenomenal for overall health and peace of mind but treat your lungs like a muscle and exercise them often and you won't be surprised buy the difficulties of elevation. Like exercise to help shooting your bow, this stuff will help but therre is nothing like being at elevation to get used to it. Good luck, stay hydrated, happy hunting.

[doeboy]

That kettlebell swing is one nasty lookin work out! almost makes me want to start training again! lol

[Dave2old]

My first rule of elk hunting is to always hunt uphill, so that you can pack out downhill. I applaud you, and all the other folks here who agree, that it's our individual responsibility to work to get in shape for a hunt we know ahead of time will be demanding ... rather than putting around all day on an ATV and ruining it all for everyone else, as well as yourself. Of all the good above advice, arriving early to acclimate stands out in my experience, having for several years guided lowlands hunters. Nor do you have to just hike around, "wasted time." With the long archery elk seasons in most states, you can simple spend your first couple of days on slow, easy hunts close to camp, and work up to it. Good luck! dave

[bronc]

Might try getting to your hunting country a couple of days early to get acclimated.

[longbowman]

I can honestly say that the best advice you've gotten so far is the "sprinting".  Long distance running helps the legs and heart but your lungs get very used to it very quick and your air intake levels.  Doing sprints takes you to the limit of your lung capacity every time.  I moved to Montana from PA years ago and my first year put there was miserable.  A friend of mine came out and hunted with me every year and ran the mountains like he was back home.  He was in great shape and did massive sprinting before coming out.

[hogdancer]

I can RELATE ! I live in Oxford Ms. and have hunted out west some. Great advise has been given so far but have to second the swimming. The guys I went with were all in very good shape and ran daily ,far more than I did  , but I did a lot of swimming and they had trouble keeping up with me. Lungs are the key, I want to go again this fall and will ad sprinting as well.

[Kid]

Consider diamox- a medication that is used for altitude sickness. Can help with some of the symptoms of altitude sickness, of which easy fatigue-ability and headache are some of the symptoms. Any increase in elevation >5000 feet can cause altitude sickness. The symptoms you have is likely not related to conditioning at all, but altitude. Spend several days getting acclimated to the altitude. Tromped 13 miles the first day I arrived in high altitude hunting elk- suffered for the whole rest of the huntbecause of that. Would have been fine if I'd given myself a day and a half to acclimate first.

[Kid's Pastor]

I would have to agree with Roughcountry.

God Bless and have a safe hunt,

Paul

[Featherbuster]

Thanks all for the great advice....and will definitely do the sprinting.  My wife is excellent swimmer (2-time state champ...have to brag on her)  she has started me on some swim training, so i hope that helps too.   again, thanks to all replies!!!!!!

[Lost Arra]

You've received some great advice (get in shape and it sounds like you are, get used to your pack and boots, go easy the first couple of days)

but unfortunately there is NOTHING you can do at 131' above sea level that will make 10,000' comfortable.