Training

Training is beneficial for a thru -hike, but not entirely necessary. Some people don't train at all and hit the trail regardless, knowing that they will get in shape within a couple weeks of hiking. Others want to hit the ground running and put in more mileage early on. I decided to limit the misery of starting my hike and train. There are many ways to train for a thru-hike, but the best way is to hike with weight, preferably the pack you are using. I think it's as important to train yourself mentally as it is to prepare physically. I also train to avoid stress injuries and improve my gait.

I consider myself an active person, so when I decided to officially "train" for my thru-hike, all i really did was add to the intensity and duration of my normal routine, with a few tweaks. About 6 months before my start date, I started trail running around 6-10 miles, 5 days a week. On the weekends, I usually alternate between 10-15 mile hikes and "bike-hikes," about 15-25 mile mountain biking and hiking routes, (I bike 10-12 miles on fire roads to reach hiking trail head loops). When I run, I use very worn trail runners with little tread. I feel that the lack of tread helps me pay more attention to my legs and my feet, and how to place them better. When I hike, I always carry a pack and weigh it down with a couple liters of water and other stuff, sometimes even books. I feel that adding weight helps mentally as much as it does physically.

The mental training is extremely important to me because of how demanding a thru hike is in that regard. I mainly try to constantly force myself to do things I really don't want to do. If it is extremely cold out, I trail run in shorts and a t-shirt. If it's raining/stormy out, I go on a long hike. During the summer on hot days, I'd go on hikes on exposed ridges with little shade. When I go on 15-20 mile hikes and wake up the next morning sore and tired, I go on a another hike or trail run as soon as possible. I always loathe the idea of doing these things initially, but as soon as I'm moving out on the trail, I feel great. I think this will translate to the PCT, though I realize that it's a much a bigger stage.

I have a fantastic training ground here in Santa Cruz, CA. There are oceans, rivers, mountains, Redwoods, hiking, mountain biking, and beauty. My primary hiking areas are Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Nicene Marks State Park, Henry Cowell Redwoods State park, Butano State Park, and Wilder Ranch State Park. That's a shit-load of state parks, all within 10-20 minutes from where I live. In March of 2015, I plan to move out of Santa Cruz, and back to my home-town of Carmel, CA. I can't wait to train the last month and a half before my thru-hike in my old stomping grounds of Big Sur. It's been awhile since I've hiked the Ventana Wilderness and I'm excited to go on a few shakedown overnighters before I leave for Campo.

Berry Creek Falls in Big Basin (Summer 2014)

Berry Creek Falls (Winter 2015)