How To Hike 20+ Mile Days Backpacking (Without Killing Yourself!)
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- čas přidán 5. 06. 2024
- I just did a quick google search for how far the average backpacker hikes in a day and the answer that comes up is somewhere between 3 and 10 miles. That’s why I wanted to make this video to show how you can cover a much greater distance, more like 15 to 20 miles per day, and do that without killing yourself. I’m going to share with you some simple tips that have worked for me, now at age 62, to hike those big mile days. If I can do it, you can do it!
Gear mentioned in this video:
Hoka Speedgoat 5: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
ProBar Meal Bars: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
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I'm 74 and have enjoyed backpacking for over 50 years. I would offer two suggestions that I have found make a huge difference for me. I now drink an electrolyte solution with my evening meal and take two Tylenol at bedtime. I wake up without stiff muscles and seem to have more energy. I appreciate all your other tips.
Thanks for sharing! I often take two Advil at night myself. Good idea on the electrolytes!
Gosh! I'm a 77-year-old former backpacker (almost 30 years former) who longs to backpack again and is working towards that goal, hopefully this year. My average, all here in the UK, was probably 12-15 miles per day, carrying circa 35lbs. Occasionally, I could walk 15-18 miles but very rarely 20 miles. I've been accumulating new, lightweight kit for two or three years, trying to get fitter, walking more, losing weight (I'd grown very over weight) and following/learning from the experience of others here on CZcams. The information in your video has given me tremendous encouragement and I have subscribed to your channel. Sincerely, thank you.
You are so impressive! I'm so glad to be a part of you getting back out there. Despite the title of this video, as you know from your experience, just being present in the woods is more important than the distance covered. Happy trails!
As a Uk backpacker ..long term ill health an painful knees...planning this year to backpack long distance....
You go for it mate...nice and slow..one day at a time..
Its about getting out there...not the mileage ..
We will be doind low mileage ...4 - 7 miles per day..
Lots of rest and down days.
Chillin out...wildlife watching..
The 20 mile days are gone for us ..were gettin on and hav health problems...
We could do with a mule😂
You enjoy yaself....u can do it.
Were using trains to get about..
Goodluck😊
Than you for your encouragement.@@NotASheep100
Go get it pop!
Solid advice. I agree 💯. One thing that works for me that sounds counter productive is to take a nap mid day. I will set up my tent and sleep for an hour or 2 when the sun is at its hottest. When I wake up I usually have energy to hike into the evening or even after dark.
Sounds great! Gonna have to try that.
I might try this on my next 100miler.
75 yo male. Been BPing every season since 2014. Lead an active lifestyle. When on trail: Up @ 5a. Full cold soaked breakfast. Hiking by 6a. Avg 15 mpd. Pack BW: ~17lbs. Asleep by 7-8p. Preseason conditioning 3-5 days per week: day hikes, some overnight bp, road cycling. Nothing else. High value trail food/electrolytes.
Great tips, thanks! Nothing prepares for backpacking like actually carrying a pack, right?
Ha! We have the same theme. We can do this! You can do this! Enjoyed your video. Exactly what I need right now walking on treadmill with 20 pound vest.
Absolutely! Looks like you had a great adventure out in my neck of the woods last year, fun times!
Excellent advice. As I’ve returned to backpacking at age 74 and now a year older and still planning more trips this was very helpful. Thank you.
You're very welcome and good luck with the journey!
20 miles are a great accomplishment to tell your friends .
So is doing the PCT.
5-12 mile days are so much more enjoyable in my book.
Whether 5 miles or 25 . . . or five feet into the woods, it's all about being present in nature.
I'd suggest extremely comfortable wide-toe trail running shoes without arch support or large heel, such as the Xero Mesa Trail. Toe socks with possibly a thin alpaca wool second pair of socks eliminates blisters on 20 mile days. Having a very comfortable backpack and packing light greatly helps.
Thanks for the tips! Haven't tried the toe socks, might have to now.
Great tips, Dan. A lot of the hiking I do down here in Australia is in the cooler parts of the year, and so hours of available daylight is a factor. All the more reason to have an uncooked breakfast before heading off for the day. Coastal walking is slower due to the quality of ground underfoot, and I've seen many hikers unaccustomed to walking on soft ground miscalculate their potential mileage by quite a margin.
I'm in my late 40s now, and am finding that frequent short breaks are becoming ever more important, if I want to hike for most or all of the day. I notice that I feel much better on subsequent days when I find the discipline to do keep to that plan.
A cooked dinner is important to me - it's the largest meal of my day, and psychologically I think it's most important for me. It is the only time of the day in which I use a stove. Like you, I have cold coffee in the morning. In recent years it's been Tailwind recover mix, coffee flavoured, which is caffeinated and serves as a meal to get going.
Pack weight is by far the most important for long days, as you say. With the fantastic array of light and ultralight gear available nowadays, there's no reason that moderately fit hikers can't do reasonably big mile days, well into 60s and beyond. I think many are just reluctant to try it, or focus on pace at the expense of distance covered.
Oof! I hate hiking in loose ground. Sooo much harder to move without something firm to push off from. Thanks!
4:30 Cooking breakfast down the trail in the morning instead of at camp does actually take more time because you're having to find a location, unpack your stove/food, then repack it. Those items are already unpacked when you're at camp and you're packing them twice instead of once by packing, hiking, then eating. You touch on this point later when talking about stopping for dinner, but I think it's also true of breakfast.
I'm not saying people shouldn't do that, but you're taking more time that way unless you are just carrying your food and stove on the outside of your pack and that's where you carry them all day.
Yep, you're probably right about that. Thanks!
So much great advice for hikers of any age. Thanks, I really enjoyed your video.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks a ton!
Time management. This is the most important advice and thank you for this.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent tips, thank you!
Glad you like them! Thanks!
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome!
Great advice ❤
Glad it was helpful!
Helpful tips - thank you!
You are very welcome!!
Excellent video! Thank you so much
You're very welcome!
All Great advice. Thanks very much!!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video on hiking more miles. I would suggest two other tips to help the body make long miles per day. I might have missed you mentioning them, but here they are: (1) remember to keep you back straight while hiking, especially up hill. (2) remember to not let your shoulder pronate in towards your chest. Instead rotate them towards your back.
Great tips, thanks for sharing them. I'm probably guilty of both this errors, but I'll try to do better!
Great backpacking tips.
Thanks so much; appreciate the comment!
Really a great and informative video - subscribed looking foreward to your next video
Awesome, thank you!
Thanks Dan, your a wonderful inspiration to all of us older hikers. The training I do is to keep me hiking in the backcountry and I appreciate the information
That is awesome! Thanks so much for the kind words my friend.
What a great video!! Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much!!
Good video, good presentation, good points. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome tips and approach! I feel like with more experience also comes more efficiency with all the tasks throughout the day including what's happening during breaks.
☮️❤️🤝
Very true. Thanks!
THANKS. learnt a lot there. I have subbed to learn more...go safely.
Thanks for the sub! Glad it was useful. If you go to the channel page, you'll find lots of other videos that I hope will also be useful. Happy Trails!
More excellent tips from you Dan, especially liked your experience with a ten minute break every one hour. All the best from Norway!
Glad it was helpful! Greetings to the homeland of my ancestors!! Hope to vist some day.
From your video, it looks like you hike, the same terrain, and areas that I do. This is all solid advice, and stuff that I have been doing for just the last couple years, and loving!
Thanks for sharing! Happy Hiking!
It’s not rocket science! You nailed it man 👍 Start early, carry a very light pack, eat and drink regularly, poles help, take breaks but keep em short 🤜
Thanks so much! I think the main point I wanted to convey to the newbies is just that it's possible. ;-)
@@ShastaBubbayes this is really helpful to someone who hasn’t tried (or envisioned doing days that long) I now see a path i could take to try to get there. It’s definitely a draw for being able to do longer trips in a restricted time frame
Thanks for this, you're exactly the type of person I wanted to reach with this vid -- not to say everybody has to hike 20 mile days every day, but just to know it's possible to hike big miles and do epic trips!@@tomodugan8456
Another great video. I do a lot of these things myself, and agree with what you say, which is reassuring, as I thought I was in a very small minority. Thanks again.
Thanks so much, really appreciate it!
great vid thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching!
All the older hikers I talked to way back in the PCT were on Move Free (or generically glucosamine and chondroitin). I'm on that too, fantastic stuff.
Gatorade is good stuff, too.
Be careful with the Gatorade; high is both salt and sugar, unfortunately.
Great video thanks, that looks like the wind river range, Island lake, titcomb basin, beautiful
Thanks so much and good eye! I thought that Titcomb basin was a good example of the fantastic places that can only be reached in a reasonable amount of time by hiking big miles. The blurry background in the video thumbnail is Upper Jean Lake.
At 80 I'm carrying a 21 pound base weight. TENT-> Tarptent NOTCH Li Dyneema solo tent. PACK-> Osprey EXOS 58 (very comfortable)
SLEEP SYSTEM-> Weatern Mountaineering Megalite overstuffed to 20 F. & REI Flash All Season insulated mattress.
COOK SYSTEM-> CRUX folding canister top stove & windscreen, 3 cup aluminum anodized pot, plastic measuring/drinking cup, plastic bowl. All but stove fits into the pot. OR Trail Designs Sidewinder titanium sheet Caldera Cone stove for ESBIT tabs (my favorite), alcohol and, with the Inferno "gassifier" insert, a very hot wood stove (thus the need for titanium).
I like CAMP COMFORT as well as trail comfort, thus these are very light (UL) items but not SUL. Absolutely NO frameless packs or 3/4 length mattresses for me! And NO tarps!. Been there, done that, don't want do it now.
Sounds like you've got your system pretty dialed in. Thanks for sharing and keep hiking!
Thanks Emory. Great info on not only hiking but being able to apply it to long distance pavement walking ( nearly hiking considering Davao , Philippines footpaths are like trail walking). It's inspired me to do a 24 hour walk alone.👍
Thanks for sharing. I love hearing about how hiking is different in various countries!
Great tips Dan. At age 67, I am well into my 6th decade of backpacking. I use a similar system as you, but instead of mileage, I just decide how many hours each day I want to hike. My metric right now is 2 mph plus 1 hour for each 1K of elevation gain. I also add some time for steep or rocky downhills, which I find harder than the uphills. Also with lack of trail maintenance thses days, you need to factor in conditions like blowdown and time for route finding. Time hanging out in camp is an important part of my experience too
Thanks! I agree with everything you said here, especially the part about downhills being harder than up on the knees. That's when I really lean on the trekking poles! Looks like most of my hiking plans for this summer will be in ID, so really looking forward to that stellar trail maintenance. ;-)
These are great tips! I used to agree that making miles is more about efficiency and minimizing transitions than it is about walking fast, but I've changed my mind in a way. By maximizing hiking time AND dialing in the fastest speed I can hold consistently for long periods of time, I've been able to push from 20 mile days into the 40s. My gait is a consistent pseudo jog that combines aspects of nordic skiing, chi walking, and the first steps of a baby giraffe, and it allows me to travel near 4 mph indefinitely on most terrain.
The real secret to pushing 40+ mile days: young knees
Wow, that's super impressive! Sounds a little like what I've had described to me as the "paratrooper gait" where they walk a few steps then job a few and repeat.
These are great videos! I’m 38 years old and after years of camping, fishing, hunting, and hiking, I’ve embarked upon a transition towards ultralight and long distance. I really enjoy your cool and collected presentation of your knowledge. I’ve actually made a number of gear decisions based on your experience and content. I think there’s some great advice in this video that I will apply also.
Thanks so much for the encouraging words, really appreciate it! Good luck with the transition, made a world of difference for me.
Wait.. wait, wait Dan.. are you saying we're doing 20 mile days?! 🤣 I better get hiking! Great video! Lots of great tips in here for getting some higher milage days.
Ha ha! I certainly had you and Malard Larkin in mind when I mentioned going slower when there's lots of elevation gain. ;-) And the part about sometimes focusing on time in camp with friends!
Thanks. Just subscribed. I think the most I’ve backpacked in a day was 12 miles, but I live in the Sierra and head out to areas that are anything but flat. I’m 60 and am attempting the John Muir trail this summer and I am training NOW. With work, etc., I can hit some foothill trails and cover about 6 miles a week and I work out, but need to do much more and be more consistent. Pesky job that pays my way in the world gets in the way of my plans.
Don't you hate when work gets in the way of the really important stuff? Thanks for the sub!
Great advice, StastaBubba!!
I've been known to stop at around 5pm on the trail, out of energy and ready for dinner. Then hike a few more miles to camp. Although I'd rather have dinner in camp at the end of the day. 😉
Sounds great! Thanks a ton for commenting!
Excellent informative video. Good footwear is critical. Perfect Preparation = Perfect Performance!
Thanks for watching!
Hi Dan, thanks for the tips! I live in NW Montana too, very lucky 😉
We are indeed. Thanks and happy trails! Maybe I'll see you out there!!
@@ShastaBubba that would be awesome. I'll be heading into the Bob in early July and hoping to get a backcountry permit for Glacier too!
I really enjoyed this. Realized I was carrying way too much gear.
Makes a huge difference over the long-haul. Thanks!
I usually eat cold breakfast of milk & cereal for first & second breakfast, just 1.25 cups of cereal + 1/4 cup NIDO (powdered milk), add water, shake, instant milk & cereal. Weight is everything, I do section hikes on Appalachian Trail every spring in a series of 3, 4, & 5 day hikes, then resupply, this time I will be swapping gear between sections. My 5 day section pack is 32 lbs, I going to do some 2 & 3 day hikes covering more miles using my Hobo Roll, an old school minimalist bedroll + sling bag, 12 pounds total gear.
Thanks for sharing your bfast recipe, I'll have to try that. Love the Hobo Roll! Good luck this summer.
65, 15 miles a day on the JMT last year. Start early, go slow. 7 hours a day will get you 15 miles pretty easily.
Sound advice, thanks!
Regrettably, at 71 my big mile days are behind me for the most part. While I can still cover 10 or so miles a day at the lower elevations (think Smokies), on more comfortable days at higher elevations (think Colorado Rockies) I like 5-7 mile days, setting up camp early, gathering the firewood and chilling out for the afternoon into the evening. As one gets older (or at least this one) ,more frequent stops like you described make a big difference in daily endurance and enjoyment. And as one ages, the "world" does get smaller. And creature comforts become more important. Always good to hear your philosophy on being "out there."
Thanks John, really appreciate your thoughts. Intent here was really just to let folks know that it's possible, not at all to say it's what anyone "should" do. Happy hiking!
Thanks for this. I'm starting to lighten the load by trying a fastpacking loadout and going to try tarp & bivy camping. I'm getting older now plus I want to cover more distance since I mostly do overnight trips.
Sounds great! I'll just share that I haven't found a tarp/bivy combo that weighed less than my dcf mid and net tent (Locus Gear Khufu), which allows much better living space as well as coverage in storms. Expensive though.
@@ShastaBubba That's definitely nice. Maybe down the road I'll pick up a Hexamid but I'll just check the weather for now lol. I've been trying to piece together a sort of modular set up. Bring a bathtub floor when there's a storm or a bug bivy when it's Fall Sierra buggy. Small reflective tarp when it's Summer, etc. Using this year to see how much I can endure 😄. Trying out the Borah 7x9 silpoly at 9-10oz and their ultralight bivy in wide at 6.4oz. Should arrive in a month.
Good to explore the various options. Have fun with it!@@rodoutdoors
Thanks. Very helpful. Range Meal Bars are very good and natural at 700 cal each. Meal 2 Go Bars are good too at 650 cals per package. Wishing you peace and good fortune. Happy Trails!
Thanks so much. Peace to you as well!
Hey Dan, great to see you posting. Hope you are doing well.
Thanks! I'm doing well, had a little break from making vids, but ready to jump back in now.
@@ShastaBubba Terrific.....looking forward to your next one. Have a great spring season, whenever it gets here. Tom
What a great video and thanks for sharing your experience with us.
I hiked 155km/96 miles - Monday noon to Thursday mid afternoon - last April on the West Highland Way in Scotland.
Up around 6am and on the trail before 7am. Physically the only issue I had was that my feet (wearing Lone Peak 6s) were really sore by the end of day 4. Total pack weight incl food and water was 12kg / 27lbs.
I learnt that:
- Not eating lunch and just relying on energy bars during the day just leads to fatigue and hunger later in the day
- Not enough calories for breakfast makes long days hard. Oats are not that calorie dense. I plan on adding desiccated coconut and sunflower seeds to my overnight oat mix this time to increase the calories count vs carbs alone.
- The type of training before matters - hill running is great for cardio fitness but there’s no substitute for building up your foot-soreness-tolerance / fitness with long training hikes/walks. This year I’m training by hiking/walking until I feel the heat / burn on the balls of my feet, at a pace faster than my usual hiking pace. Though this is a big time commitment vs running!
- Hiking for hours without stopping and not allowing time to offload the pressure in my feet leads to sore feet. I’m planning on regular breaks this year, probably 30 mins every 10 km with shoes and socks off. It’s often very wet here in the UK so good to air the feet too.
- Lone Peaks are not good enough in wet and slippy trail conditions. I’m going to try some Topo Pursuits this year.
Trail runners work well for me, I find boots too heavy for long trail days. I think it’s better to train and strengthen your ankles rather than relying on more supportive footwear to prevent injury.
My next long distance hike is the CWT in April 🏴. Happy hiking!
These are all great points, thanks for taking the time to share them! Sounds like you're building some fantastic memories. ;-)
These are great tips for me. I signed up for a 20 mile hike to be accomplished in 12 hours maximum. Good news is I’m training with a backpack around 15 lbs. I will only need bare minimum on the actual day.
Hope this has been helpful in meeting your goal!
Great video. Im one of those who just cannot eat upon getting up but need fuel so Ive learned to make my breakfast liquid. I take 2 servings of Nido(milk powder and 2 packs instant carnation in chocolate flavor and into a liter smart water bottle. Best to do it with a 1/2 filled or empty bottle as powder takes a bit of volume. Its about 600 calories.
A big benefit of big miles for me is less weight. Say you pack 2 pounds of food per day. Say you are doing 45 miles. At 8 miles a day its a 5 day trip and adds 10 pounds to pack. Yet at 15 miles its 3 days and 6 pounds of food.
Great point re; weight (I hadn't processed that) and great tip on the liquid bfast! Sometimes, eating that granola bar first thing is like chewing cardboard. Thanks!!
Great advice. I agree with all of it. The one point I would add is that walking longer days allows me to carry less weight in food. I try to stick to 2 lbs per day. Which contributes to being able to see more, go further in less time.
Good point. I shoot for 2 lbs/day also. Thanks!
Thanks for the video. Most of your suggestions work well for me but there are a couple that don't. In my case I get more "time on task" when I get hiking right away, 30 minutes or less after waking up at first bit of gray light. I go cookless and coffeeless and munch a couple of energy bars as I'm hiking. Frequent breaks kill my momentum, I only stop when I need to filter water. Ditching the stove helped me get the base weight down to 10 or 11 lb depending on microspike & bear canister need. That helps a bunch. But that's just me.
Sounds like it's working for you, which is all that matters, right? Thanks so much!
I like your comments about gaining elevation versus distance in your hiking day. When I’m planning out my day I consider each 1000’ of vertical gain as an extra mile on my planned mileage objective for the day.
Thanks! Sounds like we're the same there, since 1K elevation = 30 minutes = 1 mile. Cheers!
As a (former) Scout Master, BSA had a "2 mph + 1 hr/1000 feet" basic guideline that I found to be pretty accurate BUT that was travelling with a group as large as 9 boys and 3 adults. The boys were not the slowest hikers, but getting them out of camp by 8 was the big struggle. The bigger the group, the harder it is to keep pace because someone will run out of food faster, have a shoe problem, etc etc. I like your 1k ft add a mile approach.
Thanks for putting in the time with the kids!@@danieloakland927
@@ShastaBubba full disclosure... could be frustrating in the moment but the most rewarding thing I ever did, no comparison. Brought me back to backpacking after doing it in Scouts myself, renewed my appreciation for what my dad did for me.
For every 500 ft vertical, you use the same # of calories that you use for a flat mile, so I add a mile to my total for every 500 ft of elevation I gain.
Great advice . Avoid breakfast. Bigger brunch or lunch . Eat . Could have saved dinner. Mini breaks. Or go with the flow of envirment . Stop decompress joints do exercises. Tension headaches. I was saved by my friend and good chewable pill.
Sounds like a good plan. Thanks!
I have spent 4 months last year camping out of my car, now my car is broken and I have no income whatsoever so I am going top be hiking everywhere this year, and while I appreciate your tips I guess I'll be learning the hard way since I plan on carrying around 40-50 pounds in my pack, maybe more. Although I have no time limit so I can hike just 10 miles a day and that will get me where I want to go over the course of 8 or so months I reckon.
It's good to have a plan. Good luck to you!
Hi, Nice video. You mention your workout and I was wondering what you regularly do?
Nothing special, I alternate cardio and weights days. Cardio days are just a 10 minutes jog (indoor track) followed by 10 minute fast walk with six sets of stairs. Weight days used to be your typical, full-body stations (about 20 minutes), but the last year I've switched to a beginnner level metabolic conditioning routine, and that's been challenging, but great results for strength and stamina. One set is: 25 slow ab crunches, 20 pushups, 10 lunges, 10 dumbell flys, 10 dumbell curls (20lb), 35 exercise ball ab crunches, jog one lap (1/8 mile). Repeat as many sets as I can in 20 minutes. Usually can do 3 sets, 4 when feeling really good.
Greetings from Montana. Great video! I will not weigh in on the boots versus trail runners. I plan to try out Hokas on day hikes once snow melts. My question weighs into quilting versus sleeping bags. What quilt are you using?
Thanks! I have the Enigma by Enlightened Equipment and love it! I went with the zero-degree rating because I'm a really cold sleeper, but the average person gets by with closer to 20 degree for some weight savings. Here's a review I did of the EE Enigma: czcams.com/video/9lRh5RZfsbk/video.html
Great to see you back! I get a great deal from your content, than you!
Glad to hear it! Thanks!
I am a 64 year old long distance backpacker and I generally start my day at 445 and am on the trail by 530 am. By some standards I pack super light, my base weight is about 8 pounds but that’s heavy by others. I am also mostly an East Coast hiker and twenty miles a day is much harder here than many western trails. For whatever reasons we don’t have switch backs and the trails are straight up and straight down. When I hiked the Long Trail in Vermont last summer I only had one 20 mile day. This year I plan on doing the Colorado Trail and I think 20 mile days will be the norm. Western trails are generally much more grades and smoother. The East it’s brutal and in the Whites of NH the only people doing 20 or more a day are young super fit UL. My biggest advice for anyone backpacking is the train year round, I lift weights, ride and hike with my fully loaded pack 3 to 4 days a week and go as light as possible. There is no need to by carrying much over 20 pounds. I carry about 22 pounds and that carrying all of my dogs gear and dog food. Take care
Wow, you're an iron hiker! Props for 8 lb base weight, that's super light in my book. Good point about hiking with the loaded pack on; I forgot to say that nothing gets a person in shape for backpacking like backpacking. Happy trails!
Haven’t yet made the financial leap to UL backpacking but I’m getting there. I’m not sure if i like to stop that often as I’ve found I start hurting more when I stop.
I’ve started doing more hike in and then crush some miles without carrying camp to more experience with high mileage. I’ve found this to be very enjoyable.
Glad you've discovered a method that works for you. Thanks!
I essentially make my breakfast shake the night before, consisting of protein powder, milk powder, peanut powder, and two Starbucks Via packets. I awake at about 5am, drink my shake, pack up everything, and start out onto the trail by 6am or shortly after. At 8am I have a snack of 200 Calories, the same again at 10am, stop for lunch about noon, another snack at 2pm and 4pm, then make camp about 6pm. I am eating something about every two hours. Of course there can be lots of variation on that schedule, but I manage about 17 to 23 miles in that time frame. I eat dinner at camp, personal hygiene, and prep for the next day. I am almost always in the tent by 8pm and after a bit of thought about the next days hike, I fall asleep by 9pm or so. What's that old saying, ten miles by ten o'clock.
My base weight is about 12-13 lbs. I eat well but my appetite varies so I may end the trip with left over food or with absolutely nothing and wanting more. I usually carry too much water but I blame that on my over-reaction to an incident when I ran out of water in dangerously hot conditions.
I am 72 years old and only do three season backpacking now. For a couple different reasons I have left winter deep snow trips to just my memories. I am going to do a couple PCT section hikes this year and will likely dial back the mileage, maybe even a lot. We shall see.
Wow, that morning shake packs a wallop! Love it. Sounds like you're doing great out there, which is awesome. Keep hiking!
Love the protein shake idea.
Right? Gonna try that.@@vivianjohnson2556
Good tips, but at age 71 I’ve realized seeing how many miles I can go is not the goal. I just want to enjoy being in the mountains. I plan trips that are satisfying if I don’t make it all the way, and take extra food so I can enjoy a slower pace if I want. I’m retired after all 😊
Thanks! As you know from your experiences, just being present in the woods is what really matters, not the distance covered. Happy trails!
Turning 64 in a few weeks. Favorite trail is the JMT. From Happy Isle to Whitney typically takes my son and I about seven days. I wear what most would call heavy boots, my backpack is typically 45 to 48 pounds. While most people are still sleeping in their tents, my son and I have our headlamps on, we knock out 8 to 10 miles before most hikers start to get up. When it comes down to it, it’s just walking with a backpack. Thanks for the video. Happy trails.
Sounds like great memories. Thanks for sharing!
That's pretty impressive- a pace of 30 mile/day. I've found different hikers derive enjoyment from different paces.
My deapest resonance goes to the trail runners over heavy boots part
Big time!
I'm pretty close to 60 now and all the long distance walks I've done are 20 miles a day usually and with 48lbs with all my camera and video kit. This is always down to time off to complete the hike. Now that time is no issue my hike legs are no more than 15 miles. I've managed to get my pack down to 38lbs by posting my food to pick up locations. I've never got near to a light pack as I like the support of a framed unit. There is a study on footwear that you can find on CZcams which debunks the myth of boots or trail runner types. The study found that as long as you are only doing 4 mph or less the engery difference is negligible. Great advice though 👍
Great information, thanks!
Thank you Dan for another great tips roundup. All smart and sensible. Which trail shoes did you settle on? Asking because you mentioned trail shoes with vibram soles, and it seems there are so may trail shoes out there without vibram. I've had great luck with the Saucony Xodus Ultra, a shoe made for running ultras, which is very durable, well-cushioned and roomy in the toe box, but it uses a proprietary outsole.
Thanks! The Xodus used to have Vibram soles and was one of my favorite shoes for quick drying; although being mostly mesh uppers, tended to wear out more quickly. My current choice is the Hoka Speedgoat 5 for it's huge cushioning and it also has a wide toe box. Here's my review of the Speedgoat 4 (minimal changes to the 5): czcams.com/video/xJyB6gs76PM/video.html Happy hiking!
@@ShastaBubbaThank you, the Hoka Speedgoat 5 is the other shoe I've been considering! Unfortunately Altras and Topo Athletic shoes have horrendous durability - so much so that I feel it's environmentally irresponsible to wear them. I'm not kidding - my parter and I have gotten +1000 miles from Saucony Xodus - the first place they would wear was over the big toe in the mesh, which can be easy to repair. The current Xodus Ultra and Ultra 2 have excellent and durable cushion. It's hard to imagine the Speedgoat 5 having even more cushion. Are your feet so high up that it feels less stable than the Xodus?
When I tried the Speedgoats on in the store the first time I laughed out loud because they felt like clown shoes because of the stack height! One of my biggest fears was that I would experience lots of ankle sprains because of this, but thankfully, that didn't happen and, once I got used to them, they've been great. Curiously, the heal drop is actually less than the current Xodus (4mm vs 6). Durability has been great also. @@leigha6275
Verynice video
Thanks for watching!
Last reason is the main reason I prefer longer miles; you can do a two day hike in one day in which case you only need a day pack, and can ensure a nice day - and even if you have a multi day trek you can still minimise your pack weight
It's a gamechanger, right? Thanks!
Good video for me as I'm starting to train for backpacking and doing hikes with a 30 lb pack and I don't know how to take breaks. I'm also fat so its more important for me to just lose weight than it is to get lighter gear. But I'm not cold in the winter, so I don't want to get too skinny. I see how much skinny people shiver.
Sounds like you're at the beginning of an important personal trek, as you prepare to actually trek in the woods. I'll just offer the encouragement that self acceptance at any weight is the key to weight loss, paradoxically. Shame hurts and we numb that pain with the comfort of food, so insisting that weight does not equal worth helps to externalize the problem and see weight loss simply as behavior change, just like stopping a habit like chewing fingernails. Unsollicited advice, but good luck on your journey!
Another YT channel looked at the adage "A pound on the foot = 5 in the pack." He found the military study that everyone refers to when making that claim. The study found that at running speed, 1lb on the foot does increase energy use as much as 5lbs in the pack. But at 2.5mph walking speed (a normal hiking pace), there was NO statistically significant difference between a pound of weight carried in footwear vs a pound of weight carried in the backpack.
Yes, I've heard about that study, which is why I chose to emphasize other benefits of trail runners, such as the time savings of walking through streams and long-term building of ankle muscles, etc. But, to each their own, HYOH and all that. Thanks!
I like booking big mile days. Furthest right now hiking is a couple rim2rim2rim in a day Grand Canyon but others like treating Langley and Whitney as day hikes.
I never take breaks outside of bio/water/admiring scenery/fixing a problem, eating a constant 150-200 calories and drinking water every 30 minutes.
Keeping pace at such that lactate buildup doesn’t occur faster than my body can clear (that results in that “dead leg/no energy” feeling late in a day), which means heart rate below 150. This can be trained higher and your body can be taught to use lactate as fuel and become more efficient at burning stored fat but requires running and specific training.
I don’t use poles on flats outside of technical terrain or an extremely long day, poles make you slow in the moment but can reduce your total time by reducing fatigue (I’m in huge disagreement about cutting pole straps btw) but in general I am in shape just enough to not use them on flats and it makes me faster.
I have recently taken up trail running to get even more miles in but have noticed that when I return to hiking my stride is much more efficient and heart rate much lower. I carried a 40lb pack (enough gear for 2) down South Kaibab and up Bright Angel and my heart rate never went above 120.
I am a big believer in sun management regardless of the temperature and always use sun shirt and long pants (even running) with the hood up. Sunscreen just on the cheeks and nose. I have found the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake hoodie my favorite out of all the brands. In the cold it matters way less which brand I have on but the heat I use the MH one. Sun absorption will increase your heart rate if you get too much. Heat much more so but the good sun hoodies are great about regulating temperature.
If you have your fuel/hydration/pace dialed in and some physical fitness it essentially comes down to mental fatigue. The mind gives up before the body.
Wow, really great information. You sound more like an elite athlete than the average slug like me. ;-) Thanks also for the hoodie mention; I'll definitely check that out!
@@ShastaBubba I’m 52 and most definitely not an athlete. I didn’t start running until July of last year. I started hiking 2-4 miles a few times a week in 2020 and upgraded to bigger miles in 2021. My only unique feature is I like staying motivated and goal oriented so that removed most of my breaks and dawdling in my hiking.
Great Video still some is personal preference but you distingushed it very well.
6:40 Important pain is a warning sign that should be taken serious. If pay stay or gets worse it is sign to cut it short or take a few days or weeks off.
Don't start again until the pain is really gone.
Good advice, thanks!
More miles also simplified logistic - restaurants, shops, public transport and safe places to camp or stay.
I can do only few km pet day and its very difficult to find a route to my limit.
Most important thing is just being present in the woods. Thanks!
Nice ideas, but for thru hikes such as John Muir Trail, be ready to load up and cinch down. You can still go ultra lite on a tarp instead of tent, and use space blanket/thermal pad plus something like military poncho liner instead of sleeping bag, and wear every piece of clothing while sleeping, and leave the sleeping bag at home.
Personally, I much prefer some weight, and enjoy the luxury of COMFORT! Besides, going 20 miles a day WILL cause your appetite to go crazy, and after a few days, you will find that a warm sleeping bag and tent are worth the effort to carry them. Nothing burns calories faster than heavy exertion, cold temperatures, and sleeping with too little protection from cold/wet conditions.
Thanks for your input! Hiking hard certainly does burn through the calories.
Hiking at 64 and plan to keep doing it. Started looking at lighter gear about 3 years ago and am now considering a new pack and cooking system. Do you have a gear list that you could share?
I really should have that, but afraid I don't yet (this is close: czcams.com/video/fQvjX9h_m8c/video.html). I've pretty much covered everything in previous videos; this is a good one on cooking systems: czcams.com/video/L3o8sdTkxdo/video.html. For a pack, I'm currently loving the Durston Gear Kakwa 40 (czcams.com/video/QH6YSLK7aDw/video.html) for trips up to 3 nights, but would suggest the Kakwa 55 or HMG 3400 Junction for longer trips. Keep in mind as you transition to UL gear that it's best for the pack to be the last of the 'Big Three' to change over, since UL packs are designed to carry lighter loads, so you don't want to put all the old, heavy gear in a UL pack ideally. czcams.com/video/6zNBMdXyZSk/video.html That should keep you busy for awhile! ;-)
Great summary ! I have been hesitant to switch to trail runners from boots - I may finally make this leap.
Something that likely has been covered elsewhere is your actual walking technique. Making a lot of noise while walking (clomping, dragging feet, etc) is a sign of an inefficient technique. Changing technique may feel like more work at first but it will pay off. As you walk, think about keeping your pack more or less level. This means to step OVER small protrusions (roots, rocks, small rises) or low spots. If you frequently step up on a rock or a root as you hike only to step back down on your next step, you are effectively adding an extra flight of stairs over every few tenths of a mile -- a large waste of energy.
Thanks, this is a great point! Sometimes when I'm getting tired and sloppy with my gait, my self-talk slogan is: "tighten it up" and I try to do as you say here. Especially stop the excessive side-to-side movement and focus on lifting each step (for me at least).
@@ShastaBubba AGREE! Lifting is essential, especially when tired, to prevent stumbles - and worse, falling. If I see something on trail that I might trip over, I will place my trekking pole tip close to it which forces me away from it.
@@panhandlejake6200 I'm laughing as I'm picturing myself placing the tip of the trekking pole mindfully in front of a rock I might trip over . . . then kicking my trekking pole into the rock, which then bounces back and smacks my kneecap. 🤣 Some folks just ain't coordinated! (but it's a great idea)
@@ShastaBubba HA! Yes, takes a little practice, but isn't hard. Just be sure that you are putting the tip well out in front (a normal amount). It has worked well for me.
BTW - I plan to go to REI tomorrow to look at those Hoka's.
Use a Benpacker so you can carry a Helinox chair and slightly bigger tent? I'll be trying that out this summer.
Hadn't heard of those til now. Would love to hear how that works out for you. Good luck with it!
Why? ;>)
Being the fast guy of the bunch, I blazed ahead, scared off all the wildlife before I had a chance to see them, but heard about them in camp.
Can still do 20 at 66 (day hike to the nearest DQ for a Blizzard) but there is too much to see and I have nothing but time..Plan trips at 8-10 miles a day now.
So much more relaxing.
So many people seem to have missed the point of this video. It's not about the number. It's about the absolute joy of traveling far and seeing new places and being present in the woods to experience those awesome memories. Relaxing is cool too and you do you, but that's a different hike and there's no need to be black and white about it. Relax sometimes. Hike far sometimes. This was just intended to show that it's possible to hike far, not make an argument that it's somehow intrinsically better to do so.
20 miles- gonna depend on whether it's flat or hills/mountains. But, I'm almost as old as you and I'm in the camp that there shouldn't be an artificial age limit for any activity, and I do mean ANY.
Amen to that!
Trail miles varies greatly, solo or group etc. I tend to wander around not stay head down on trail. Took 2 years to do pct, went east and west way too much! Always eat away from camp in bear country, also good for keeping rodents away.
Sounds like you're enjoying time in the woods, which is what it's all about, right? Bet you have some awesome memories of those PCT side trips!!
@@ShastaBubba Yeah, found best fly fishing in Calif. One that's no secret is middle fork kings river. Lower section has many rattlesnakes, but 16-24 inch trout!
I've walked 26 miles in a day.. but that was back in my 20s and i was very active, fit back then
That was a long day, I bet. Thanks!
The only weight saving tip I haven't been able to do yet is the lightweight trail runner shoes. I have a bad ankle from an old injury and have basically no stability. Maybe I should wear an ankle brace...
Sounds like a good idea. I spent decades backpacking in mountaineering boots and recently made the switch. The idea that a pound on the foot equals 5 pounds in the pack seems accurate.
Yeah, that's a tough one. I will share that I personally have somewhat weak ankles and a history of bad sprains, but have experienced reduced sprains since switching to trail runners (about 20 years ago now!), even though I still roll the ankles often. You're situation might be different though, so might be worth consulting with a doctor for best guidance. Good luck!
Hope the switch works out for you!
I have bad ankles too but found some great sports therapy videos here on YT and got my ankles strong enough to handle a roll or two, so I've retired the boots in favor of Merrell shoes. It feels soooo good to hike in shoes instead of boots!
@@jakesterling2190 that's excellent advice.
i normally do 25-30+ miles per day. merrill mid boots always. find footwear that works for you. 30ish pounds or less. i eat breakfast, lunch and dinner on the trail. sometimes i take a nap. hike till dark or later. the ability to disperse camp makes this much more feasible. when they make you reserve a site each day, the miles per day are fixed. i find poles help unless hiking on level ground, then i just carry them.
Great ideas, thanks! Never been able to nap on the trail myself, but it sounds so nice.
I am starting the PCT in two weeks. You have a lot of good advice. I would suggest that people place less focus on miles. Last year people were doing 20 mile days, getting up a crazy hours just to go home at Kennedy Meadows for a month.
The first question is if big miles are even needed and only do them if needed. Enjoy the hike. For me, big miles are only needed after KM.
Makes sense. Thanks!
20 miles isnt' an issue.
2+ km of elevation gain that 20 miles usually imply IS an issue though. in alps doing 20 miler can often sum up to 2600m gain (3 passes), you do 2 passes, and sleep on top 3rd, that's how it usually goes. And it's absolutely not something average fit person can do day after day.
No doubt. Thanks for sharing what it's like hiking in the Alps! Hope someday to do the hut-to-hut thing.
Hiker fewer longer days typically affords less food weight carry
Very true. Thanks!
I hike to be out there, not to race or see how fast I can get back. and how far ya go doesn't mater
Different strokes, my friend. I'm certainly not out there racing at 2 mph! Definitely agree that being present in the woods is the most important thing of all.
It's not for most but I never leave camp before eight thirty in the morning and stop for dinner around five and then hike until dark I like hiking in the evening .I have never never used an alarm on the trail .
Any healthy person should be able to hike twenty mile days and with today's gear it's not that hard.
I agree. Thanks for sharing your methods!
I walk distance as such in cities and i just want to go out
You'll get there if you want it badly enough. Keep hiking!
Even if I could, I wouldn’t want to try to hike 20 miles in a day, 10-15 is more than enough…
Imagine you only had time for a day hike and there was a really cool place you wanted to see that was 10 miles in. Wouldn't you want to be able to hike 20 miles to experience that?
@@ShastaBubba I’m just saying to do that many miles sometimes isn’t enjoyable. I’d rather do it as a 1-2 night backpacking trip. I’ve done 12-14 miles in a day and it’s a slog…
Why would you want to hike that many miles in a day?
Answered that at 10:30. Maybe you didn't make it that far. I understand.
@@ShastaBubba Sorry, I'll watch the rest!
No worries! Thanks for watching.@@iddddaduncan
Good video but you propagate the same baloney as other boot-shamers. The idea that boots do not provide ankle protection is ridiculous.
Thanks and apologies for the boot shaming!! Not my intention, I assure you. It's not that boots don't provide ankle support, the issue is that having that support actually weakens the ankle in the same way the wearing a brace on any joint (wrist, knee, etc.) prevents the muscles from building up and providing support (as any physical therapist will confirm). Having said that, I'll probably get a nasty ankle sprain on the next hike just to put me in my place. ;-)
@@ShastaBubba I appreciate your reply but simply don't believe that "having that support actually weakens the ankle." Hiking outdoors - especially up and down on uneven trails - involves using countless muscles of the feet, legs, lower body and much of the rest of the body. Compared with walking on flat surfaces or sitting on the sofa, you are exercising and strengthening yourself while hiking in either boots or trail runners, not weakening yourself. Yes, you may strengthen your ankles more without the support of boots - if you don't roll your ankle - but you certainly are not "weakening" them by wearing boots. That's just silly and I don't respect any PT who says that.
@@jeffstone28 there are far more efficient ways to strengthen and protect your ankles than wearing a heavy ankle high boot. Proper exercising before you head out on the trail allows you to wear a lighter shoe. Period. Strengthen your stabilizers and you won't need a crutch.
@@daddancingmywaythroughit More smug silliness, frankly. Who said anything about wearing a "heavy ankle high boot?" I wear relatively lightweight mid-height Keen boots. There are heavier boots that exist and mine are not among the heaviest. I never said that wearing boots strengthens your ankles, so don't twist my comments. Clearly, boots do protect your ankles. You are a classic boot-shamer, i.e. someone who tries to impose your footwear preferences on other people by gaslighting them that boots are not actually protective. That's pure baloney. I do not tell people who wear trail runners that they shouldn't wear them. If they work for people, by all means I think they are terrific. They are lightweight, cooler and dry quickly. I think trail runners are terrific for people who like them. By the same token, I think boots are terrific for people like me who prefer the extra structure and protection they provide. The difference here is that I am tolerant and supportive of different footwear preferences for hiking and you are not.
@@jeffstone28 👍