Major goal accomplished at the gym today.

[NuclearNed]

I'm climbing Mt. Rainier in Washington exactly one month from today. I've been training for this climb since January. I'll be carrying a 40lb pack during the first part of the climb, up to the base camp. One of the suggested exercises for this activity is to load up a backpack with weight, then walk a staircase at a nice slow pace for an extended period of time. It is supposed to build up endurance and overall leg/core strength.

The goal I set in January was to be able to walk the staircase for 1 hour nonstop with 80lbs in my pack. Today, I met that goal for the first time.

The cyclic schedule for our climb is to climb for an hour, then rest 15 minutes, which is the reason I chose to attempt the exercise for an hour uninterrupted. Also, on a friend's advice (he is a trainer), I've been doing the stairs barefoot - it is supposed to help strengthen the feet, ankles, and calves. Now I'm full of confidence that I'll summit.

Yay me.

 

[Kev]

good jorb

 

[Savij]

Shens!

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: Savij
Shens!

Nope. Sorry to disappoint you.

 

[HN]

was that on the revolving stair climber machine thing?

 

[Aharami]

80 lbs!

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: HN
was that on the revolving stair climber machine thing?

No, a staircase. If you don't know what one is, think stair climber, but low-tech.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: Aharami
80 lbs!

Indeed. I'm hurting right now.

 

[Mike2002]

Great work...that is a ton of weight to be able to walk with for that long. And I bet you were quite the sight to watch at the gym with no shoes on and an 80 pound pack, haha

 

[f4phantom2500]

how did you climb up a staircase for a solid hour? you would have had to go back down once or twice i think...

 

[Aharami]

i doubt i can climb the stairs for 1 hr straight. forget carrying half my body weight on my back!

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: Mike2002
Great work...that is a ton of weight to be able to walk with for that long. And I bet you were quite the sight to watch at the gym with no shoes on and an 80 pound pack, haha

I also didn't have on a shirt, so I was nearly naked, and pouring the sweat. I've been doing this for a while now, but I still get some funny looks from people passing by...

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: f4phantom2500
how did you climb up a staircase for a solid hour? you would have had to go back down once or twice i think...

Exactly... I just do laps (up & down, repeat)

My ipod was a life-saver.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: f4phantom2500
how did you climb up a staircase for a solid hour? you would have had to go back down once or twice i think...

methinks he was climbing a stairmaster machine. so he really wasnt climbing, but he was at the same time. confusing, i know it is

edit: [locke] i was wrong [/locke]

 

[HN]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: HN
was that on the revolving stair climber machine thing?

No, a staircase. If you don't know what one is, think stair climber, but low-tech.

ah. i've seen those. like escalators frozen in time.

good job and good luck with mt. rainier :thumbsup:

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: f4phantom2500
how did you climb up a staircase for a solid hour? you would have had to go back down once or twice i think...

methinks he was climbing a stairmaster machine. so he really wasnt climbing, but he was at the same time. confusing, i know it is

No, a staircase. I did laps - up, then down, then repeat over and over.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: f4phantom2500
how did you climb up a staircase for a solid hour? you would have had to go back down once or twice i think...

methinks he was climbing a stairmaster machine. so he really wasnt climbing, but he was at the same time. confusing, i know it is

No, a staircase. I did laps - up, then down, then repeat over and over.

Congrats dude!

But isn't that more like walking upstairs for 30 minutes, with an equal amount of time break walking downstairs before you actually start walking back up?

 

[crt1530]

I have a weighted vest that weighs about 87lbs. Having that much weight on you is oppressive. Nice job. What kind of backpack were you using?

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: crt1530
I have a weighted vest that weighs about 87lbs. Having that much weight on you is oppressive. Nice job. What kind of backpack were you using?

I just have a crappy little day pack. It wasn't designed for that sort of weight.

 

[crt1530]

Make sure to post lots of pics when you get back from the trip.

 

[hellman69]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: f4phantom2500
how did you climb up a staircase for a solid hour? you would have had to go back down once or twice i think...

methinks he was climbing a stairmaster machine. so he really wasnt climbing, but he was at the same time. confusing, i know it is

No, a staircase. I did laps - up, then down, then repeat over and over.

Congrats dude!

But isn't that more like walking upstairs for 30 minutes, with an equal amount of time break walking downstairs before you actually start walking back up?

With 80lbs on your back, it's no picnic going down stairs.

 

[edro]

You are a beast.

 

[mrchan]

Congrats!

I've been tempted to try Rainer. I've done Shasta a couple times, only a couple hundred feet shorter, but much less technical.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Congratulations! :beer:

Will you be taking pictures at all of your experience when you actually climb it?

 

[silverpig]

Nice! I'm doing Mt. Baker on July 7th