20 April 2016
I’m trying to get fit for the cross country trip this fall. I’ve picked up the pace with my morning walk, added 20 minutes to my swim time and have a trip planned to hike the Deep Creek Trail/Martin’s Gap Trail/Indian Creek Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains in May.
I’ve hiked a portion of the Deep Creek Trail. Actually, I’ve hiked a portion of several trails in the Smokies but have never completed most. The first time, Crag Knox and I tried to lug a 55 lb pack up Shuckstack Trail to Sassafras Gap. That never came to completion (and we were a lot younger then).
Next was Deep Creek. Charlie Cooper (who passed away this week) and I hiked to a point and then came down. We made our own loop.
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In all of these, I was 40 years younger and in much better shape. I think you can see I’m a little worried about how I’ll do out west with peaks in the 7,000 to 9,000 foot range. The highest point in the Smokies is Clingman’s dome at 6,643 feet.
I’ve decided to be proactive. Today, I loaded up the pack (as I would have packed for the Smokies trip with 40 lbs of gear and water). I then drove to the parking garage at the main library in downtown Fort Lauderdale and hiked up the five stories of the garage (14 flights of stair with 8 stairs per flight) 3 times. I intend to do this as often as I can before the Smokies trip. I probably should have started a little earlier but better late than never.
One great tip I learned from my Bugaboos adventure was how to step in high elevation when you are not used to the altitude. Take baby steps and as you place your foot, shift your weight forward and push up with your knee. This mitigates the stress you would put on your hips and your back and allows you to breathe a more normal rate. It works. I used it on the stairs today and was able to do more than I thought.
