With departure for the hunt now exactly 9 weeks away, I thought I'd better provide a quick update on our pre-hunt training. Both Dad and I have read extensively about hunts of this type...daily hiking of mountainous and uneven terrain, at higher elevation, long 8-12 mile distances....and the common theme is that you cannot over-prepare. Guides will tell you that you have to be in shape for them to put you on an animal. Hunters who have gone on these trips have said if they could do one thing over, it would be to get in better shape.
That being said, I am back running again. Have been going 3-4 miles per run, 4-5 times per week for last few weeks. Starting this weekend, I will up my mileage, and will start including a long run on weekends (long meaning 45-60 minutes). By end of September, I would like my long runs to be up to 10-12 miles (90-110 minutes). I am searching out hilly routes to better prepare appropriate muscles for the Montana Rockies terrain. Only concern thus far is really sore left achilles...but a little ice and toe lifts should fix.
Dad has also been training. His current routine is a one hour hike through the very hilly trails of Nashotah Park; or the 4-mile around-the-lake loop up in Tomahawk. He is doing this several times a week (not sure exactly how many...but know its often). He too has only had one nagging injury...a sore right knee...but is confident that it will not affect his ability to hike the country in Montana.
We hope our efforts will be sufficient...and if not, you'll read about it here once our hunt begins.
