I wish I had the wherewithal to do 6 hours/week of cardio in the gym like you guys. I just don't. I consider it a personal achievement if I can manage two hours a week. But I've been on four 12-hour hikes above 10,000' since July. Last time I made it to the cables and back in one day. It seems easier every time.
Hey Eugene,
No worries about not going to the gym; the last time I was there was in 2009, but I got thrown out during a racial encounter, so I was invited to not return (to some, I look Mexican...and to others, that aint so great)
Instead of all those leg presses and upper body reps (yawn) I do lunges on my way to the garage (double dips) and push-ups whilst my hair is drying. 15min or less at a time, and you will kick any gym rat's worked out arse!
Instead of driving to the coffee shop, I run (2 mi 4X a week), and when I have less time....I run harder.
Pull ups off the door jam (or my buddy's truck rack) covers the rest of the upper body.
Last year, I overnighted Whitney (with a 2 mile head start the afternoon before the "official hike", to actually make 2 overnights) No problem whatsoever, although I will emphasize that I was not setting any speed records (I will say that I hate downhills)
Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that I had one hike previous
all season.
The real key to my success? Generous acclimatization.
It is my personal opinion (which means it may not be for everyone) that special workouts for Whitney are highly overblown -- just keep moving.
