Hi Steve,
Great find! As you say "Nice videography, and quality editing".
I noticed that the group had improved energy after ~8 days. Is this "typical" for extended hikes? It just takes several days to adjust to the pack, altitude, and long days?
They did have a few difficult days thereafter, but not like the 8th ( and it was not the longest, most elevation gain, but uphill all day I guess)
Comments?
John
John,
I actually did experience the same thing with my bid on the JMT. I got used to the rhythym of walking with a heavy pack, I adjusted to the altitude and the change in diet as well. I did experience a drop in my energy due to lack of nutrition later on in the trail; I was only eating about 2800-3200 calories per day. I am 6'6" and the lightest my pack got was 49lbs when I finished at Whitney Portal, I guess I was burning 8,000+ a day seeing as I lost 23 lbs of body fat in 18 days.
I too was surprised at how well I adapted to the life. My 1st day I did nearly 30 miles (I couldnt get permits out of Yosemite so I did Tuolumne to Yos in a day). Then Day 2 we did 10 miles to the Lyell Creek Bridge that day I was utterly burnt out, I went to bed wondering how on earth I was going to finish, Day 3 we did 14 miles to Thousand Island Lake (went over Donahue and Island Pass in the snow). Both of those days felt rough but towards the end I did the full section (20 mi)from Woods Creek Bridge (lowest elevation on the trail short of MTR and YV) up over Glen Pass and I did an additional 2,000 ft up towards Forester Pass. The Next Day I did Forester all the way to Crabtree Meadows (18 mi), and then up whitney and all the way out (18 mi).
I wasnt even really struggling those last three days.
Although the motivation of a WPS Burger was a strong motivator...
