Altitude Training

[Eric B.]

If your area has mountains at 5,000 ft. or higher try using high altitude training. At say, 7,000 ft. you can get great aerobic conditioning by humping a 35 lb. to 45 lb. pack. (Be <span style="font-weight: bold">sure </span>the pack can transfer most of its weight (80% -90%) to a padded hip belt via an internal or external frame to avoid back pain.)

Outside Las Vegas, where I live we have mountains that go up to 11,990 ft. and many at 8,000 to 10,000 ft.

A day training at high altitude then two days training at lower altitude is a good routine.

 

[WhiskeyWebber]

Re: Altitude Training

Do your days include sleeping at altitude?

 

[SRSDriver]

Re: Altitude Training

Depending on what you are trying to accomplish, sleeping high and training low is typically the protocol - Sleeping high builds a higher hematocrit, and then training low lets you use the additional aerobic capacity to engage and build more muscle for the work at hand.

That said, I've never not gotten a benefit from running and rucking mountains.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Altitude Training

I live at 4500 feet, and hunt in the Bighorns which is about 9-10,000.

I found the best thing to do is get there 2-3 days early and do my scouting. That way I'm acclamated when its time to hunt.

I'm old (65) and have a bit of COPD, so most of my heavy lifting is on horseback.

 

[maccrazy2]

Re: Altitude Training

5280ft here

 

[MrButterpants]

Re: Altitude Training

My house is at 7000'. Rucks are fine but sprints and Prowler workouts are awful. It's hard for my lungs to keep up.

I didn't realize the difference until I went on vacation in Hawaii and could run forever at sea level.

 

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

Re: Altitude Training

Build a homemade hypobaric chamber (sometimes called an 'altitude' chamber). Here's a video of the one Floyd Landis built:

[video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUYok77mMCk[/video]

I've seen anecdotal evidence it could increase your hematocrits by 3, maybe 4%. That's not enough to transform you into Lance Pharmstrong but you definitely would feel that much a boost.