Training for my hikes: The Trek

Of all the years I’ve wanted to hike, this is the only one where I’m actually going to do something, but I feel like there’s no need to train. That’s only because I was able to walk all winter because of, dare I say, an interesting weather pattern that didn’t feel like winter. So I basically went ahead with the day’s walks without overdoing it to stay fit and mostly rested.

Plus, last year seemed like a test of what I hope to accomplish this year. I logged 1,144 miles walking last year. About 600 of them were on the Yampa Valley Trail familiarizing themselves with the route, hiding places, campsites, etc.

Another stretch of miles was on the Continental Divide Trail, which is just over an hour’s drive from where I live, so I was able to spend a lot of time in the mountains on a beautiful stretch of one of the most brutal long-distance trails.

Just keeping the momentum going until spring

Once it started snowing last fall, I turned my efforts toward conditioning by running indoors, flexibility with some yoga, and some weights once a week to add a little more muscle to my body.

Over the past few years, I’ve lost quite a bit of weight primarily by walking, which has resulted in less padding (fat) on my back to absorb the weight of the pack. Even though I was fit and heavy, I noticed my back hurt more after walking than when I was heavier, so I incorporated a lot of bent-over rows, shoulder raises and push-ups to strengthen my back and upper body.

Walking with my backpack almost fully loaded is something I’m used to, even if I’m just doing a day hike in the mountains. It’s easier if I want to spend the night on a whim, but my backpack is like my friend right now, if I’m out hiking, he’s on my back carrying my water, my gear, and some Sour Patch kids… the big bag, for those big day hikes… haha.

Now that it’s spring and the weather is getting even warmer, I’ve been more consistent with my day hikes, but keeping them under 10 miles because I don’t want to burn out in the first half of the year while I’m excited about this year. It’s become a thing for me to just be out there exploring and enjoying the views and before I know it I’m 5 miles from my truck thinking I could do a little more before turning around even though I only have one bottle of water and the sunset is an hour away.

Rest

I have found it difficult to incorporate rest into my off-season routine. It’s not that I don’t sleep well or slow down at all, but I tend to do something every day, whether it’s a day walk, a walk in the park, or something indoors like yoga or weights.

2026 has been a break from that routine and I made it a point to even have half a day where I don’t prioritize taking my steps or walking, just so I can satisfy my activity addiction and still get some rest.

Movement, winter training

There is also another reason for the constant movement. In my left leg and knee area, I developed some form of arthritis after I had surgery when I was 18 to remove a tumor. Movement became my medicine once I realized that I felt much better when I moved more. Therefore, in 2025 there will be 1,144 miles of mostly one-day hikes.

To some extent, even after hiking it feels great. After about 10 miles I start to feel it and tend to slow down or call it a day.

Training wasn’t non-existent, but I knew that if I kept moving all winter and walked a little in the nice weather, all I had to do was lift some weights once a week, do some yoga for added flexibility, and I’d be ready when it was time to hit the trails.

No low season

I like to say that there is no low season for hiking, just different weather conditions and this winter proved that to be the case. I was hoping to do some day hikes in the snow and I managed a few, but it was certainly different and was great to get out and look forward to this year and all the miles ahead of me.

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