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What Happens to Your Body on a Thru-Hike

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Re: What Happens to Your Body on a Thru-Hike

#221

Post by JoeAltmaier »

overcast wrote: post #219
sandeatr wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a thru-hiker. I'm done PCT/CDT & others. 8 hrs & 18 miles/day is pretty slow and short day. This is a novice thru hiker pace, but I doubt they were trying to set any records--

Average walking speed is 3 miles per hour. You're averaging that or greater, through trails / mountains, for 8 hours straight?

I took Boy Scouts to Isle Royale (on Lake Superior). Its very rough and challenging. Average hiking speed for visitors is under 2mph.

We averaged 3.5. Carrying heavy packs, every day for a week. All it takes is practice, motivation and youth.

Re: What Happens to Your Body on a Thru-Hike

#222

Post by hodder »

dec0dedab0de wrote: post #189
hodder wrote: post #182

We can say with relative certainty that the body fat measurements are incorrect and can be discarded. When you see glaring errors such as the assumption that the author was 5% body fat at the end of his hike,it makes you question the other metrics as well. To the authors credit he points out that bioelectrical impedance is flawed. Cool hike though!

As long as he used the same equipment before and after, does it matter? The Point is the change, not the exact numbers.

In this case it does matter. Hydration levels cause massive fluctuation in bioelectrical impedance testing. Also, at bodyfat levels below 15%, the numbers tend to be meaningless, even the trend in the numbers.

For instance, I have a Fitbit Aria which I use to track weight. It also spits out a bodyfat number. This morning I measured 5.4%. yesterday, I measured 12.1%. Skin caliper testing, DEXA scans, or submersion chambers are the only real way to test at lower BF levels. An eyeball is better than the scale at this point. One look at someone will tell you that they are not even close to 5%. You will see significant vascularity and seperation between the muscles at that level. Only bodybuilders really tend to get there. The typical guy on a mens fitness cover wouldn't likely be under 7%.

Re: What Happens to Your Body on a Thru-Hike

#223

Post by frenchy »

officelineback wrote: post #206
kevinwang wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've heard before (could be made-up) that instant noodles in dried form is, while enjoyable, basically indigestible and devoid (even moreso than if cooked) of nutritional content

Well it's all carbs. I don't see how adding water changes the macronutrient makeup.

In the same way a block of wood is chock full of carbs but will provide no nutritional value (not quite the same way, but vaguely related).

Re: What Happens to Your Body on a Thru-Hike

#224

Post by rsync »

ObeyTheGuts wrote: post #161
justinator wrote: post #2

I've done quite a few very strenuous, multi-week races on bike, including riding the Colorado Trail in 7 days [0], and riding to, then summiting all the Colorado 14ers in 34 [1] - as well as participating in the Tour Divide [2] twice. I would call my fitness before these races as "peak", but I wouldn't call myself anything but near, "onset of over training syndrome" afterwards. The only thing I experienced similar to…

When i walk all day i sleep 12 hours, in morning i feel like i want to continue this way instead of noooooo no more walking! Sleep deprivation is just ridiculous, water sleep and food should be plenty in any of long strenous things or else its just self destruction madness

"When i walk all day i sleep 12 hours"

I wish there was some perma-link from:

- HN comment threads about insomnia (lightbulb colors, screen brightness, silly apps)

- HN comment threads about light to moderate exercise

It's amazing how simple the answers to these problems are and how close at hand those answers are ...

Re: What Happens to Your Body on a Thru-Hike

#225

Post by mercutio2 »

morgante wrote: post #80

By far the best shape I've ever been in was after hiking the 270-mile Long Trail in high school. It's the only time on my life—before or after—that I've ever been not overweight. The amazing thing about thru-hiking is that you can start in any shape and come out healthier. For a while last year I toyed with the idea of hiking the Appalachian Trail. I even did a few practice hikes of a week or two, but ultimately real…

I did about 500 miles on the AT. I found that my miles per day were dramatically better when I upped my calories per day from 3000 to 4000. But then I wasn't losing any weight (although I was certainly gaining leg muscle mass).

I went back to my pre-hike weight and then some within a few years afterward.

I do think if you've got the time and inclination, a thru-hike is a lovely way to lose weight temporarily!

Re: What Happens to Your Body on a Thru-Hike

#226

Post by ska »

deepGem wrote: post #141
justinator wrote: post #2

I've done quite a few very strenuous, multi-week races on bike, including riding the Colorado Trail in 7 days [0], and riding to, then summiting all the Colorado 14ers in 34 [1] - as well as participating in the Tour Divide [2] twice. I would call my fitness before these races as "peak", but I wouldn't call myself anything but near, "onset of over training syndrome" afterwards. The only thing I experienced similar to…

Man, how did you survive on 5 hours of sleep ? I rode my bike for 200 km in 11 hours and post that, slept like a log for 9 hours. I mean, I was knocked out. Couldn't open my eyes despite alarms.

If you are unused to it, this sort of thing is a real shock to the system, but your body is more adaptable than you might think.

On the other hand, there are limits. Some of the scenarios discussed int this thread (distance races for time, SF training, etc.) are causing damage to your body that will require recovery time - and the longer you go for the more recovery you will need. Other levels of exertion seem extreme to us from the point of view of a mostly sedentary life, but if you manage the sleep and diet stuff (a bit better than a typical thru hiker does), you can handle medium-high level physical exertion (e.g. 8 hours hiking) basically indefinitely.

I've done multiple 1000km bicycle rides (with full gear) at a similar pace that, once you are settled in, feels a bit just like routine. On the other hand I've ridden distances on a single day or weekend that knocked me out for a week afterwards. It's all in the balance.

Re: What Happens to Your Body on a Thru-Hike

#227

Post by pixelbreaker »

justinator wrote: post #2

I've done quite a few very strenuous, multi-week races on bike, including riding the Colorado Trail in 7 days [0], and riding to, then summiting all the Colorado 14ers in 34 [1] - as well as participating in the Tour Divide [2] twice. I would call my fitness before these races as "peak", but I wouldn't call myself anything but near, "onset of over training syndrome" afterwards. The only thing I experienced similar to…

I raced Tour Divide in 2015 too (21 days), slept an average of about 5 hours a night, until New Mexico, which I rode the entirety of on 5 hours sleep. I was utterly destroyed by the end of it. I went from 78kgs in Banff, to 69kgs in Antelope Wells. My resting heart rate was already low (around 45) by the end it was more like 35.

Agreed with other comments on here, the thru-hike is a totally different situation, and 8 hours a day hiking is half the time I was on a bike probably.

I'd love to do it again!

He's the strava activity https://www.strava.com/activities/341380125

Re: What Happens to Your Body on a Thru-Hike

#228

Post by ska »

gaius wrote: post #186
deepGem wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Man, how did you survive on 5 hours of sleep ? I rode my bike for 200 km in 11 hours and post that, slept like a log for 9 hours. I mean, I was knocked out. Couldn't open my eyes despite alarms.

The US Army's Ranger School is 8 weeks on 2 hours of sleep a night, apart from one night you are allowed 5 hours because there's a parachute jump the next day...

NB: The point of things like that is to explore failure boundaries, not a sustainable activity level.

Re: What Happens to Your Body on a Thru-Hike

#229

Post by ska »

stevenhubertron wrote: post #103
nodamage wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> despite being a literal pain in the ass A good saddle helps with that. :) My preference is the Brooks B-17.

Such a heavy saddle but once you wear it in its the most comfortable ride out there.

If you are touring with gear, that weight gain is a rounding error :)

Re: What Happens to Your Body on a Thru-Hike

#230

Post by sandeatr »

overcast wrote: post #219
sandeatr wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a thru-hiker. I'm done PCT/CDT & others. 8 hrs & 18 miles/day is pretty slow and short day. This is a novice thru hiker pace, but I doubt they were trying to set any records--

Average walking speed is 3 miles per hour. You're averaging that or greater, through trails / mountains, for 8 hours straight?

Yes 3mph is the pace for slightly rough trail. On flat/smooth ground it is slightly faster. Up at altitude & scrambling the pace will drop, but the CT doesn't have much of that. The CT is high altitude but overall fairly easy grade(the CDT has much more challenging sections).

8 hrs is nothing, once you have trail legs many thru hikers will basically walk the entire day. 3*15 = 45 miles per day give or take. In CO it will be slower generally as CO is not the easiest hiking, but still 18 miles/day is very chill pace.

The CT is also only 450 miles, so when they finished, they were just starting to get in shape really. On a longer trail is it generally considered that around 500 miles is where people start to observe really obvious improvements.

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