Any Mountaineers Here?

[Jagger69]

I've been a fairly decent (minor-league) rock-climber and a serious hiking enthusiast for years but have never made an actual ascent on a mountain before. This fall, my son and I are planning on fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine by ascending the highest peak in the Guadalupe Range in West Texas (don't worry, folks. It's only 9,000 feet so it ain't exactly Mt. Everest :1orglaugh). My question is....are there any other mountaineers here and, if so, any tips you can relay to me (do's and don'ts)? There won't be any serious sheer-face stuff (no ropes, rappelling, crampons, pitons or ice-axes....just a rugged trail up a steep 3,000 foot incline). Since I am a mountain virgin (blush!), I'm just concerned about unforeseen issues that I might go "doh!" over and wish I had thought about before I headed up the mountain. Any help is truly appreciated....this is a big deal for me. Thanks in advance.

 

[Hot Mega]

I've been a fairly decent (minor-league) rock-climber and a serious hiking enthusiast for years but have never made an actual ascent on a mountain before. This fall, my son and I are planning on fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine by ascending the highest peak in the Guadalupe Range in West Texas (don't worry, folks. It's only 9,000 feet so it ain't exactly Mt. Everest :1orglaugh). My question is....are there any other mountaineers here and, if so, any tips you can relay to me (do's and don'ts)? There won't be any serious sheer-face stuff (no ropes, rappelling, crampons, pitons or ice-axes....just a rugged trail up a steep 3,000 foot incline). Since I am a mountain virgin (blush!), I'm just concerned about unforeseen issues that I might go "doh!" over and wish I had thought about before I headed up the mountain. Any help is truly appreciated....this is a big deal for me. Thanks in advance.

In this case, take someone experienced with you. From my perspective it's been so long since I was a beginner...the only thing I can remember was how critical it is to have the right shoes from an orthopedics and friction reducing standpoint....I kind of knew that from previous other experiences though. That's a pretty basic thing but it's commonly overlooked....

 

[rwill25]

Heights scare the shit out of me. :eek:

No Thanks!

 

[Jagger69]

In this case, take someone experienced with you. From my perspective it's been so long since I was a beginner...the only thing I can remember was how critical it is to have the right shoes from an orthopedics and friction reducing standpoint....I kind of knew that from previous other experiences though. That's a pretty basic thing but it's commonly overlooked....

Thanks HM. I have some great hiking boots and I am planning on wearing inner liners to prevent the blisters you mentioned. Do you have any experience with trekking poles? I hear pros and cons about them....some say they can reduce the wear on your legs by as much as 20% on a serious ascent....others say they are a pain in the ass to use and should be left behind. I'm no spring chicken so if I can reduce the load on the legs, I'm interested.

We won't have the benefit of anyone experienced going with us. That's one of the reasons I'm a bit concerned but there will be others on the mountain when we go so maybe we can "tag along" with an experienced climber or two. Most of my friends think I'm out of my mind. Mid-life crisis I guess....:1orglaugh

 

[Hot Mega]

Thanks HM. I have some great hiking boots and I am planning on wearing inner liners to prevent the blisters you mentioned. Do you have any experience with trekking poles? I hear pros and cons about them....some say they can reduce the wear on your legs by as much as 20% on a serious ascent....others say they are a pain in the ass to use and should be left behind. I'm no spring chicken so if I can reduce the load on the legs, I'm interested.

I don't use them but there is an advantage in using them going back down.

 

[jasonk282]

I've been a fairly decent (minor-league) rock-climber and a serious hiking enthusiast for years but have never made an actual ascent on a mountain before. This fall, my son and I are planning on fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine by ascending the highest peak in the Guadalupe Range in West Texas (don't worry, folks. It's only 9,000 feet so it ain't exactly Mt. Everest :1orglaugh). My question is....are there any other mountaineers here and, if so, any tips you can relay to me (do's and don'ts)? There won't be any serious sheer-face stuff (no ropes, rappelling, crampons, pitons or ice-axes....just a rugged trail up a steep 3,000 foot incline). Since I am a mountain virgin (blush!), I'm just concerned about unforeseen issues that I might go "doh!" over and wish I had thought about before I headed up the mountain. Any help is truly appreciated....this is a big deal for me. Thanks in advance.

WHEW though you were a WVU fan, I would have to pull out all my Pitt gear. Erve venture to the Rockies or Smokey Mountains, both are impressive and amazing.

 

[Jagger69]

WHEW though you were a WVU fan, I would have to pull out all my Pitt gear. Erve venture to the Rockies or Smokey Mountains, both are impressive and amazing.

LOL....sorry, didn't mean to alarm you, Jason! I am most definitely NOT a WVU fan. Nor do I have sex with my sister or have a rusted-out '75 Buick on blocks in my driveway or have a broken-down washing machine sitting on my front porch.

No personal affront intended for any WVU fans of course! :1orglaugh

Speaking of the Panthers, Wannstedt seems to have found his calling back at his alma mater. He's a great coach....Jimmy Johnson disciple. I'm sort of a closet Pitt fan. :thumbsup:

However, this thread is about climbing mountains so....

 

[jasonk282]

LOL....sorry, didn't mean to alarm you, Jason! I am most definitely NOT a WVU fan. Nor do I have sex with my sister or have a rusted-out '75 Buick on blocks in my driveway or have a broken-down washing machine sitting on my front porch.

No personal affront intended for any WVU fans of course! :1orglaugh

Speaking of the Panthers, Wannstedt seems to have found his calling back at his alma mater. He's a great coach....Jimmy Johnson disciple. I'm sort of a closet Pitt fan. :thumbsup:

However, this thread is about climbing mountains so....

Rockies? Smokey Mountains? I have been to the rockes and LOVE them.

 

[Jagger69]

Been to both....never ascended summits in either though. The Grand Tetons, Sierra Nevada and the Cascades are the most dramatic mountains in the continental USA in my opinion.

HOWEVER....Denali is the consensus North American climbing challenge for serious mountaineers. :thumbsup: You have to have serious balls to climb that mountain!

 

[Ace Boobtoucher]

I haven't been a serious rock hound for about twelve years but I'd spend three days a week at Red Rocks and I'd make a few trips to Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Bryce Canyon and Keyhole Canyon. I haven't got any gear right now, but I'm going to start collecting pieces after I get a little more financially solvent.

 

[jasonk282]

I was all over the Rockies and Red Rocks when I was at Ft. Carson and when I got days off. I love the rockies though. I rather hike through the woods and camp out than do the serious climbing

 

[Mrs Jolly]

This is what you are talking about.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrambling


I lived in Seattle for years. This is my old mountaineering club. They go all the way from, novice/place to meet girls who don't smoke, to some of the best climbers in the world, ever. Tis unforunate you don't live there, as they have courses designed exactly with you in mind.


http://www.mountaineers.org/scriptcontent/default.cfm?insert=act_alpscram

I punched "Alpine scrambling do's and don'ts" into google and one of the entries said that the following although written in 1960 was probably still the best intro/all round. See for yourself.


http://www.cordee.co.uk/CNL075.php

Man I'm jealous. My one tip. Get to the stadium steps with a back pack or something like that. Failing that, get on the stairmaster.

 

[Jagger69]

^
Wow....thanks for the info, MJ! Yep, that's pretty much what we'll be doing. I have definitely been worried about endurance and have been working out more strenuously than usual. However, I have never been a big cardio guy (it's just too boring....I can't stick with it. I'm more into weights and resistance training). Do you think I am biting off more than I can chew with this quest? I'm in very good physical shape but I am going to be almost 56 years old when we make the ascent.

We were planning on doing some 10-mile practice hikes with full packs over rough terrain as preparation. Problem is, there are not many elevated courses around where I live so the opportunity to do some actual climbing is going to be tough. It is an 8.4 mile round trip from the trailhead to the summit and back.

Thanks for any advice you can give. I truly appreciate it.

 

[JakeSnake]

No.

 

[Mrs Jolly]

I have known two people from hereabouts (Cincinnati) who were not climbers who have gone out to Mt Ranier (14-15,000 ft) and climbed it. One is a lady who is 5 foot 10 and about 125 pounds and was 41 at at the time. She can still push out a marathon in about 5 hours. To prepare she did the stairmaster and running. My other friend used the stadium steps at University of Cincinnati with a 50 pound pack on his back. (he was in his 50's at the time)

As dull as this is going to be, it is the cardio and the endurance stuff you will need to work on. You are plenty strong already I am sure. The hikes are great for getting the motor in shape but you won't be working the right muscle groups. You need to get to some steps and practice coming down them when your legs are tired. (Going up will look after itself.) That is where most of the falls come, when tired legs want to let gravity do the work. You need to placing your legs not letting them drop. And with the falls come the real problems.

If possible borrow some poles before times and see if you like them. Again my big worry is you being fatigued on a descent. A slip due to tiredness might be averted by getting a stick in there before you start to go over. You will know the terrain better than me. (The pacific northwest was usually damp or snowy.)

Looking back over this it sounds a bit pompous. Don't mean it to be.

 

[titsrock]

Hey Jagz--that's cool. Mountain climbing, eh? You know I just looked googled the guadalupe range...and, um...this is what I got back :dunno:


You sure this is in your "wheelhouse" big guy....

 

[Jagger69]

Maybe one of you keys is stuck or something, T-rock.

This is what we are talking about:

It's the tall one in the middle.

 

[titsrock]

:sing:The HILLS are alive.....with the sound of Jaaaggeerrrr:sing:


I would suggest wearing appropriate attire for this mountain excursion...

 

[Jagger69]

^
LOL....I just now saw this, T-rock. Thanks a lot for the encouragement and suggestions but I actually have just a bit different set of gear and garb in mind. We leave tomorrow afternoon so after that I'll be out of touch for a few days. I'm excited and a bit scared but that's part of the thrill.

We make the ascent on Friday so if no one hears back from me by this time next week, send a search party. :1orglaugh

 

[Jagger69]

We did it! It was so cool....awesome experience! Took us 9 hours but we made it back to the trailhead before nightfall. Click on the thumbnail for an awesome view from the summit over 3,000 feet above the desert floor below!!!



Thanks to all who gave me some good advice! Next on the list may be Humphrey's Peak in Arizona....over 12K. Hot for this now....just wish I hadn't started when I was so friggin' old! :1orglaugh