how far?

05 January 2006, 08:33

calgarychef1

how far?

How far can most people go in rugged terrain with a 40-50 lb pack? I make about 8-10km. Also how many days food do you consider would be practical..I mean eventually the food gets so heavy that it reduces your range.

05 January 2006, 21:27

ROSCOE

I think it all depends on terrain. I have humped a long way with a pack in parts of AK where we were walking river bottoms. In Colorado and Idaho where you go from 5000ft to 10000ft in elevation, you are dead after only a few miles. It is also hard to say "average guy" in my experience. I had a guide in Wyoming with a beer gut the size of a keg but he could hump the hills better than my partner who is a marathon runner!

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05 January 2006, 21:40

Frans Diepstraten

Tough call Chef. What is rugged terrain? I've done 8-10 km in a few hours, working my way up the Junction. I've done 20km too, but wasn't fit the next day for a full day of scouting. If you have to tackle high ground, shale fields, etc. things slow down considerably.

I have carried food for five days, Monday afternoon hike in, Saturday afternoon hike out. But I was very happy to build camp on the first evening and hunt from there with day packs...
I didn't carry a tent, just a tarp. Almost no spare clothes, a tiny stove, some emergency stuff, and my rather heavy sleeping bag. I'm a wee man, and that was about all I could manage.

As always, when the seasons ends you are about as fit as you should have been at the beginning.

Good thing you brought this up, I need to get back into the training groove. My busted ribs kept me inactive way too long!

Frans

06 January 2006, 11:29

Canuck

8 to 10 is comfortable with a 45 lb pack. One of my favorite hunting places is an 18 km pack though, and I have done that one a bunch of times with a pack ranging from 35 lbs (scouting) to 45 lbs. Its a decent horse trail with a fair bit of climbing, but I would do it in about 5 hours.

I've packed food for 14 full days before, but that isn't my favorite. Thankfully I have had my dog on those trips to share the load.

If I go for extended trips like that, I try to hunt from a base camp and spike out for 4 to 5 days at a time.

Cheers,
Canuck