There is lots of good information in this topic, I am enjoying the posts.? I am 63 years old, 6'10" tall, bad knees, coming off a double ruptured Achilles Tendon.? If I did not vary my training methods, I would break down fast.? I live in the SF Bay Area, where I can take long hikes with lots of vertical, usually on weekends, but can't do that every day.? I take walks around the neighborhood, row (on ERG and water), stationary bike and lift.? On weekend hikes, I'll use my backpacking pack, weighted with water, so I can pour it out if I run out of gas, or it just gets too hot out.
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I intend to get some sort of plate carrier setup to augment my local walks.? Seems like a good way to get my heart rate up a little higher and work my legs harder.? Not sure what kind, goruck is expensive but I think it may fit my XXL-Tall body.
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Since cross training methods are being discussed here, let me throw in one of my favorites, climbing stairs.? There is an 8 story parking garage nearby, if I go up it 16 times, that is 1000 vertical feet.? I take the elevator down to save my knees.? Does great work on the quads and glutes.? Heart rate in zone 2, low zone 3.? Last summer, I did stairs once/week for a couple of months.? By 6 weeks before my hike, I was doing 2500' feet of vertical in a little over 2 hours.? Got me through a 50+ mile trip, from Virginia Lakes to Yosemite Valley. (A week after the trip, my Achilles tore in two places, I do not think that has much to do with training on stairs.). At my previous job, I was able to use the fire stairs for training.? Yes, it can get boring.? I listen to music or basketball games.? (Steph Curry and the Warriors have gotten me through a lot of workouts.)
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Charles Fannin