Hiking 20+ Miles Per Day WITHOUT Getting Worn Out
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
- In this video, we will explore the secrets to conquering a 20-mile hiking day. If you are looking to increase your trail mileage to cover more ground or tackle more challenging hikes, then this video is for you! You might be surprised to find out that it's not as difficult as you may have thought if done right. Join us as we reveal our hiking framework, which we've successfully used on our past backpacking trips. We will break down what a 20-mile day entails and provide bonus tips to help make those 20 miles a breeze. We'll start by waking up early, hiking the first hour or two, taking a breakfast break, hiking until the next break, and so on until we reach our camping spot for the night. By following this framework, you can hike 20 miles and enjoy the journey along the way. We've even added some tips to help you avoid injuries, take care of your body, and optimize your time by planning your breaks around water stops. So, join us in this video and discover the secrets to conquering a 20-mile hiking day!
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Table of Contents
00:00 Intro
00:58 Breaking Down A 20-Mile Day
05:07 Important Tips
05:52 Outro
#backpacking #hiking #camping #outdoorvitals #fitness
I'm 63 years old and can do 20+. I use most of the tips you suggest, especially starting VERY early and eating first breakfast as I walk.
I'm going to try the snack then stop for breakfast myself next time out. 99% of the time I have breakfast before the sun comes up or while I'm watching the sunrise.
One word.... Viking braids dude...
When I was young I could just hike for hours. Now that I'm in my later 50's, taking more frequent breaks as suggested by Tayson helps a lot. Also, I often hear people say that when you hike big miles, your not "smelling the roses". I disagree with this statement. Not only are you seeing, hearing, smelling your surroundings as you are hiking, you are also stopping in 6 different locations for breaks and to camp where you get to just lay around enjoying where you are at.
Best tips I've seen on youtube... Gonna use this on an 88 mile pct section hike. Love your gear
Overall, great outline !
Two enhancements - if cold when starting out, the first stop is a good time to check your layering to be sure you aren't getting too warm. Second - on cold nights, have a snack just before crawling into your sleeping bag which may help stay warmer and get better sleep.
In theory, 2 miles an hour is idea. But I usually and a lot of people I know, cannot do more than 1.5 to 1.75 miles in 1 hour. So, good points made about stopping, resting, eating and drinking, but a 20 mile day, I have never done in 30 years of hiking/backpacking even in the military. Most I have ever done is 15 miles. Thanks for the videos.
1:34 Wake Early
6.30-7.30am 2 miles
20-30 min break
08.30 - 10.30 4 miles
Hydrate, calories, legs up
11-12.30 3 miles
Hour lunch
1.30-3.30 4 miles
30 mins break
4.00-5.30 3 miles
Dinner first
6.30 - 8.30pm last 4 miles at sunset 🌅
9pm hiker midnight, bed
Excellent tips Tayson. I liked how you constantly hit on hydration. Not many things make you feel as terrible as getting behind your water needs.
Nate
I very much appreciate this advice. I’m 60 and have been backpacking 5 short years. My body inherently wants to stop more often and actually eat, but I’m usually with others and is not the case. I also do not have an appetite in the morning, so I eat very little, pack up and then am snacking the rest of the day. Trying to eat breakfast at camp also causes me to take too long to get going because I’m not hungry and am waiting to wake up enough to be hungry. I’m apparently depriving my body because often I get to camp with no appetite or worse, nauseous. You made me realize that I must change my game this season and that includes packing my food differently. I would enjoy and more importantly probably eat a good breakfast down the trail. You bet I’m going to share this with others I backpack with.
I am def going to try this framework on my next backpacking trip. I do think backpackers need to view themselves as endurance athletes, which means hydrating and keeping up your caloric intake. Great video and advice!
Glad it was helpful to you!
Backpackers ARE endurance atheletes. Many backpackers go 20 miles per day EVERY DAY. Imagine a marathoner doing a marathon the day after they just did a marathon. Probably pretty rare. Optimizing nutrition, hydration, electrolytes, breaks, and sleep are all important. I'm hoping to do some trips longer than I've ever done before next year and hopefully putting these tips to good use.
Thanks for realistic grounded advice. I know 20 mi days are a standard for long distance hiking but there’s not much advice from young hikers except”we just walk all day and carry nothing”. Being older, my body doesn’t hold up to 10 straight hours of hiking, and I’ve been looking for advice like you give - thanks.
Longest day hike: about 25 miles. In Yosemite, I parked across from the Four Mile Trail, and took the Valley Loop to Bridal veil fall. A short way up the road from there I took the old stage coach road to Artist Point. That joins the Pinhote trail, which follows the south rim of the valley past various overlooks like Taft Point, eventually reaching Glacier Point. From there, I hiked down the Four Mile trail back to my truck. It’s a good days work, and I’ve done it a couple of times now. Fun. 🙂
This is one of the best himing advice I heard yet. Hiking the Long Trail in a few days and definitely plan to use this method. Thanks man.
Great tips! I used many of these on my longest single day hike, a same day summit of Kings Peak from the Henry's Fork trailhead which was 20+ miles. I have definitely found that staying up on hydration is my #1 priority! If I'm hydrated it helps me to keep an appetite so I don't get calorie deficient, I stay in a better positive headspace and muscles don't cramp/weaken. It's hard sometimes to do all these things especially while hiking with others, but when everyone is on the same page it's amazing what you can accomplish and how good you feel afterwards.
Great advice Tayson!
Good Knowledge ,thanks!
This is my first time hearing such good hiking advice. I will definitely use this method in my training and for my ultimate goal of Grand Canyon Rim to Rim. 😊
I will be trying this on the PCT, I start my thru NOBO on may 24th
Lots of good advice here IMO. Particularly when you start to get older (30/35+) and is in good shape from running or other activities, but not used to 6-8-10 hour days then it's super important to not start out too hard. I think keeping the pace at max 2.5 mph (as suggested in the video) reduce the chance of injuries even if you feel 3+ mph is fairly easy. I'd also start with less than 20 mile days on a multi day hike unless you practice 20 mile days with a pack fairly regularly. Personally I try to plan multi day hikes with a short first day (heaviest pack, most things to adjust) and then increase when everything works well. Of course, if you're in your early twenties and reasonably fit then you can ignore most advice and just do it.
Love this breakdown!
Thanks
Thanks for the tip Tayson! Definitely going to try this out on my upcoming hike next weekend. It will be my first 3 day trip.
Have fun!
Great advice! I will say though, especially on cold nights and coming from a cold sleeper, eating before bed is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s actually quite the opposite because it will help warm your body throughout the night. 👍🏼
Very true!
Never was a huge ZZ Top fan but I like this channell!
Awesome tips and techniques that I’m going to apply them in my training program
Best of luck!
This is an interesting concept, I’m going to try it. My method for the last many years is get up, eat full breakfast, hike about 3- 4 hours, take 15 minute break then starting hiking. Usually around 2-3 p.m. I’m exhausted and probably covered no more than 13-15 miles.
Great advice. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Breaks seem to be the key. Watched some other stuff where they recommended a 10min break every hour with longer stops for breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Good advice. I will have to keep those tips in mind while planning this 100 mile challenge. Currently looking at the Northville-Placid trail through the Adirondack’s (138 mile through hike).
Good stuff!
Thanks for validating the slow and steady approach. Nice and easy makes sense. At 63 years old, I have done 6 miles in 2 hours with a 27 pound uncomfortable pack. To be fair, I was on a moderate wooded trail with some steep hills. The weather was also pleasant. Your ideas are helpful. Thanks. Now, I just have to find a comfortable pack. Be well. Happy Trails!
Hike your own hike.
Great vid! Thanks! 🖖🤠
Glad you enjoyed it
Great stuff. I did a 45 mile day hike two weeks ago and used a lot of these principles. Got a 3-day 70 mile trip on the AT in a few weeks coming up. Will definitely fine tune my strategy after seeing this.
Good Luck
Great guide!
Thanks
Great tips!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Tayson. Great video, know all I have to do is implement it.
Glad you enjoyed it.
@@TaysonWhittaker I passed it along to an AT thru hiker last evening.
going to try these tips later this summer on the AT
Glad it was helpful!
Good video, solid tips! I'm 53 and just did 22 miles in 6.5hrs this past Saturday and I am still feeling it. Normally I will do 12hr days on trail and hit 20+ and feel good, doing a number of the things you mentioned, hydration and calorie intake are key for me. Longest trip recently was 22, 27, 25 (3 day section hike on the Pinhoti trail).
Glad you enjoyed it.
Are you saying that your muscles would have been less sore if you did the same mileage but took another two or three hours to do it? I'm wondering how much that is a factor if it's not a case of running versus walking....
@@MikeBius The pace does make a difference, I did 24,27 and 25 miles on a 3 day hike with a lot more elevation and a big water carry on the first day. Minor muscle soreness, I felt good afterwards, I could have happily stayed on trail. My normal pace versus pushing myself to hike hard and fast for me their certainly is a difference.
I’m 46 and a little overweight but completed the Tahoe Rim Trail in 12 straight days (no zeroes). Sure I wanted to be in better shape when I started but that didn’t happen and I went for it anyway. Would it have been easier? Yes. But don’t let age or weight stop you from your dreams. I averaged 15 mile days and did a 20 miler my last day. Kind of followed this routine. I wasn’t hungry in the morning so I’d hike a bit then eat while hiking. Stopped whenever I needed to but not for long otherwise I got stiff. Longer afternoon break where I’d lay down and put my legs up on my backpack for at least 30 minutes. Heavenly. I didn’t hike after dinner though. Will need to add that to my next trip. I also balanced electrolytes by doing 1 liter water then 1 liter with electrolytes so it was a little watered down but not too sugary for me. Repeat till ending with water. Still hoping to lose the weight and see how that helps my speed and mileage for the AZT. The Highline trail would be a good run to do before then.
Good job
Thanks
I loved your advice. My husband and 3 teenage daughters want to do the longest trail system from Russia to South Africa. We live in Alaska and easily hike 12 miles on a given day, but we are learning/researching/deciding how to make that 20 miles every day while living off of what we carry. It’s a goal!
Russia to South Africa?
It would take 450 days if you walk 15 miles a day?
I love your videos and your Outdoor Vitals products. I just watched this video and have some questions. IF you either have rain or dew on your tent (I own the Fortius 2 and love it) doesn't the moisture on your tent create a little extra weight? Same thing with drying out your sleeping bag? This seems to me to potentially being an issue for leaving first thing in the morning. Thanks.
Im going to have to try this. Last year I did pretty much eat at camp. lnch and dinner at camp and was in camp by 630. And snack while hiking. It didnt work well.
Thats way too structured for me. My motivation for hiking is being free and adapting to and getting back in touch with how I feel in the moment.
Just few days ago I did a 30.2 on the Appalachian Trail with a 47 lb pack. Used most of these tips as well.
Good for you!
Big +1 to aiming for well below 3 mph
This is a great system, but in areas where campsites are crowded, this just isn't feasible. I've hiked in locations where the majority of sites are taken by 4:30pm.
Then it is not hiking, but camping. Which is fine.
What is a sample daily meal plan for this hiking work flow? It seems like there is frequent food (which is nice!), but I wonder about the weight? Thanks!
Droppin’ wisdom.
I have a question. I hiked 20 miles on flat ground two days ago but I think I might have done it incorrectly. I'm 58 years old and I did it in just a few minutes under 8 hours, and although TIREDNESS was not a big issue, the next day I was very SORE. My walking pace was right about 3 mph, and then I took breaks which slowed my average pace down to 2.6 mph.
Would I be less sore if I took a couple hours longer to do that mileage? Or would it just have preserved my overall energy level? I'm wondering if my muscle soreness is due to my muscles being mad at me for going too quickly, or if it's inconsequential. It wasn't like I was running.....
How about hight elevation and descents
How does one train for these? I want to walk from Boulder Co to Nederland Co and back which is 20 miles one way.
Setting up camp in the dark sucks, particularly after a long day.
Have use ever had windburn of your quads from wearing shorts in strong winds?
No
I'm writing this down lol thanks
✏
@OutdoorVitals just got back from a 2 day, 1 night, 37 mile trip and tried this. 2nd day we did 20.3 miles. Itinerary worked out great! Thanks OV
Can anyone share hiking 20+ locations that most people take for granted, but is way better than the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim? Is that hike worth the hype? I’m fixated on it and I’m training for it. However, I’m up for suggestions for a 20+ miles hike in the first week in October 2023.
I would add "make sure you are taking in electrolytes".
Good point.
Can you give us a little idea of your food for a 20 mile day?
Just READING, "Hiking 20+ Miles Per Day WITHOUT Getting Worn Out," wore me out.
Dude goes UL so he can grow a bigger beard
Zahorian just did a video on this. He recommends hiking while peeing, and he does 40 mile days. Just sayin.
20 miles a day is not that long of a day in all honesty. 25-30 miles a day is a full day of hiking, only doing 20 miles leaves you at camp super early, like around 5 pm or so. alot of wasted time.
Different strokes for different folks.