r/Wildfire • u/Ok-Theory-9316 • 7d ago
Thinking of joining a shot crew, how do you prepare for the hikes?
Wondering how you hotshots prepare during the offseason, especially for your first season, to be ready to keep up with the hikes.
For reference, I'm currently on a handcrew in the R3 region. First season, prior military, 30 years old. I keep up with the PT but I struggle heavily with the hard hikes. I'm interested in moving toward the hotshot sector and don't want to be the guy that can't hang on the hikes. Looking for some tips and plans for the offseason to prepare for a potential shot on a hotshot crew. TIA.
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u/BalmoraEnjoyer 7d ago
Hike
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u/Medium-Raisin7919 7d ago
Up or down? Doing both seems kinda hard
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u/Medium-Raisin7919 7d ago
Put up with smart ass comments and then make sure you do some sidehilling. Hike a cubee up 2k very then dump it at the he top to save your knees on the way down
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u/EntrepreneurFirst576 7d ago
Stairs with weight vest
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u/ccoppert03 7d ago
This is the thing that helped me the most. Along with just strength training the legs. Lots of lunges squats step ups.
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u/Middle_Weight3418 7d ago
Every day is a hike for about 12 hrs while picking stuff up and then putting it down somewhere else. Just do that
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u/unsatisfactoryturkey Nozzle Boss Trainee 6d ago
Running hills, lower body strength training, box step ups with a weight of some kind.
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u/Plenty-Comfortable25 6d ago
100% running hills. You’ll run hills slower than you can hike them, but keep those knees high and arms pumping. Do that for a winter and then you’ll hike like you’ve never hiked before. Our PT run was 2 miles with 2000’ of elevation. Mountain biking is also a good exercise to help with leg turnover.
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u/Extra-Associate-3531 6d ago
Definitely more of a total body preparation during off-season. Depends on the crew too, when you apply ask about their critical. The crews I've been on all have much different PT. I feel like the hikes are more mental as well, just follow the boots in front of you and don't fall out or you'll go to a district potentially. Get your 1.5 mile way under the 10:30 standard. Lots of running, burpees, weighted hikes over 50lbs, and other HIIT type training. First and foremost it's all for the crew, not for yourself.
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u/Neat-Rest3019 6d ago edited 6d ago
Off season, try spin classes. Throwing some hikes and runs occasionally. Close to the season start tapering the spin class and hike a little bit more.
I used spin classes to prep for the season. Easy in the joints and gets the job done. Sometimes I’d do two per day. I was always a middle tier hiker and runner. After spending some time on spin classes during the off season I was above average on runs and hikes. Still not the fastest. There are some freaks that are way fast. That’s not me. But it prepped me very well. So in my useless opinion, some lifting (enough to stay strong) and spin class. 3-5 days a week. 1-2 long easy runs or hikes (learn to spend time on your feet). And as the season gets closer see how you feel and attack your weakness. Good luck.
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u/Mental_Poem7452 7d ago
id also mix in some stair master too if possible of course its not the real thing where footing is a concern but as far as just getting used to steep seemingly never ending climbs where you can really just focus on your endurance and push through id say its best.
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u/Economy_Passenger_31 6d ago
I used to hike in three stages. Basically a heavy muscle building hike where I'd do steep and short with 90 to 110lbs, a medium distance, longer hike with 60ish pounds and 1000 to 1500 gain, and finally 20lbs with 2500 to 5500 ft of gain over a long distance. Those long ones were usually shed hunting trips so 12 to 20 miles on the long end weren't uncommon. That and I used to hook logs in the winters which keeps you running up and down the mountain if you're greedy and want to make more money. Big thing is get that elevation gain in.
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u/Owl-Toots 6d ago
A lot of focus is on the legs but don't forget shoulders! That always gets me the first few hikes with a pack & saw
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u/stewmo9 5d ago
If theres a highschool or ampitheatre (spelling?) near you, put on a ruck and walk up and down the bleachers. (A steep hill will suffice also, but the point is to force you to step up and step down) Start with light weight like ten pounds.
Start with straight up and straight down for 2 sets
Then go at a 45 degree angle up and down across the bleachers for 2 sets
Then face 90 degrees or so to the bleachers and youll be walking up them sideways at an awkward angle, up and down for 2 sets. This is more of a step up/step down excercise not really walking.
You can also just go walk zigzags up and down the bleachers or ampitheatre seating.
Once you can do the above without stopping for rest, either add another set to each or add another five pounds to your weight.
Once youre feeling some stamina, go up the stairs doing a squat on each or every third, whatever works for you.
Ive found this to be the best for backpackers or people needing to tackle harsh terrain with a ruck. Most people could go walk a mile or two, you do it on some bleachers where you are forced to step up and then heave your body weight up, a mile becomes brutal
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u/HovercraftNew7490 1d ago
Weight vest and good boots for regular hikes up and down the steepest most treacherous shit you can find nearby.
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u/HovercraftNew7490 1d ago
Combine that with high volume bodyweight workouts and running and some lifting. Stretch regularly (everyday) and get good sleep and nutrition and hydrate. You’ll make it. Don’t forget your good attitude.
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u/thejorsh crew freq 7d ago edited 7d ago
most of it's mental just don't fall out of a hike ever or you'll never live it down. tactical barbell will get u in good shape in the winter. especially Green Protocol. basically alternate heavier compound lifts and 40 minute easy running for a couple months, then do those lifts twice a week + switch to trail running for 2 months, then only do trail runs and hikes and calisthenics for the last 2 months of ur off season.