Semi
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Post by Semi on Nov 23, 2017 17:53:03 GMT -8
As recent as a year ago, I lived up to my trailname: Semi because while my ascents tended to be a bit slow and my descents were crazy quick much like an 18-wheeler driving through a mountainpass. After taking a few nasty spills on the downhills since then, I've realized I have slowed down to a crawl-like speed. Today, I did the Dog Canyon trail (11 miles) here in NM and my time increased by nearly two hours because I've developed a timidness going downhill in rocky terrain. Has anyone else experienced this and/or does anyone have any suggestions to overcome this subconscious fear? Thanks!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2017 6:04:54 GMT -8
Do you use trekking poles? If not try using a pair of adjustable trekking poles and lengthen the poles on the down hill. What I gained was a greater confidence in going down hill with the use of trekking poles.
Another thing to consider is the soles of shoes or boots may be wearing out.
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Semi
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Post by Semi on Nov 24, 2017 6:25:03 GMT -8
Another thing to consider is the soles of shoes or boots may be wearing out. I definitely use poles to save my knees but I think you've got a point on checking my boots' soles. They might have been the reason for my slipping in the first place. Thanks, Ohm!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2017 6:36:23 GMT -8
I definitely use poles to save my knees but I think you've got a point on checking my boots' soles. They might have been the reason for my slipping in the first place. Thanks, Ohm! You are welcome. I had an experience where I was doing fine on uphill / down hills for a few years and suddenly my feet would slip. New pair of boots solved the developing issue.
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Westy
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Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
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Post by Westy on Nov 24, 2017 9:10:07 GMT -8
Has anyone else experienced this Fifteen to twenty years ago I developed Plantar Fasciitis boulder hopping, which alerted me that I was not twenty or even thirty something. Top that off with twenty years in OEM Orthopedic Implant manufacturing business. Not wanting another injury or total knee arthroscopy in future I slowed my descents quite a bit to preserve knees. Had always had a semi-reduction mode in descents as most accidents occur when you are tired, on the descent and always kept that in mind. Presently, I deliberately use trekking poles in an aggressive manner to cushion each descent step so that the full weight of my body is never on the first touch (soften the landing). The next thing I do (mental game) is to pre-plan the landing point of each foot step and trekking pole placement to provide the best traction position, typically maximizing the percentage of foot print. Sounds lame, but it is a mental game I play similar to a child playing Let's pretend. To avoid slips and slides I try to have one bit of my shoe on a (like in rock climbing) a bomber hold. I also palm my trekking poles to save energy, which is really the key of trekking pole control on descent. Another way to look at it is to review your ascent techniques. I observe many hikers wasting energy with their trekking poles constantly. They tend to have the poles too long, hands too high and held in what runners call "Chicken Wings" fashion. Classic energy wasting technique. There are other energy saving tips on ascents, such as using the mountaineers step, pied canard foot placement, and many others. If your read up on low angle snow and ice climbing ( Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills) you can discover many energy saving tips which can be applied to the simple act of hiking uphill. Saving energy on the ascent provides that energy reserve for the descent. The result is better descent control and contributes to fewer slips and falls. Other factors may seem like minutiae but add up over miles and miles. Things like packing your packing properly, to prevent shifting of weight or imbalance. I'm a wee bit, well... maybe more than wee bit older than you so I need all the Old Guy Tricks I can think of.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2017 18:25:03 GMT -8
That Dog Canyon trail is pretty steep, around the eyebrow section particularly. And the trail surface is pretty gravelly in some of the other steepish sections, IIRC. I don't think there's anything wrong with slowing down for it.
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Semi
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Post by Semi on Nov 24, 2017 20:20:41 GMT -8
There are other energy saving tips on ascents, such as using the mountaineers step, pied canard foot placement, and many others. Thanks for the tips! I definitely had to Google some of those terms. It's always so great taking in new info from each hike I go on and from the backpacking community!
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Semi
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Post by Semi on Nov 24, 2017 20:30:00 GMT -8
That Dog Canyon trail is pretty steep, around the eyebrow section particularly. And the trail surface is pretty gravelly in some of the other steepish sections, IIRC. Surprisingly, it wasn't so much the eyebrow that gave me a rough time as it was on the coming back down near mile 6.5. The gravelly, yet jagged rocks we're no joke. Admittedly, that's where I had a little slip. Thankfully my poles softened the blow and my companion said that I fell gracefully.
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whistlepunk
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Post by whistlepunk on Nov 26, 2017 12:06:38 GMT -8
Not due to timidity, but bad knees. I can uphill like a mountain goat, but downhill is a slow careful crawl.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Nov 27, 2017 7:30:35 GMT -8
Small to medium rocks don't affect my pace much, but I certainly take extra care coming downhill on ball-bearing type gravel and grus. I don't like to fall. Mrs. big_load fell once going downhill on that stuff with a heavy pack and she didn't immediately get up. It was quite a scare. I go a little slower and don't feel bad trading the time for safety.
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Post by Coolkat on Nov 27, 2017 8:42:08 GMT -8
I've always been timid with descents. I've never felt like I was in control as much as I'd like. It would be nothing for my hiking partner to gain a mile or two on me on large descents. I much prefer uphill but in the back of my mind I'm already fearing the downhill that naturally comes later. Some of it may be my fear of developing acute patellofemoral syndrome which my left knee is prone to do. :(
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GaliWalker
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Post by GaliWalker on Nov 27, 2017 10:13:37 GMT -8
I've got more and more careful with age. I call it gaining wisdom. Jokes aside, nowadays I get somewhat mad at myself if I slip/fall. I now (mostly) know what I need to avoid (e.g. downhill growing roots, especially when wet), what I need to test before committing to it (e.g. prodding stepping stones during stream crossings), what works best for me on trickier terrain (e.g. ice, snow, talus, steep sidehilling), etc. So, when I slip, especially in an area where I should have known better, I consciously get mad at myself...so that I'm more careful in future and don't let my concentration slip. On a more specific, less pie-in-the-sky note, some things that work for me on steeper downhills: - Lean a little bit into the slope so that the weight is more on the middle of the foot or even towards the toes, rather than on the heels. This prevents the feet from sliding out from under you. Just like skiing. - Don't let the knee lock when taking a downward step. Let it be slightly bent, so that the effort to prevent it from it collapsing is made by the quad. This lessens the shock on the knee joint. (I always do quad work in the gym, especially if I have a break in my hiking activities.) - I shorten my steps a little bit. This means that if one foot slips I still have the opportunity to catch the slip with the other one. - I push myself slightly on the return leg, which keeps my concentration up.
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Post by Coolkat on Nov 27, 2017 10:24:48 GMT -8
I shorten my steps a little bit. This is about the only way I ever feel comfortable on long descents. However, for me it's more than just a "little bit". I really shorten and slow my steps. It also helps to prevent my patellofemoral syndrome but it's not so good for keeping up with my hiking partners. You good people that can descend just as fast or faster than you ascend... well let's just say I'm a bit jealous.
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Semi
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Post by Semi on Nov 28, 2017 19:18:57 GMT -8
Thanks everyone for your inputs! I'm so glad to know that I'm not the only one that slows down quite a bit on descents. I never thought to lean slightly into the slope so I'm not bearing so much on my heels. I'm going to have to try out some experiments next time I'm back outside. You guys are great!
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Nov 28, 2017 21:21:39 GMT -8
I'm so glad to know that I'm not the only one that slows down quite a bit on descents. I'm another who has to be a bit careful. You look too young (from what little we can see of you in your avatar ) to be suffering from age-related issues. I have noticed a great deal less comfort with slopes and edges as I age, and I can't trust my knees as much as I used to, so I have to rely more on short steps and the other things mentioned here. When a slope is really steep and slick, I find that I am less likely to skid if I actually sort of tip-toe down--planting the forefoot before the rest. That probably helps keep my weight in a better place, as Gali suggests.
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