Woody's Quest for the Seven

[Woody-5]

Way to not let the legs recover fully on this one. How did the back take to the good mornings?

How tall are you? 162 seems super lean. I bet you could keep the weight and achieve the same goal if you did more 10 mile hikes. I couldn’t imagine being in the 160s again. We are the same weight atm I don’t like being this light

thanks dude! haha gotta keep them in shape for moar mountains!

GMs felt great! It's that squatting motion that gets my low back & hip barking.
I'm 5'11"
When I was shredded back in the day, I was around 165. Shoulders, arms & chest all looking joocey right now, especially in a tight T shirt, but still got plenty of fat around my belly & waistline.

[JohnButz]

I love this log! Always great scenery and equally great training. Ever see any big predators out there on a hike (bear etc?)

[Woody-5]

Thursday 1.14.2021: Shoulders

Did not want to drag my ass out of bed this AM, but I did and ended up having a great session

Seated OHP
120 x 5
120 x 5
120 x 5
nice improvement from the triples last week!

Reverse Band Bench
245 x 3
245 x 3
245 x 3
245 x 3
245 x 3
short rest breaks. These felt smooth

DB Lateral Raises
22.5s x 10
30s x 6
*drop set
22.5s x 6
*drop set
15s x 6
went a little heavier and tapered down a nice drop set. arms are gonna be hard to lift today

I love this log! Always great scenery and equally great training. Ever see any big predators out there on a hike (bear etc?)

Thanks dude!
I saw some bear tracks late last December up pretty close to the ridge @ 3000' which surprised me: They're usually snoozing. I never bumped into the owner tho
When I hiked with my old man last September, he spotted a bear but I couldn't get eyes on it before it scurried off.

[Raigs]

Woody now you have me curious what I would look like at 165 I feel like I need more muscle before I cut that hard. Anyway way to drag yourself out of bed and get it done! Way to finish off with the drop set anything higher reps on the those movements is a burner

[400Lb Gorilla]

Man you have been killing it lately.
10 miles of nature on Sunday, then a week of muscle abuse following it! 225x5 on bench and the 120x5x3 on seated press is a good solid improvement. Are you going to increase weight on those or keep trying to increase reps?

Also, I did not realize we were the same height. Not that it matters but just a surprise lol.

[MainelyMan]

Hey woodman. Nice to see you still at it. I finished up my NE67 last Sunday on Moosilauke. Sent in an application to Baxter to winter hike in February. Wish me luck!

[Woody-5]

Saturday 1.16.2021: Back

Quick weekend sesh, felt good to get some pull moves in.

WG Pullups
x7
x7
x7

BB Rows
45 x 10
95 x 10
95 x 10
95 x 10

Chin Ups
x8
x8
x8

BB Curls
45 x 15
45 x 15
45 x 15




Monday 1.18.2021: Chest

Busy Monday ahead so I got up at 3 to slay this one. Not a bad start to the week!

Bench
225 x 5
225 x 5
225 x 4
so close, but no way that 5th rep would have gone back up on the last set. 14 reps vs 11 last week is a nice improvement

Dips
+45 x 8
+45 x 8
+45 x 8

Resistance Band Lateral Raises
x10
x10
x10

Woody now you have me curious what I would look like at 165 I feel like I need more muscle before I cut that hard. Anyway way to drag yourself out of bed and get it done! Way to finish off with the drop set anything higher reps on the those movements is a burner

Thanks fella! drop sets are killer finishers, they bring the pain!

Man you have been killing it lately.
10 miles of nature on Sunday, then a week of muscle abuse following it! 225x5 on bench and the 120x5x3 on seated press is a good solid improvement. Are you going to increase weight on those or keep trying to increase reps?

Also, I did not realize we were the same height. Not that it matters but just a surprise lol.

Thanks apeman! I'm gonna keep the same weight until I get 3 sets of 5 and then bump

Hey woodman. Nice to see you still at it. I finished up my NE67 last Sunday on Moosilauke. Sent in an application to Baxter to winter hike in February. Wish me luck!

That's badass! What trail did you take up the Moose? I want to do that one in the winter sometime.
Are you gonna make a run at Katahdin in Feb?

[JohnButz]

Nice couple of sessions Woody! Props for the early work. 3am is early!

[MainelyMan]

Saturday 1.16.2021: Back

Quick weekend sesh, felt good to get some pull moves in.

WG Pullups
x7
x7
x7

BB Rows
45 x 10
95 x 10
95 x 10
95 x 10

Chin Ups
x8
x8
x8

BB Curls
45 x 15
45 x 15
45 x 15




Monday 1.18.2021: Chest

Busy Monday ahead so I got up at 3 to slay this one. Not a bad start to the week!

Bench
225 x 5
225 x 5
225 x 4
so close, but no way that 5th rep would have gone back up on the last set. 14 reps vs 11 last week is a nice improvement

Dips
+45 x 8
+45 x 8
+45 x 8

Resistance Band Lateral Raises
x10
x10
x10



Thanks fella! drop sets are killer finishers, they bring the pain!


Thanks apeman! I'm gonna keep the same weight until I get 3 sets of 5 and then bump


That's badass! What trail did you take up the Moose? I want to do that one in the winter sometime.
Are you gonna make a run at Katahdin in Feb?

The plan is to hit Baxter peak (Katahdin), Hamlin, Coe, the Brothers and Fort while there. Approval and weather will be the determining factors.

We took Gorge brook up and carriage road down. Nice easy hike with great views. First time I ever felt the need to use my goggles though.

[Woody-5]

Tuesday 1.19.2021: Legs

slept in till 4 before crushing the wheels. Gotta get em ready for some climbing the weekend!

Split Front Squats
BW x 10
45 x 5
85 x 5
85 x 5
85 x 5
BW x 10

Good Mornings
85 x 10
85 x 10
85 x 10

Calf Raises
145 x 30
145 x 30
145 x 30

Kneeling Ab Wheel
x10
x10
x10

BB Curls
55 x 15
55 x 15
55 x 15
2 hours later and my biceps are still pumped

Nice couple of sessions Woody! Props for the early work. 3am is early!

Thanks my dude! early day indeed but sometimes you gotta do it!

The plan is to hit Baxter peak (Katahdin), Hamlin, Coe, the Brothers and Fort while there. Approval and weather will be the determining factors.

We took Gorge brook up and carriage road down. Nice easy hike with great views. First time I ever felt the need to use my goggles though.

Same route I took! surprised how easy and gentle the ascent was considering it's almost a 5000' mountain. I can see that being hell in the wind- that whole summit area is like a giant meadow.

Best of luck, I expect to see pictures! I hear that one is a b!tch in winter

[Raigs]

Nice work sleeping in then getting up and crushing it. What kind of hike you got planned?

[MainelyMan]

Tuesday 1.19.2021: Legs

slept in till 4 before crushing the wheels. Gotta get em ready for some climbing the weekend!

Split Front Squats
BW x 10
45 x 5
85 x 5
85 x 5
85 x 5
BW x 10

Good Mornings
85 x 10
85 x 10
85 x 10

Calf Raises
145 x 30
145 x 30
145 x 30

Kneeling Ab Wheel
x10
x10
x10

BB Curls
55 x 15
55 x 15
55 x 15
2 hours later and my biceps are still pumped




Thanks my dude! early day indeed but sometimes you gotta do it!


Same route I took! surprised how easy and gentle the ascent was considering it's almost a 5000' mountain. I can see that being hell in the wind- that whole summit area is like a giant meadow.

Best of luck, I expect to see pictures! I hear that one is a b!tch in winter

Got the call from Baxter state park today and we have been approved! I’ll let you know how it goes.

[Woody-5]

Wednesday 1.20.2021: Shoulders

Weights felt heavy today but I'm happy with how the session went.

Seated OHP
125 x 3
125 x 3
125 x 3
105 x 5
even warmups felt heavy. After how tough the very first rep of 125 was, I'm stoked to actually get three triples

Reverse Band Bench
255 x 3
255 x 3
255 x 3
heavy but feels good

Lateral raises
22.5s x 10
30s x 6
22.5 s x10
10s x 10
5s x 10
worked up to 30s then drop setted all the way down to just holding a 5# plate in each hand. could barely lift arms hah

Nice work sleeping in then getting up and crushing it. What kind of hike you got planned?

Thanks fella! The hike will depend on the higher summit weather forecast. I've got a couple treks in mind: one is 11-12 miles, another is 13, but we'll see. If it's going to be high winds, I'm going to stay off of any extended stretches above treeline.

Got the call from Baxter state park today and we have been approved! I’ll let you know how it goes.

Hell yea! I'm stoked for you!

[Raigs]

Nice session there. The lateral raise drop rate is crazy from 30# not surprised you can’t lift your arms.

I hope the weather stays nice for you. Hitting wind at altitude sucks

[Woody-5]

Thursday 1.21.2021: Back

4th day straight! That'll give me a rest day from the weights tomorrow so I'm fresh for either a Saturday or Sunday climb.

WG Pullups
x5
x5
x5

BB Row
95 x 10
115 x 10
115 x 10
115 x 10

Chins
x8
x8
x8

EZ Bar Curl w/ Arm Blaster
85 x 5
85 x 5
85 x 5

Alt DB Curls
30s x 10

Alt DB Hammer Curls
30s x 10

*pump achieved

Nice session there. The lateral raise drop rate is crazy from 30# not surprised you can’t lift your arms.

I hope the weather stays nice for you. Hitting wind at altitude sucks

I'll have a close eye on the higher summit forecast Friday night! I'd love to get out on the open ridge

[Woody-5]

Sunday 1.4.2021: Mt Willey Climb

Brutal trek yesterday fellas! Temps were predicted in low single digits with extreme winds (sustained 50-60 with higher gusts).
With all the fresh snow the peaks have been getting, that also met a good chance for heavy drifting.

Not ideal for a fun hike, but excellent for training and testing the limits of my gear.

Mt Willey is in NH with an elevation of 4285'. The round trip is exactly 6 miles, seemingly pretty easy, but nearly all the elevation is in the last mile. Brutal- took me 1.5 hrs of making my way through snow drifts up the steeps. I wore snow shoes for 3/4 of the way, but they have a steep section that wooden ladders have been constructed on. Great in the summer but all the snow had blown in and frozen making footing miserable.

Swapped out my shoes and poles for crampons and ice axe before making my way up those beasts. Winds were crazy- a gust would start then all the snow coming off the trees would make white-out conditions until the wind slowed down.
Needless to say, I tagged the summit, snapped a quick video then got started back down in a hurry.

Very challenging day, both physically and mentally. I wanted to turn around several times due to the cold and then again on those damn ladders.

All in all, just what I wanted the day to be. A few thoughts: I need to get some real mountaineering boots. My insulated hiking boots are warm, but these conditions were really pushing their limit. My toes were cold by the end of the climb and had this been a 10+ mile one, it would have sucked.

Also my new gloves need to be a size bigger. They're fine on their own, but I like to wear glove liners for added warmth, plus if you have to take the big glove off to do something, your skin isn't exposed. Well with liners on they're too tight and when circulation gets slowed, you get numb, cold fingers which is no good.

This week is going to be a deload week. I've been running myself into the ground between work & workouts and those 3am wakeups. I'll be sleeping in until at least 5 every day this week and any weight room work will be quick and light.

Cliffs:
OP goes on hike in nasty conditions
OP wants to be a ******* and turn around
OP mans up and finishes hike like a champ
OP is taking well earned deload week

[Raigs]

Way to lower through and finish it. I feel like you wanted to test yourself so it turned out well. How exhausted were you at the end? All the snowshoeing had to be tough.

Enjoy the Deload week well deserved

[JohnButz]

Awesome stuff! I love to see the fighting spirit. Sometimes everything is telling us to quit, stop, but then there is that voice. You and the like-minded members here know what I'm talking about.

[400Lb Gorilla]

Very nice! And yeah that is definitely a brutal way to earn the deload week. That wind sounded like it did not want to give up. And the visibility range in one of those videos looked like you might have had a few yards of good sight.

[Woody-5]

Way to lower through and finish it. I feel like you wanted to test yourself so it turned out well. How exhausted were you at the end? All the snowshoeing had to be tough.

Enjoy the Deload week well deserved

Thanks dude!
I actually didn't feel too bad at the end of the trek, just cold. The real punishment was the final 1/2 mile to the summit on the steeps- I had to do a ton of rest pausing and my quads were on fire.
I really need to step my cardio game up.

Awesome stuff! I love to see the fighting spirit. Sometimes everything is telling us to quit, stop, but then there is that voice. You and the like-minded members here know what I'm talking about.

Hell yea! Thanks dude! No way I was turning back that close to the summit

Very nice! And yeah that is definitely a brutal way to earn the deload week. That wind sounded like it did not want to give up. And the visibility range in one of those videos looked like you might have had a few yards of good sight.

Thanks big fella! Loving the deload week- sleeping in until 5 everyday feels amazing.
That wind was so cold haha

[charlievanriper]

Wow awesome stuff Woody, I am pretty sure there's no way I would go outside in that weather lol

[charlievanriper]

Awesome stuff! I love to see the fighting spirit. Sometimes everything is telling us to quit, stop, but then there is that voice. You and the like-minded members here know what I'm talking about.

Hey John good to see you posting Brother

[Woody-5]

Sunday 1.31.2021: Carters Traverse

Approx 11.1 miles
Completed in 5:37

Phenomenal day yesterday. It was crazy cold in the mountains: trailhead was -13°F @ 5:30 when I geared up and went into the woods via headlamp. The trek took me 2 miles into the woods, then a hard 2 miles going up to gain the ridge down in the col, then up and over 2 summits and a few minor sub peaks.

Despite the severe cold, the wind was nowhere to be found so it was much more manageable than last Sunday's outing. Legs did great- I only got slightly gased a few times on the steeps, but it was minor.

What views- crystal clear with visibility for miles and miles. Right after sunrise, the skies were an incredible shade of dark blue that I've only seen once before.

Wow awesome stuff Woody, I am pretty sure there's no way I would go outside in that weather lol

haha I questioned my own sanity a few times on that trek. Those conditions were not for the faint of heart

[JohnButz]

Spectacular views!

[Woody-5]

Wednesday 2/3/2021: Leg Workout and Training Update

I'll start with Cliffs if you don't wanna read the novel:

-OP realizes the benefits of good sleep after ditching the 3AM wakeups for a week and sleeping in until 5
-OP climbs twice in the past two weeks
-climb 1 in brutal wind kicks his ass
-climb 2 is much better, 2mph pace, but still can do better
-benching 300x1 or split squat 200x1 isn't gonna help get up a mountain- training shift to higher reps and cardio focus
-OP buys vertical climber machine for multiple cardio sessions per week. 5 min test run kicks his ass


The Novel:

finally back to a workout after 1.5 weeks off (other than weekend climbing)

Feels great to have been sleeping in until 5AM almost every day. I can do the 3AM stuff, but I'm learning that I can't keep that pace 6 days a week every week. I feel recharged now and the back is feeling great.

Re-evaluating my training approach after the last two (completely different) treks. The first 6 mile one kicked my ass into next week. Probably it was mostly due to the extreme wind and weather conditions as your body uses all your energy to try and stay warm and doesn't leave much for the wheels.
Very pleased with last weekend's 11 mile one as I kept up a 2mph average time, and that includes my rest stops to take pictures etc. Even so, there were steep sections where my conditioning slowed me down. I know I slack on cardio and that alone could have me crushing even better times.

I feel like my base level of strength is back to a decent level following surgery and the long alcoholic layoff from weights. Number chasing is fun, but benching 300x1 or split squatting 200x1 isn't gonna do crap to get me up a mountain. Need to be focusing on higher rep sets.

I just picked up a vertical climber machine that I'll be incorporating into the routine with some intense cardio sessions. I tried it briefly this morning and holy hell, 5 minutes on it will wreck you fast.

Right now I'm looking at doing 2 weight sessions a week, probably full body, high rep sets. 3x a week cardio on the vertical climber. 1 weekend outing to the mountain or another cardio / weight session if conditions / life doesn't allow mountain time.

Vertical Climber Warmup
3.5 min

Split Squats
x10
45 x 10
45 x 10
45 x 10

Good Mornings
95 x 10
95 x 10
95 x 10

BB Calf Raises
135 x 20
135 x 20
135 x 25

Chins
x10
x10
x10

Vertical Climber
5 min

Spectacular views!

Pics can't even do it justice, the feeling of being up there and seeing that was amazing.
Makes getting up at 2:30AM and trekking through sub zero temps in the dark worth it haha

[Raigs]

Ok woody! That second hike is spectacular as well. Nice work getting it done.

Nice work realizing your goals have changed and adjusting your workouts to fit. If you need some of those workouts to get your lungs working harder just try out a few of my workouts in the from the early pages of my log.

I had to google vertical climber. That seems interesting. Does it get harder the harder you go on it?

[Woody-5]

Ok woody! That second hike is spectacular as well. Nice work getting it done.

Nice work realizing your goals have changed and adjusting your workouts to fit. If you need some of those workouts to get your lungs working harder just try out a few of my workouts in the from the early pages of my log.

I had to google vertical climber. That seems interesting. Does it get harder the harder you go on it?

thanks dude! those views were just hnnngggg

really have to pace myself on that climber- I went HAM to start and was gassed in about a minute.
There's no resistance adjustment, but it's a decent ROM and feels just like going up a steep section of the trails.

this is the one I got:

[Raigs]

Its like a huge piece of equipment that can fit in such a small space they are pretty awesome. I have used one before.

[Woody-5]

Its like a huge piece of equipment that can fit in such a small space they are pretty awesome. I have used one before.

yea it's sweet, you can fold it right up and even take the long arms off in about 2 seconds to either move or stuff it in a closet.

[400Lb Gorilla]

So shifting the focus to a more conditioning/building type of program?

Glad you are making the shift to accomplish your mountain domination dreams. Also, to add resistance to your machine, is bands an option? it looks like it would be fairly easy to secure some to that machine, but I have never used one so I dunno how they work lol