Gotta go down

Started running and hiking hills this week.  The first time I went Elk hunting (since college in the 80's) in 2012, I did not prepare at all.  Going from sea level to 8,000 feet without any prep is not a good idea and it obviously hindered the hunt.  The next year I prepared.  I ran, hiked, did the stairmaster, and the treadmill at an incline.  I was in much better shape.  (not nearly good enough but more on that in another post.)  What I did not do is hike downhill and on uneven terrain.  By the third day of the hunt I was so sore!  My muscles were not used to stopping my weight and going downhill.  My ankles and knees were also sore from the uneven terrain.  To prepare for a mountain hunt, nothing beats hiking or running hills.  A uneven terrain is even better.  Going up and down hills get your legs ready is the best way to prep for a mountain hunt in my opinion.  What if you live at sea level and everything around you is flat like I do?  We have one man made hill in my area and I would hike and run that as much as possible.  I also would put on my backpack with weight added, carry my bow, and do step up and step downs on a 16 inch step.  Step up, then step down, turn around and repeat with the other leg.  I would sometimes do this for over an hour.  Really monotonous to say the least.  I would do this in front of the TV and put on Carbon TV or You Tube and watch hunting shows while I did this.  This really helped me get ready for my last hunt and this will be part of my spring and summer prep sessions.