Hike 20 Miles in a Day: How To Do It (and why)

[@xbadventures]

My best tip is going uphill I go into “old man mode”. I will go as slow as needed to not stop. If it is really steep then it may be taking 6 inch steps. If you get winded, slow down. When you recover, speed up but not to as fast as you were going. In time you will find a medium that allows you to not get winded and not slow down. My uphill has got so much faster since developing my old man mode.

[@EmoryByLand]

Well said!! Thanks for the input!

[@IndyRickHikes]

This is easy for me … I’m an old man. I call old man mode … very fast. 🙂 Seriously, this is great advice for climbing. I discovered this on my second climb out of the Grand Canyon. Start slow, then slow down. The old guy calls this a sustainable pace for my age and fitness. Yeah, “old man mode”! 😂

[@allenwurl6245]

It reminds me of “Slow is smooth & Smooth is fast” 👍😁👍

[@reyvaldes611]

Excellent advice. I will be starting the Camino De Santiago in Spain (493 miles in 35 days) next week. As they say; walk slower to walk longer.

[@immnotaboutthatlife2086]

I noticed such a difference by taking smaller steps going uphill. I was able to keep my body a little more upright surprisingly and wasn’t breathing as hard but I’m still learning how to keep pace so I last.

[@eadymctavish4564]

Hi :) Probably everyone requires a different approach to be able to hike big miles, so this is just simply what I am doing: I don't like having my mind on the matter of "big miles today" while I hike. The less I look at elevation maps, the more motivated I tend to stay throughout the day (of course if you gotta navigate, look at those maps). I used to also obsess about planning the day very methodically: "by 10 am I can be at the first shelter, and if I can maintain exactly 3.2 mph, I can be at the third water source by 3 pm. Then I have 10 minutes to enjoy the view and with the same speed I can make it to the campsite by 8 pm...." Not only does it get stressful, it would almost never work out. Maybe I meet people, maybe the water source sucks, maybe I get lost, maybe my body just doesn't want to today. And if you cant enjoy the view, what did you set out for? I absolutely agree that hiking big miles and pushing yourself a little can be a lot of fun. It's very fascinating to know just how much you can do in a day, but like you say, listen to yourself! Sometimes it's just not the day for big miles and thats okay. What helps me get there and still enjoy myself: 1. keeping my mind happy. podcasts and music if i want to "zone out" or looking around and trying to take it all in if I want to get immersed. Something like 14 hours is a lot of time with your mind. you can also talk to yourself. or sing. 2. FUEL! Like you said this is such a game changer. I eat every hour religiously while walking even if I don't feel hungry. If I am not used to hiking for a while, my body tends to fool me into thinking I dont need anything yet. The thing is, once the "low" comes, its already too late and your motivation suffers. I have found that food that isn't pure sugar also works a lot better, though I have not tried relying mostly on fats (like nuts), wich is something I still want to give a shot. Trailmix, Bars with nuts in them, cheese, bread, chips...they all work better for me than oreos, sour patches or whatever. but maybe they help motivate you. Also...cooking is an absolute time killer. I love outdoor cooking but if I want to cover a lot of ground it just doesn't work. Yes, you can get used to cold soaking on a long distance trail - No, I will not cold soak exclusively again on my next big hike. 3. save my joints - I have slightly changed my style of walking, particularily for up and downhills: I lower my center of gravity slightly, kinda like you do when you're trying to walk while not spilling that way too full pint of beer. It takes some of the blow off of my knees, wich in turn means my quads have to work more, but as long as they are well fueled, they stay happy usually (might not work as easily with a 40 pound pack though). I believe John Zahorian also talked about this on the podcast.? 4. Exactly as you say: Use the hours of the day. It's beautiful to walk into the sunrise. Just minimize breaks as much as possible. Having a pack where I can reach food and water without having to take it off makes quite the difference! Once the pack is off, its off. Kinda like when it's cold and you stop by a fire for "just 5 minutes" you probably won't get back up again. Its an act of balance, because breaks also can be very meaningful on a hike. of course light gear and light shoes can be a world of a difference, etc. I could write for hours about this, because I also spent hours thinking about it...guess when that happened xD. But the last thing I feel like has to be said is: Do not compare yourself. 20 miles is not 20 miles. You are probably not John Z either. Maybe you had knee surgery. You don't need an excuse either. Ask yourself if your love for yourself or the trail should be dictated by what someone else does, did, says or thinks. Hike your own hike! It's such a ubiquitous phrase but it is worth really taking it in.....really. Love to y'all; over and out.

[@EmoryByLand]

I love everything about this! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@allansoares9153]

"20 miles is not 20 milles" that's so true

[@godizself1]

These are good told. The first tip is a committed and growth mindset. Do your own hike. You're not competing against anyone. There's no judgment, just you and nature

[@EmoryByLand]

👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼

[@offtrailadventures6500]

My first over 20 mile day was a disaster. I had done the trail before and it was an area that I frequented, so I knew where the small streams and creeks were. Unfortunately I didn’t factor in the dry summer we were having and that the small streams would be dry. I went roughly 10 miles without water in 90 degree heat. The dehydration was miserable and I ended up stuck in bed for a week. I couldn’t function at all and was extremely fatigued. I ended up going into my doctors. Can’t say for certain it was the disaster trip that triggered a heart issue that I will now have to deal with the rest of my life or something else. With that being said, don’t assume you will find water at places you knew you would find water.

[@EmoryByLand]

Oh no! I've had a similar thing happen with expecting water, but finding none. Learned that bit of wisdom early on and never forgot it. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@kx.io7]

Big mile hiker here: great tips, even though disagree with "walking slow". I believe it's very personal and if you body allows - walk fast! Whenever I'm in thru-hiking trips, my body eventually gets so used to walking, that I can do 20km (~12 miles) walking "sprints" (especially if I'm going for like 40-50 mile day) without stopping, under 3 hours, which means walking very, very fast. Then having an hour break, and off I go again. And yes, I do prefer walking faster and taking longer breaks, rather than walking slowly the whole day. And while many will rightfully argue walking fast might lead to problems, such as blisters, here's my pro tip: COOL DOWN YOUR FEET whenever having a break. Just few minutes in the cold water will refresh your feet better than anything else, just be sure to let them completely dry before putting boots back on, or this will be another way of getting blisters. Cheers!

[@EmoryByLand]

This is great! Thanks for taking the time to offer your insight. I agree that if you body doesn't mind walking fast, then walk fast. Where I was coming from was that I've found people tend to think the HAVE to walk fast to cover bigger miles so my point was to walk longer at a natural pace. Also, "big" miles is different for everyone so there's that as well. I suppose if you're doing 40-50 miles per day, you certainly can't walk at a snails pace. Good point on the cooling down of the feet. That's a great one!

[@rogersherrill5741]

Thank you 👍🇺🇸

[@nkd9560]

This is what I’m here for hoping to complete 50 miles range on San Juan mountains in 24 hours

[@nkd9560]

I love your point about cooling the feet. I believe I am achieving the same thing by regular inversions.

[@awalkingingmistake]

I agree with all of these with one exception: walk slower. I've hit a point where my systems are dialed, I start early and end late, and the only way to cover more mileage is to speed up. I think "walk slower" is great advice for most, but once you break into the 40-60 mile/day range, it really helps to hustle a little if you want to maintain a healthy sleep schedule

[@EmoryByLand]

Of course. Speed is important when maxing out those kinds of miles. Great point

[@huh4963]

Literally signed up for a 22 mile hike. I haven’t been hiking in years. This video helped a lot. Let’s hope I do well if I go

[@EmoryByLand]

Sweet! Let me know if you have any questions and PLEASE come back and let me know how it went. Start early, hike smart, feed your body REGULARLY, and camp late. Oh, and keep some gummies in a side pocket you can reach when you start feeling a bonk coming on. Use them between your breaks as needed. You got this!

[@sawyerdave1]

Good advice 👍, I still try to string out my wilderness days…just don’t want to come home 😂

[@fitandfeminineover502]

I completely agree with the mind/body challenge. Nothing clears my mind and invigorates my body quite like a challenging hike!

[@EmoryByLand]

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@GrislyAtoms12]

Great tips! Nothing much to add except for this: trek poles help a lot. At least, they help me. I can go farther with trek poles than without them.

[@EmoryByLand]

Agreed! Thanks for watching!

[@michaelb1761]

When you said "don't take your pack off", I immediately thought of when I start to feel like I'm slowing down (usually on a long climb), I tell myself "next good log or rock, I'm stopping." Then I start looking for a rock or log that is the right height and size so that my pack will rest on it as well. This also takes my mind off how I'm feeling and keeps me going while I look for that perfect place to sit down next to the trail. It's similar to a strategy that I learned cycling, especially on long climbs, set intermediate goals. I just need to get to that next turn; then when you get there, you set your sights on the next turn in the road, and eventually you're at the top. My big problem is getting packed up in the morning. Even when cowboy camping and having a cold breakfast it still takes me nearly an hour to get packed and on the trail. I'll keep working on it.

[@garylines5755]

Any healthy hiker should be able to hike twenty mile days that was a rule of thumb thirty years ago and it is easier now than it has ever been.

[@viewsfromthebar5131]

Some cool advice in your vid and agree with all of it. My suggestions are: 1. In addition to starting early to give you more time, starting early helps you avoid some/more of the heat in summer months. I completed a 24 mile challenge walk last summer - started just after 03:00 and finished just after midday on what was a really warm day. It was less tiring and I needed less water, which meant less weight. 2. Preparation and training. 15 years ago when I completed the same walk, I just about finished in 11 hours 45 mins, and felt really beat up. Last year, at 53 years old, I finished in 9 hours 18 mins and could have kept going. The main difference was taking it more seriously and putting in the hours training beforehand. Yes this meant gym cardio n strength work, stretching and recovery at home, though it also included lots of local, easy, daily 3-4 mile walks during the week and 6-7 milers are weekends. 3. Build up your endurance and tolerance to distance slowly as success is as much mental as it is physical. Prove to yourself what you can achieve and could yet still achieve. Keep pushing your own boundaries. 4. Hiking poles really help me as I've a knee condition that really does not help with this kind of activity, especially on slopes. Special exercises help me manage it, chondromalacia/spongy knee cartilage, however, poles help me take off some of the pressure, particularly on descents, which helps me go further. 5. Try to maintain a consistent pace as it's more energy efficient. A fitness tracking device or something similar helps in this regard, as it does with your training. 6. Learn from your own experience as seemingly small details can really matter. For example, 15+ mile days require me to wear non-cotton underwear as skin chafing becomes a real issue. Also, I use lubrication cream to protect certain tender spots to avoid further similar issues. 7. Know how to recover well afterwards. Correct foods and liquids, stretching, skin care, sleep! The more you can recover well, the more likely you will be willing to try again.

[@EmoryByLand]

Thanks so much for the additions here!

[@TheJPJT1234]

Been building up in miles last few weeks, just smashed out 22 miles. Legs are sore, but i'm happy with the achievement 😌

[@EmoryByLand]

That's amazing!!! Keep at it and you'll get to the point where 22 is just normal. You'll figure out what your body needs and when so the miles are no longer a big deal. Super stoked for you!!!

[@IntoTheMystery13]

The way you broke that down made it very easy to digest, and I like how you covered all the little things that might pop up. Awesome vid- subscribed.

[@amywert8088]

These tips make more sense than others I have listened to recently. Thanks!

[@EmoryByLand]

Awesome! If you give them a try, come back and let me know how it went!

[@sandyguidry903]

Thank you,, my favorite part is take breaks , lots of breaks if you need to! Sounds like great advise! Will do that

[@EmoryByLand]

Breaks are welcome! Just don’t go snoozing for too long!

[@RoyceKitts]

Good video. Good point about hiking more miles and making a trip shorter.

[@EmoryByLand]

Thanks!!!

[@tahliae]

I walk with my older dog. He goes about 2-3 mph, which is an ideal pace for me to practice endurance. It sounds slow and it is! At that pace, it takes 10 hours to do 20 miles, but like you said, if I’m starting at 6:30, I’m still done at 4:30 (5 or 6 with breaks)!

[@alvegutt42]

i would also add strength training and trekking poles, will strengthen muscles and tendons, and keep a lot of the load off the legs

[@EmoryByLand]

Agreed!

[@danle8636]

I’m guilty of hiking fast and taking big strides. I’m going to take your tips and go slower in my next hiking trip. Thanks for your video tips ❤

[@EmoryByLand]

Let me know how it goes!

[@ItsbecauseYOLO]

Would definitely try following your approach next time 👍

[@steveburney5559]

Love Hiking big miles for all the reasons you've said

[@EmoryByLand]

👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼

[@armwrestling_nerd]

I'm going on a trip and will do at least 50 miles/day (80 km )for at least a week. What I do is walking at slightly over 5 km/h for 16 hours . Eating while walking, using lentil-/peasoup (,or similar legumes based soup) and berries from syringes , nuts/seeds as snacks. This saves time to up the distance. I am used to "roll my walk" meaning normal marching pace is at least 5km/h if not injuriöed. You try not to lift feet unnecessary high from ground and reduce bending knees as much as possible in low or no slope walking making yourr legs as "partial wheels". Minimize the amount of pauses by grinding on , the longer grinding you can do the more distance you will cover. Grinding is not struggling, then your pace is too fast. You are able to use a pace at least slightly faster than your comfort pace for long periods of time once you start to know how to pace well. Also experiment using toe pushes to increase step kength without changing pace (works well in low or no inclination) . That trick can add up distance on longer time spans (up to 25% longer strides means up to ,25% lounger distance at same time).

[@mattfitzpatrick4008]

Thanks for sharing! Great attitude. I'm going for big miles this year. Signed up to hike for a fundraiser. Great motivation.

[@EmoryByLand]

You're welcome and thanks for checking out the video! Big miles are just a result of a process. Some people are gifted and can grind them out with no problem, but for some of us....we have to methodically do it to get through them. Let me know how your fundraiser turns out!

[@mattfitzpatrick4008]

@@EmoryByLand Thanks! At 15/40 so far. I agree- seems like the more I pile on in a trip, the more I have to strategize to get through it.

[@20Hikecdt23]

Thank you Emory. Great video and I appreciate it. You contribute a lot to helping many people discover the outdoors and backpacking. I salute you.

[@EmoryByLand]

Thanks so much for the kind words and encouragement!

[@captaincoyote1792]

Yet another exceptional video, Emory….well done! Also exceptional….many of the comments! Just absolutely well done!

[@ruthconner4923]

Time is ticking... Looks like a Wed the 6th of July...Will take these tips to heart...AT here I come..

[@EmoryByLand]

Enjoy!!

[@ruthconner4923]

@@EmoryByLand ty 😊

[@stigcc]

How did it go?

[@ruthconner4923]

@stigcc well I hiked At in GA, not a good trail for 20/day...but since we have moved to GA and now the AT is my back yard❣️

[@jefffrazier5348]

Thank you for posting this excellent video. I appreciate the focus on physical and mental aspects. In April, I’m going on a 22 km night march in the highlands of Scotland. Hosted by the NTS, it commemorates the march of the Jacobite army on April 15, 1746. Not terribly concerned about the distance, but the night aspect will be unique. I expect mental strength will be key. This vid is very helpful.

[@EmoryByLand]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it and took some nuggets of wisdom from it. You hike sounds like an epic adventure! Let me know how it goes once you're done with it and if you have any questions leading into the hike, don't hesitate to reach out. Cheers!

[@jefffrazier5348]

Just a follow up to let you know that we were successful in our 22 mile night march. 11 of us, most members of the National Trust for Scotland completed this recreation of the Jacobite army’s night March in 1746 in a bit over 10 hours. Mostly over broken country with head torches, it was quite an experience for all of us. Thanks for your advice and help preparing

[@wallyevans4228]

While running I’ve trained myself to breathe in and out thru my nose , and pace my runs (with a metronome) so I’m never out of breath…I’m doing my first trail run 50k this august (I’m 69)

[@stigcc]

That is interesting! So breathing through your nose makes for a calmer pace?

[@kredonystus7768]

I remember being out on the Bibbulmun. It has specific camping locations and I hiked 15km (10 mi) twisted my ankle and because the site I got to had burned to the ground I had to do that again on the twisted ankle to get to the next site.

[@EmoryByLand]

Yikes!

[@Bigbilly-ms9bn]

I wish I lived near mountains. I’m stuck in Iowa, but we got some decent hills around here. I’m doing my first 20 mile day tomorrow. Very excited. I did 10.5 2 weeks ago and really felt like I could do it again right afterwards. You said give yourself all day, I did that 10.5 in 2.5 hours, do you still think I need all day to do the 20? I am not able to stay overnight tomorrow.

[@EmoryByLand]

Nice!! Everyone is different so if you don’t need a whole day then so be it. It really just depends on what you’re out there to do or get out of it. If you’re not able to spend the night, I’d give yourself a window of the entire day and if you don’t need it then great but at least you had it available. Start early

[@trailheadjunkie]

When crossing a stream or scrambling up or down a hill unbuckle your hip belt. This gives you body more maneuverability to hike across

[@kcjgs5831]

I love to go hiking probably 2-3 times per month. However I got stomach surgery some months ago, but I'll be hiking something like 25km this weekend wish me luck. Nice vid btw!

[@EmoryByLand]

Best of luck!!! Thanks so much for the kind words!

[@wildlinesau]

Great tips, a lot is learnt from trial and error but the slower walking one is new to me. I find once you hit your rhythm an hour in you can maintain it all day. But I've hit walls not taking regular drink and food breaks too so scheduling sounds super helpful

[@EmoryByLand]

I could not agree more. I should have added that I start slow I my body is ready to move faster. Like you say, you hit a stride and you’re all set!

[@kenyates7269]

Transferable advice to long distance cycle touring.

[@markm3448]

Thx for the video. I get out a fair bit and feel like I have a good understanding of the physical and nutrition parts. My challenge is keeping my mind occupied over 10+ hours on trail. I hike in grizzly county so am not a fan of ear buds for podcasts. Any other mental tips?

[@EmoryByLand]

Great question! Honestly, if you’re out there alone, I say play some music or a podcast really low so only you can hear it and turn it off when you see people. Aside from that, you kind of have to get used to the silence. It’s hard at first but eventually you’ll learn to enjoy the mental solitude and if it gets weird, put on some tunes.

[@ROMEKBNY]

Nice. I’ll be doing the Neversink Nine in The Catskills next month(22+ miles. 5500’ gain). Longest hike so far is 13ish miles and 3500’ gain. I’ll def have to lighten my pack a bit. I tend to bring too much on day hikes.

[@EmoryByLand]

Nice! Let me know how it goes!!!

[@GrislyAtoms12]

Love the Catskills! I hiked to Echo Lake many times - there is a nice lean-to there.

[@ROMEKBNY]

@@EmoryByLand it was great. Def over prepared mentally. Biggest concern was bringing enough water since there are no sources between mile 4 and 15 and even those aren’t totally reliable with how dry it had been. Now on to the next challenge.

[@EmoryByLand]

@@ROMEKBNY That's great! Getting used to those water carries is a bit of a learning curve. The way I approach it is to look AHEAD at what my water needs are rather than looking back. For example, if I know I have a stretch of 10 miles coming up with no water, then at my last water source, I'll fill up two liters in addition to drinking a liter so I know I'm hydrated going INTO that dry stretch and have enough water to sustain me through it. I plan for 1L every 5 miles.

[@rickguthrie7662]

Nice to see you using a Zerk. I like the feel of the harness and try to transfer much of the weight off my shoulders to my torso. Twice now I completed my longest day around My St Helens. Completed a 12 and a 19 mile day. Took about 12 hours for the 19 mile day. I am sure your tips will help next year. Thanks.

[@EmoryByLand]

Helens is a great place to work on those bigger miles!

[@elr05]

I really needed help with this, so thank you

[@EmoryByLand]

You’re so welcome! Please come back and update me when you give it a go!

[@MiyagiontheTrail]

Great tips for big days!

[@EmoryByLand]

Thanks!!!

[@briankramer3273]

I think it's great to cover major miles when your backpacking however I don't think you should be so obsessed with hitting a certain mile goal everyday. I mean the whole point of backpacking is to get out and enjoy and see and experience the beauty and sometimes that lake or that specific camp spot you want to camp at doesn't always fall on your mile timeline. I think it's great to have goals but I prefer to just sit loose in the saddle and be flexible and enjoy the sights.

[@HelmutPfeiffer-o9s]

Two Tips: sucking on Jolly Roger candies gives you a little constant sugar intake and your mouth won’t dry out. 2nd… half way thru hike I take 4 ibuprofen. I do this for long day rides also and it works wonders

[@crunch8484]

20 miles has been a traditional day's ride / walk for millennia. You can see it in the arrangement of towns around cities in Europe, or along Roman roads.

[@EmoryByLand]

Probably very true!

[@GideonSmit]

Great video. Thanks for the good tips.

[@EmoryByLand]

You bet!

[@elizabethcastillo1158]

Those 30 second microbreaks might be working because they bring down your heartrate. It's possible to get "heartrate creep" or "cardiac creep" where your heartrate gets slightly higher at the usual level of exertion over time. This is especially dangerous in hot weather conditions. Those microbreaks can bring your heartbreak back down so that your body can use the usual amount of effort for the task rather than increased effort for the same task.

[@EmoryByLand]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing your insight!

[@felixroth3804]

Hey man, Great Video! May I ask which olive coloured tshirt you are wearing in the video‘s Intro? Best felix

[@EmoryByLand]

Thanks! I believe it’s from Fresh Clean T’s

[@akbunny5221]

Great advice Emory, thank you...!

[@EmoryByLand]

My pleasure!

[@DoolallyProductions]

I did 50 miles in a day once...In the Army Infantry while stationed in Korea and they forced us to do it. Fuck that. Never doing that stupidity again. 20 miles max, if even that. Like to take my time and smell the roses.

[@EmoryByLand]

Yeah… 50 in a day in boots and no technique besides “go” sounds awful. I feel for ya! Smell those roses man!!

[@stellashepherd3229]

I think “smelling the roses” is the reason I’m out there hiking in beautiful settings. For me it’s the journey not the destination.

[@martingoodwin56]

Thanks, good info as usual....your appreciated.

[@TH-sp5xw]

Really nice job - well thought out advice.

[@EmoryByLand]

Thanks!

[@eric55406]

I like the idea of covering a longer trail in a shorter time. Maybe a 60-70 mile loop without resupply. That said, I'm gonna let my body sleep the amount it needs. If I wake up early, I'll hike early. If I wake up late, I'll just start later. Everybody has certain compromises but this is also my vacation, so, for me, sacrificing sleep when I'm pushing my body beyond it's normal limits is not gonna work for me. Something else I learned recently is that long-endurance exercise burns a LOT of fat. So eat foods high in healthy fats. It's calorie dense (ligher per calorie). Check out Gear Skeptic's channel for the details on that. Totally agree with listening to your body. Food, water, and electrolytes are all important.

[@EmoryByLand]

Agreed, just listen to your body and go from there, but I will say that depending on how far you're going in a day and what time of year it is, you run into the limits of time. Unless of course you're willing to do some night hiking to cover those last few miles. I found when I hiked the PCT, my body would naturally get up at 6am even after a 25 mile day. Good discussion!

[@eric55406]

@@EmoryByLand Coming back to this video after I hiked 3 backpacking trips this year (42 mi, 32 mi, 60 mi), and the last one was solo. I did find that after hiking big mile days, it's easy to go to bed early, wake up early the next day, and feel (mostly) rested and go at it again. I managed to do a 14 mile day one of those days, which was a challenge for me but felt really satisfying to complete. I did wake up at first light that day and was on the trail before 8am and hiked until about 6pm. I think all your advice here really works.

[@coachhannah2403]

Back when, did a 23 mile dayhike: Curry Village to North Dome to Yosemite Falls and down. Not likely to ever happen again...

[@EmoryByLand]

Ha! I don’t blame you. If you’re not prepared for it then it’ll suck big time. But you DID it… and there’s a chance you could do it again and not fee like trash.

[@brent338]

Did 20+ on opening day, covering state land looking for deer.... 30lb pack. Wasn't too bad.

[@EmoryByLand]

That's a lot of ground, you must have been able to see a long way!

[@papabeartooth3054]

I am curious what you use for snacks. Special energy bars? Just typical nuts and dried fruit? I know fat has the most cals/gram over protein and carb but I would think all fat would be hard on your body too.

[@EmoryByLand]

If I'm being honest....high calorie junk food like pasteries, poptarts, double stuffed oreos, and whatever else I can get my hands on that tastes good and has a lot of calories my body can start using ASAP.

[@KennedyS123]

This is so helpful!!!

[@EmoryByLand]

Glad you think so!

[@kathyhirst5468]

Just stumbled on this video. I am training for a 20 mile. I am up to about 7 miles right now. At about 5, the blisters start. You mentioned taping them here. How do you do that and with what? I would love to know that secret!

[@EmoryByLand]

Glad to help! Pickup a roll of Leukotape from Amazon and just rip off a piece that will cover the area with a layer or two of tape where you’re getting blisters. I’d also suggest taping up those areas before you start hiking. Here’s a video I did on blisters that should explain a lot, but feel free to contact me directly at [e-mail]. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJWzhJahn56enpo

[@kathyhirst5468]

@@EmoryByLand thank you so much! I will give that a try. Thanks for your awesome tips, I will be following you from now on as I prepare myself for the 20 miles! 🙏❤️

[@EmoryByLand]

My pleasure, you’re very welcome! Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can help. Let me know how it goes!

[@seanmckinney9959]

Great info

[@EmoryByLand]

👊🏼👊🏼

[@MsLampalampa]

First time I did this ha very little information about this. Bought new shoes walked in them every like 5 km to wear them in. So me and my friend went out with 15kg backpack and the first day walked 25km and the last steps we took before we set up the tent almost killed us and the new shoes fucked up my feet. I really learned what type of shoe i really need from that experience. This was a day ago now I'm at home can't even walk from kitchen to the living room 🤣🤣

[@EmoryByLand]

I feel your pain. Very much. Heal up and get back out there!!

[@gravy1219]

i dont know if maybe im blessed but everyone talks about blisters on the trails, i can walk 20-30 miles a day for a week and never get blisters

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

Great video! Nice advice. Crow✌️

[@EmoryByLand]

Thanks!

[@mdoddbama]

Quality backpack recommendations?

[@EmoryByLand]

What kind of backpacking do you do or want to do?

[@stephanr.rosier655]

Hey, Emory! ... Thanks for the Tips. Years ago, i was in a career, which required a certified degree of fitness. Having to rehab, after a surgery, i was specifically trying to rebuild my Cardio & Endurance for running, when i discovered that the elliptical (stair stepping) machine, was not very effective; Yet, when i transitioned to the Treadmill, on an Incline, i got much better results!

[@EmoryByLand]

I don't doubt it! The most fit I've ever been was when I was hiking up hill at a slower pace. Maybe I should swap my running on the teadmill out with walking at max incline.... Thanks for the comment!

[@dingomankam1845]

I got out of the army recently and just got into backpacking. and I subbed to your podcast

[@EmoryByLand]

Sweet! Congrats on your new life chapter as a civilian! Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

[@dingomankam1845]

@@EmoryByLand I will be taking your courses through your website as well brother !

[@EmoryByLand]

@@dingomankam1845 I'd be glad to have you and to be a small part of your journey!

[@thomashansen3450]

finally it`s leasure time and no competition

[@EmoryByLand]

No competition indeed, but there are benefits to covering big miles. If you're into it then great, if not, no big deal.

[@BudaDanielIoan]

Hello from România, big like!

[@EmoryByLand]

Hello!

[@wallyevans4228]

Same advice for trail running….go slow to go fast

[@mobilemodular5725]

I looked up what happens if you walk 20 miles without training. I had to walk 25 miles because my battery failed In my truck....(round trip about 13 miles each way) and I did it fairly quickly, in about 8 hours total. 9 hours because I had to shop for a portable jump starter. It's 3 days later and my hips...knees and Achilles tendons are so sore I'm limping like I got in a bad wreck. Plus my kneecaps hurt? I don't even know. I should work on this.

[@EmoryByLand]

holy moly! That's a hike! Everything you're feeling sounds about right, but I think because you weren't in a "hiking" or "performance" mindset, you basically just forced yourself to keep moving and get it over with rather than pace yourself. Also, road walking is hard on the body...no joke. 8 hours of hiking nonstop is a lot, but there are ways to cover that mileage in a more efficient and effective manner which I spell out in the video. But hey, at least you know you CAN do it...now you just have to get better at it.

[@DJjakedrake]

Get two hiking poles. I know they seem like for old people... but it makes a huge difference. You can travel much further and much faster.

[@michaelbruce1692]

20 miles is about average for most hikers I think, I honestly think it depends on your weight class (pack weight) and experience, as a veteran midweight hiker (5 through hikes under my belt) the biggest mile challenge was when I was hiking with Dixie and we decided to hit that 64 mile in 24hrs (ended up busting my head on mile 60ish ended up falling short) but that was certainly a challenge (ended up getting my 64 in next year hiking the AT, crushed the smokey mountains from Hilton to bear's) but on my average "big" mile day its closer to 30 (I am not the fastest hiker, and I wake up late as hell), if I were to give a piece of advice for crushing a big mile day I'd say destroy the uphill and recover on the downhill most especially when attempting to crush HUGE mile days

[@EmoryByLand]

Thanks for taking the time to chime in. If you’re thru hiking, then yes, 20 per day would be a standard but this was more for those who aren’t on a long hike but want to get more miles in on shorter trips. Be safe out there!

[@lisasdayoff503]

Love sitting on a cut blow down. Then there's room to rest my pack too.

[@EmoryByLand]

Yeah there is!

[@SS-sg4eg]

Please I need help with an answer, planning to do a 100km hike in early may and my body is not ready. How many km's I should walk every day to get used to it. give me a suggestion please.

[@EmoryByLand]

Hello! Not knowing how many km's you're covering per day, what terrain you're hiking, or what your current activity level is, it's really hard to say what you should be doing, but I'll do my best. At a minimum you should be working on strengthening your core and your legs with body weight exercises. Commit to doing regular sets of lunges throughout the day to strengthen your legs and add in some core exercises so your body is ready on that front when carrying a pack. Next, I suggest going on daily walks around where you live regardless of whether you have a hill or not to hike up. You need to start building up your foot strength so instead of walking for a specific distance, focus on hiking for a specific amount of time. Start with 20 minute intervals, and work yourself up to walking for 1 hour at a time without stopping. From there, I'd plan on spending a long morning walking around your neighborhood or city walking for 1 hour, taking a break to refuel, and hiking for another hour. The KEY for your hike is to stay on top of fueling your body as you go. Keep in mind it's a marathon, not a sprint so move slowly and methodically so you can have a sustainable day on the trail. Eat, drink, rest, hike, eat, drink, rest, hike. Do that while listening to what your body needs, and you'll be good to go. And do NOT give into whatever hiking speed your partners are pressuring you into. Hike at your own pace.

[@zatrusofnietzche2281]

Ok Whacko here. How would you feel if crippled for 27yrs ? Walking again for 3 years now . Im an extremist ,"Do it!" Nietzchean and getting older. Maybe i got one last challenge im set on. Walking roughly 2000klm "yeh" 🤪. So give me your best tips and meet me at the end with beer and bacon 🥓. Gotta start soon if this year ( lots to say, hit me back asap best hiking shoes, ? Sponsor for M.S. jock song walk 500 miles etc for my sweetheart ❤️.

[@marccieplinski995]

My biggest early mistake was walking too fast. The last 2 years I've learned to slow down and take more breaks.

[@EmoryByLand]

Same! I have slowed down a lot especially for the first few miles. No need to scurry!

[@levelcolorgreen2937]

alright here is a tip stop drinking water and eating food if its less than a 20 miles hike its not needed it is just a pleasure for your mind that makes you feel safe learn to push your mind your body will fall in line and your mind taken to new heights pain from the legs keep walking pain from your back keep walking only stop if colors change or you are light headed or simply want to enjoy the wilderness

[@EmoryByLand]

Interesting perspective. This sounds like it’s more of a whole body alignment/centering thing? How did you get into this? Also, how do you suggest someone does it safely?

[@MastaSquidge]

For a day or two sure, but if you're putting on many days or weeks this is a horrible idea.

[@nkd9560]

Sorry to complain, but one of my biggest problems with KZbin is there’s definitely great information it’s precluded for minutes continuously to convince you that the videos is worth watching

[@nkd9560]

Great video though honestly Super helpful insight

[@EmoryByLand]

Totally get it, and you’re probably right, but you have to think of KZbin like an archive in terms of the person making it and the time in which they made it. Styles and skills evolve over time and there are a lot of different ways to make a video. If I were to make it today , it would look much different. Hopefully you still got some value out of it. If you’ve never made a video or put yourself out there to be criticized, I’d hold off on posting negative comments and instead be encouraging.

[@nkd9560]

@@EmoryByLand ok. It was a great video. Just some honest feedback. If you want to erase my “negative comment”, I will.

[@EmoryByLand]

Oh I don’t care either way. I enjoy learning about what people like and dislike. Feedback is good.

[@nkd9560]

@@EmoryByLand yeah man I’m hiking the Colorado Trail now and I’ve been meditating on some of your advice. Very helpful. Especially giving yourself permission to stop more often is a good thing to remember

[@oscar38]

I'd describe it as gruelling 😊

[@glendabaghian1145]

Going to respectfully disagree. Isn't the difference between hiking 3 mi/hr and 3.5 mi/hr over 20 miles almost an hour of resting? Interested in your thoughts. #44

[@MastaSquidge]

Yes but you are pounding your feet harder with every step and burning energy at a faster rate as well.

[@dansworld9635]

People are generally in two camps, HIKERS and CAMPERS. Do you like to CAMP or hike ALL DAY. The young like to HIKE and the old crowd likes to camp. Hike your own hike.

[@davidriley1034]

Not so fast, I am in my late 50's. I don't spend much time at camp. I set up camp. Go to bed. Get up and do it again. I have done many 20+ mile days on the AT. I like to cover some distance.

[@brattenj57]

Hey listen man, it's not about miles. It's about enjoying every footstep. Let's not talk about distance; let's talk about being in nature. Let's talk about the rush of feeling strong as you hike. But man, it's not about miles. You shouldn't be promoting that nonsense.

[@EmoryByLand]

What nonsense?

[@EmoryByLand]

Feel free to move on. If big miles aren’t your thing then so be it, but for the reasons stated in this video, many people like them. Be a positive member of the channel or move along.

[@stigcc]

Just hike your own hike. Nothing wrong with hiking big miles. Some people like to run ultra marathons, 100 miles. It is a challenge. But I feel that I enjoy less scenery when going fast.

[@bencruz563]

Pacing and electrolytes. The human body has, on average, 130,000 calories stored in fat. If you lose energy after not eating for an hour, you have some liver thing going on or are bloodsugar sensitive. I could be wrong; eating every hour just sounds wrong to me. I will probably find out the hard way if I am wrong. Top notch channel anyway. New sub.

[@EmoryByLand]

Glad you’re here! I think unless you’ve been experienced it, it’s difficult to fully comprehend and it’s not always the same thing each time. Also, I’m not eating a thousand calories each time. It’s more like 150-300. Enough to feel light but energetic. I also play it by ear depending what the terrain and how I’m feeling but I ALWAYS stop after 2 hours to eat or nothing good happens. Calories and water. By the way, I’ve consulted a few different dietitians about this topic and they’ve backed up my approach but with a scientific background. Thanks for chiming in!

[@tahliae]

I walk with my older dog. He goes about 2-3 mph, which is an ideal pace for me to practice endurance. It sounds slow and it is! At that pace, it takes 10 hours to do 20 miles, but like you said, if I’m starting at 6:30, I’m still done at 4:30 (5 or 6 with breaks)!