*A tough last day on my 2022 Wonderland Trail thru hike*

2023 could be a big year for me. However, in the past I’ve written on these pages about my plans for an upcoming year, and without fail I haven’t realized all of them. Retirement offers me some advantages over prior years. No work means I can be consistent in training and flexible in the timing of sojourns. Barring major setbacks in health and family issues, things that crop up at any time, I can try to plan and set goals for the year. So what is 68/35? I turned 68 Y/O, and 35 refers to my 35th Wonderland Trail hike.

This is a list of some of the goals I am aiming for this coming year, and they all involve increased fitness. 1. Finish my 35th transit of the Wonderland Trail 2. Bike RIMROBOD 3. Tackle all or some iteration of the Mt. Rainier Grand Tour. 4. Continue to chip away at the “100 Peaks in Mt Rainier National Park” to approach 80 summits. 5. Extend my high points around the mountain by climbing above 9,000’ (Colonnade/Success Cleaver/Curtis Ridge/Puyallup Cleaver/Steamboat Prow/Russell Glacier/Wapowerty Cleaver).

*Depiction of 2009 WT hike (left) to 2010 WT hike (rt)*

Fitness Goals It’s all about MARGIN. I need to rely less on the mental toughness aspect of hard days. A 3 day Wonderland is hard no matter what, but a high level of fitness will enable me to cover these distances (and elevation days of over 8,000’ of vert) with less energy expenditure. This will enable a faster pace, better rest, and shortened recovery times. RIMROBOD (Ride Around Mt Rainier Out and Back in One Day) is a single 125 mile push with 16,000’ of elevation gain. Bike training throughout the winter and spring will forestall those times when I can only climb 2-300’ at a shot before having to stop momentarily to rest. The aerobic benefits of cycling will also transfer to long days of hiking and trotting. The key to this training is my Wahoo trainer, where I can do targeted programs to increase functional threshold, sustained climbing, leg strength and endurance, etc. I will also start running again to work on those muscles, and come spring, hike specific trails that enable me to pound the downhills.

*Early season training ride emphasizing climbing*

The climbs to over 9,000’ will be a combination of long day hikes and/or one overnight. This means I must be comfortable with climbing upwards of 10,000’ in one day to give me the margin I need. Perhaps I can combine these outings with the peak bagging list. Needless to say, I also need to be working on flexibility and whole body strength. Luckily, we have moved into our retirement house, so I have my bike trainer and a treadmill in the garage. I can also avail myself of the decent gym available at our clubhouse, a 10 minute walk.

That’s the overview, this blog will chronicle my journey to success…or failure. Unexpected health issues lurk as I approach 70 and beyond; up to this point I have been extremely lucky on this matter. Fingers crossed.