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Training while camping

Original Post
JF1 · · Idaho · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 400

Hey folks,

I am going to be running a wilderness trail crew this summer 8 days on 6 days off. We are getting packed in via mules at the beginning and end of each shift.

What would be a good method of some kind of training to not loose my finger and forearm power? I could bring some kind of device, but it would need to be fairly light and compact. I will have a full body workout going on just working.

I was thinking about the Metolius power grips, any thoughts? I probably won't be doing a massive workout after 10 hours of trail work, but something to keep me up to scratch.

Power Grips

Ryan Kuehn · · South Lake Tahoe, CA · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 5

This is an awesome question, I have been in the same situation for the last year working on trails and trying to keep climbing strength. Depending on the type of work you'll be doing, its been my experience that you get pretty strong, especially while doing rock work. Doing finger rolls or similar exercises with a rock bar also works. I also have carried rock rings in during certain hitches and have enjoyed having them out there. I definitely feel like i loose endurance out there and not quite sure how to maintain that.

Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974

I have played with these at the gym, but never trained on them.
sicgrips.com/HOME.html

Bill Doctorman · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 125

I work the same 8 on 6 off trail shift, there are a couple things that can help with training. Does your crew operate out of a trail cabin or is it a spike camp type setup? Where I'm at, we operate on trail sections that are approachable from the back country ranger's cabin, and have access to it as a communal kitchen / living room. Rock rings are great, but if there's a place to mount it, I would recommend packing up a campus rung or small home made hangboard. (something like the Sonny Trotter V-Board comes to mind) Do pullups and core exercises, and fingerboard repeaters. You can make a bachar ladder and hang it from a tree to work power (not quite as nice as a campus board but way easier to fit on a mule). If you don't have a structure, maybe figure out a way to hang a board from a tree? Grip master type tools are good for warming up, but they don't typically give you great gains in finger strength, at least not like hangboarding will. Where are you doing your trail work?

JF1 · · Idaho · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 400

Thanks,
This is a one shot grant based trail project, so we are doing a cush camp spot that will move. I was thinking of rock rings or something similar just in terms of the ease of having some cord and hanging it. It will be on Mt Charleston in southern Nevada.

JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115
Mark E Dixon wrote:I have played with these at the gym, but never trained on them. sicgrips.com/HOME.html
I haven't used those (the "G-string") either, but I've seen some good reviews. They seem to be a big step up from the Rock Rings in terms of design and versatility. I never found the Rock Rings to be too useful...the holds are just too big to be of much use for finger strength. Doing pull ups off of jugs isn't too different from just doing pull ups. The "G-string" seems to offer a better small edge/crimp option that you could do hangs from...this is probably you best option in terms of versatility for a given weight/bulk.

If you are at Charleston, make sure to do some 2-finger pocket training too!
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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