4 training weeks to go for Tahoma/Rainier/DC. I mock packed today (+1L water and food) and it turns out my gear is way lighter than I thought (25lbs). Much of that is b/c I’m climbing with a guide (no tent, pad, stove) as neither myself nor my 2 partners have been on a glacier before. Anyway.

All of this training was done when I thought my pack would be ~ 35lbs. This week (15) I did a day of 4400′ gain with 40lbs in 5 hours (including going back down; the trail is only 1100′ gain). I felt fine enough to do 4.5 hours of Z2 rolling terrain hiking with 30lbs over the next 2 days (no rest days).

Last week I did the same 4400′ with 36lbs but was sore so only did 3hrs of same hiking with 18lbs.

I’m now (Wk 17) to plan to do (among other things) “one big day…100% of the vertical…carrying 50% of the weight” so you can see my “problem.” I don’t think it makes sense to work less hard/carry less weight than I have been (I don’t feel overworked, I’m eating well, sleeping well). I also feel some conflict between aiming for (by week 20) 7000′ gain with 40lbs (based on everything I’ve absorbed here I feel like planning for back to back 5k’ days with 30-35lbs is a better idea). The DC route is basically 4,500’/day x 2 days right?

Advice?
-Arthur