My impression is that most of the people in this group have much higher aspirations than I. However, I’m 75 and have never had a formal training program although I was still playing volleyball with the kids until the pandemic started and I swim 3 days/week and usually “waddle” up a steep street here with about 35 pounds several days/week. I call it Trancas Mountain and manage it without supplemental oxygen to reach its 1000 elevation summit. I walk the dog at least 3 miles/day at a little over 3 mph.
So, I live not at sea level (can’t afford it) but at about 50 feet.
My real desire is to finally make it to the summit of Rainier. I’ll be lead by a former RMI guide without about 50 summits of Rainier and his extremely – freak of nature – 75 year old dad. We’re planning on 3 days with an overnight at Muir and another on the Ingraham. We might even build in a stop on the way down at Muir.
By then I’ll have finished this course and either done round 2 also or taken probably the 16 week course – all dependent upon court calendar and omicron.
My question after all this verbosity concerns possibly driving from LA to Hood and using Hood as a guided “training” hike before driving the rest of the way to Rainier. IF I do this I’d like suggestions as to whether that is a feasible plan and as to how long between attempts is wisest. Thanks.