“It’s 90% mental and the other half is physical” Yogi Berra
Abstract:
1. Climb with the lightest gear possible
2. Altitude acclimate BEFORE the climb and take Diamox and CoQ10
3. HYDRATE with electrolytes
4. Train on the mountain if you can
5. Use high tech nutritional supplements - gels, protein powder, recovery formulas
6. Visualize daily climbing to and being on the summit
Go light, especially shoes and water. Cache water on the way up or before your climb.
Trailhead is at 9100’ altitude at the parking lot of the Arizona Snow Bowl. The bottom of the Snow bowl road and the rest of Flagstaff is about 7000’ altitude. In my last summit attempt in 2023 I slept in my car for 2 nights at the trailhead and then bailed on my climb as I just didn’t feel right. 2 weeks later I returned, slept in my car overnight at the trailhead and then summited. There is a motel at the base of the ski area road, Base Camp, but I’ve never stayed there. I always wanted the extra 2100’ elevation acclimatization at the trailhead despite the inconvenience of sleeping in my car. I also submitted in about 2020 at age 78. I was house sitting for a friend in Flagstaff and just went hiking on the mountain, felt pretty good, and went all the way to the top. I had spent 6 weeks in Nepal a few months earlier so was still somewhat altitude acclimated.
Water gives strength in the mountains. My maxim for hikes like this is, “You should feel like you have to both pee and throw up at the beginning of the hike.” It’s crucial to take electrolytes also. I recommend Trace Minerals Research Electrolyte Stamina tablets AND Trioral Hydration salts. Roughly, I recommend having 3 liters at the start of the trail and having access to another 1 or more liters on the way down, hence, caching while ascending or in the days before your hike. .
However inconvenient, I think it’s wise to train right on the Humphry's Trail if at all possible. Among other things you might be able to scope out the cutoff at the beginning of the hike that cuts about a mile off the trail. You go right up the steep ski slope at the beginning of the trail then cut left to hook up with the marked trail. The fastest time I am aware of is 1:57 from the trailhead to the summit taking this cutoff. As far as I know I am the oldest person to summit Humphry’s according to the speed demon I met. Other hikes around Sedona suitable for training might be Mushroom Rock, A.B. Young Trail up at the Bootlegger Picnic site in Oak Creek Canyon, Bear and Wilson Mountains, 7 Warriors Ridge in VoC from the Slim Shady Trail. I suggest timing all your training hikes.
Supplements I took for Humphreys climb 9/26/2023,age 81
Morning meal Drank a liter and a half of water with Trioral and waited 20 minutes. Smoothie of 3 TBS raw oatmeal soaked overnight in water with 3 dates, 1 tsp. cinnamon, ⅓ C. frozen blueberries, 1 banana, 30 grams protein from protein powder, 15 grams protein from Essential Amino Acids, 1 scoop Carb 2 powder, 1 TBS powdered ginger, 1 TSP black pepper. I also take a bunch of vitamins with this meal daily, the most important and most pertinent being CoEnzyme Q10 which has the property of allowing the hemoglobin in the blood to dissolve more oxygen. I suggest taking up to 300 mg. daily for 3 months before your limb. You should routinely be pulling 98%, 99% blood oximeter readings.
Right Before
3 cordyceps 1500 mg total - Proven oxygen booster
3 green tea extract
l-citrulline 2:1 dl Malate - powerhouse Kreb’s cycle catalyst
l-theanine 500 mg
3 Electrolyte Stamina tablets (serving size is 6)
N-acetyl l-tyrosine 320 mg - brain waker upper
Guarana (caffeine) ½ 200 mg tab - caffeine++
Turmeric extra strength My Kind w/black pepper, ginger - cuts inflammation
Zyflamend 2 caps - inflammation
Carb 2 by Carlos - custom low glycemic carb; coconut sugar, tapioca maltodextrin, tapioca starch, D-Ribose, chromium, manganese, vanadium, l-carnosine…
2 baby aspirin
During
Carb 2
2 Diamox - altitude pills, need a ‘script
2 ATP Energy Surge – Hammer Nutrition
3 Electrolyte Stamina (serving size is 6)
Vitamin C 1000 mg - prevents cramping etc.
After
Special recovery drink of carbs and protein and other stuff. Recoverite by Hammer Nutrition is the model for my formulation.
Clothing and equipment
CW-X compression shorts - most FKT ultra runners are wearing compression shorts these days.
Columbia Silver Ridge Lite shirt white Small
Creepers merino toe socks low
Grip6 merino hiking socks - ie. I’m wearing 2 pair of socks
SOLE Active Wide Insoles - Moldable to your foot
Topo Athletic Ultraventure Pro trail running shoe - I’m now wearing Topo MTN Racer 3
Bauerfeind SacroLok back support belt
Bauerfeind calf sleeves - the calf muscle acts as a secondary heart pushing venous blood back up to the heart.
Bauerfeind knee support
I taped my feet and ankles with white trainers tape
Headsweats Marathoners Crusher hat
Visualize, workout, train, climb to the point of fatigue and then keep going anyway.
