If there is one item that is the kingpin of all foolishness concerning a backpacking trip into Montana's wildernesses, I would have to say lack of physical preparation tops them all. Even when we are younger, less than 30 years of age, a great way to have a miserable damn time, if not very dangerous, is to go without physical preparation. As we get older, getting or staying in shape becomes even more paramount. Our bodies become less able to get our energy back when we take a break. The less shape we are in the more prevalent this lousy phenomenon is. There is more to be said on the subject, which the Mount Helena Daily Climb page is not going to be talking about, probably.

Suffice it to say that when one is well into middle age and is still carrying 80 to 100 pounds of gear, I had better be doing more than a 30-day before-the-trip preparation. That might be ok for a younger person with 40 pounds of gear, but it is a prelude to failure, or worse for me.

Then there are those all-season trips that require so much more.

Mount Helena Daily Climb
January 15, 2008		**January 16, 2008		****January 21, 2008

I am fortunate to have a home in Helena, Montana and at the foot of Mount Helena. My home is at the elevation of 4094 feet, in the basement and the office. Without any up or downs, my office is 1290 below the summit. When I am in shape, I can make it there in 32 minutes, if there is no snow, no ice and no mud. Realistically the norm is around 36 minutes. Just lately, in the snow and ice of January, and with a camera, I am taking 45 minutes to get to the top, if I don't stop to do some photography. Once I make the summit I go back down until I make 60 minutes (90 minutes one-way on the 15th and 16th of January) of total travel time. Then I turn around and head back to the top and home. In all I climb approximately 1800(with camera) to 2500 (without camera) feet per day in two hours.

What I am going to show might be construed as nothing more than photos of an exercise machine. Actually that would be the truth too. But what an exercise machine I have! Nor is it a weather controlled environment. What I will be showing are photos from January. On these particular dates, the 15th and 16th, things are a bit different. The views and the conditions changed rather quickly, particularly that first day. While the 15th started off mildly, it finished by putting old man winter's thumb square between my should blades. I might add these two days each consumed three hours, due to my constant stopping and shooting.

Eventually I will add a topographical map of the route with indicators of photos taken at certain points. I will also add in two graphs showing my heart rate, with the time and elevation. This is a really handy bit of information, particularly when I come out of the backcountry. I also want to mention that the graphs do not show with fine accuracy what I am really doing when I am not carrying camera gear or consequently stopping to shoot.