Backcountry Fitness Challenge 2009 SIGNUP

I'm so excited that you guys are pumped about the Challenge this year. I know I am! Also glad to see new faces taking part. Come on folks, might as well join the fun!

I tried to answer some of your questions below. I'd still be glad to discuss if this doesn't clear things up enough. Keep 'em coming!

ulhiker wrote:BTW, how soon are teams going to be chosen? I've got a hike next week that I'd like to be able to count.
UL

I'll probably have everyone assigned to a team by next Saturday. (That will give everyone plenty of time to sign up.)

Your hike next week will count.

Trail Monkey wrote:Heck if were going to go to the end of the year I think we should start counting from the first of the year... don't you.. uh er... that mean mine an Colt's 36.8 mile BRT last week counts right :-D

Your BRT hike will count. All trips made in 2009 will count.

willky1 wrote:Also, one thing that might be a good idea. If it would work out, you could divide the teams up so that people who live near each other could be on the same team so that it might make it easier to get trips together.

I initially thought about dividing the teams up this way, but, I want to make sure the teams are evenly divided in terms of "available and active" hikers. Since I know that Colt and Trail Monkey have hiked together, as have Lew and UL, I think it might work to keep those pairs together and draw for everyone else. I'm still open to ideas on how best to work this so everyone can still have fun and still keep things fair by not stacking one team more than another.

Keep in mind, if you happen to end up on the opposite team from your hiking buddy, it's just one more reason that you can't miss out going on a trip with them--by going with them, you'll prevent their team from pulling ahead!

ulhiker wrote:TM:
I agree, for whatever that's worth. I think that if the challenge is going to be for all of 2009, then it should start on 1/1/09. But hey, I don't get to make the rules.
UL

Fear not! All of 'em count.

Trail Monkey wrote:But I think that actually staying on the trail as opposed to day hiking should be worth more but thats just me lol.

Preacha Man wrote:There has to be something said about hiking with just a day pack, and then hiking an overnighter with all the weight that comes a long with it, but all that might detract from the simplicity that Jay has come up with.

I agree with this. Backpacking is harder. That's why I've secretly arranged for the team with the most backpacking mileage as of April 1st to get a "special perk!" The other team will have a shot at the same perk come August 1st if they pull ahead in backpacking mileage by then.

I bet you'd love to know what that perk is, wouldn't you?

Eh, I think I'll keep it to myself for now.

Cool Cool stuff. This is alot more motivating to me than hitting the gym... I can do this...

Lew

This all sounds great! Can't wait to get started.
UL

So how is the scoring going to work? One point per mile, with 3 points per... mile cleared if doing trail work?

Trail Monkey wrote:So how is the scoring going to work? One point per mile, with 3 points per... mile cleared if doing trail work?

Yep; except that we don't really have to use points, just miles.

Jay,

Janet (outlawpacker) signed up for the challenge and put it as a new post, sorry I told here wrong! I wasn't paying attention. Please place us together. Any way on 1/3/09 we did trail maintance work on these sectons of the OT:

Section District Miles Description Total miles (out and back)
2 Mena 46.3-47.8 AR/OK state line to FR514 3
3 Mena 54.1-55.5 Talimena Scenic Dr. to Wizard trees 2.8
All totaled: 5.8
This can be verified on this page, look for work report:

FOoT trail conditons page

Please also give Janet the same miles.

Thanks, OH

ouachita hiker wrote:Jay,

Janet (outlawpacker) signed up for the challenge and put it as a new post, sorry I told here wrong! I wasn't paying attention. Please place us together. Any way on 1/3/09 we did trail maintance work on these sectons of the OT:

Section District Miles Description Total miles (out and back)
2 Mena 46.3-47.8 AR/OK state line to FR514 3
3 Mena 54.1-55.5 Talimena Scenic Dr. to Wizard trees 2.8
All totaled: 5.8
This can be verified on this page, look for work report:

FOoT trail conditons page

Please also give Janet the same miles.

Thanks, OH

Whoa, fella! Easy!

I replied to your lovely wife in the other post, and please wait until I get the teams together and the new forum locations up for the challenge before you start posting trips/mileages and stuff. Just until next week.

Sign me up. This past weekend I logged approximately 24 miles. Hey if trail work is worth 3 miles and day hiking is counted the same as backpacking..a good bushwhacking trip should be counted 2 per. :-) Can't blame me for trying.

HBH

Yeah I know...see your previous post.

Jay,

Sorry that I jumped the gun!

Oh

HillbillyHkr wrote:Hey if trail work is worth 3 miles and day hiking is counted the same as backpacking..a good bushwhacking trip should be counted 2 per. :-) Can't blame me for trying.

HBH

HBH, I actually did think long and hard about this before I posted the rules for this year. I too am a bushwhacker; in fact, some of my fondest memories involve me tromping around off the trails in the Mark Twain National Forest as a youngster.

I know how difficult "bushpacking" is, so I initially thought about doing something like what you suggested, such as adding mileage. I decided to allow 8 miles per day maximum for bushwhacking for three reasons: 1.) 8 miles a day while bushwhacking is pretty fair. 2.) While I personally enjoy bushwhacking (and support others who do), I don't want to "promote" it by encouraging others to do it. In order for there to be bushwhackable places left, folks need to stay on the trail. And 3.) There's no way to know exactly how many miles a bushwhacker traveled in a day's time, as opposed to a trail.

I hope you don't think I'm trying to be political or anything, but I did want you to know that I'm sure not trying to penalize bushwhackers, but I am trying to keep the competition as fair and simple as I can.

I know you weren't really worried about this. I just wanted you to know I care.

I am in! Trail Monkey and I are ready to kick some tail!

Jay,

I was just harassing you about extra miles. I hike for the enjoyment and the personal fulfillment. I bushwhack for the added challenge of map and compass skills. I typically do not carry a gps and when I do I just use it for a reality check on my map location. The mileage for my last trip I pulled from the National Geographic Buffalo river west half map. I added two miles for the side excursions up the side creek drainages.


HBH

I used to do a lot of bushwaching. I wish that I still could. Because of my knee conditions I just don't feel like I could anymore. More power to you guys that can!
Go for it, you desearve and extra pts. that you get!!

OH

I guess I should elaborate on my statement above. For those that don't know I had a complete knee replacement of my right knee a year and a half ago. I used to do a lot of off trail stuff back in the 70's and loved it! I just don't feel confident getting of the trail at this time. i feel like if I lost some weight I would feel better about it. But I do now a lot of trail maintance and love doing it! I plan on getting out more this year, challenge or not! It just take time!

OH