"Unfortunately, the best way to train for alpine is alpine..." That's what I heard...sadly I know no one that does Alpine....sucks!!! But ya, I figured so much.
I was going to be going up to the Laurents the other weekend but work kept me from it, really pissed about it. But ya planning some good climb adventures soon....I'm heard about Tremblant had the Ice courses....want to try it...I think I need more training though. I don't really know what I want to do (glacier travel or ice/snow face)...I want to do it all. I'm still excited about it!!

Shub's

Hear what you are saying about those freaks who smoke like crazy - legal and soon to be legal stuff - and are able to sustain amazing endurance running, climbing, etc. Good for them, I say. But I have to wonder how much better they would be if their lungs were clear and they didn't have all those nasty toxins running through their veins. Then perhaps smoke gives them a psychological boost. :?:

Pink lungers. That's what we call them. And we can't keep up, so we figger, if ya got em, smoke em. As we watch the bottoms of your feet dissappear in the switchbacks above us we cheerfully call amongst ourselves:

"SMOKE BREAK!"

That's pretty much it my man.

DMT

"The best training was to go to the pub, drink 5 quarts of beer, and talk about climbing." Ron Fawcett

"I suggest going out to the nearest pub and getting completely, and utterly, wasted. Make sure you smoke at least 1 pack of unfiltered Camel's. Get the full ashtray, pour a drink in it and then pour the mixture into a water bottle.
When you get home (ideally around 3:30am) stick the vile mixture into your freezer. Put on your best goretex and thermal layer. Climb in. At 5:30am, get out, drink (chew?) the mixture and go run the biggest flight of stairs you can find. Run until your heart threatens to explode.
Your dehydration caused by the alcohol should adequately simulate what you may experience at higher altitudes. Your lung capacity should be sufficiently impaired by the smokes to simulate a oxygen poor environment. The freezer episode should adequately replicate a bivy. Drinking the booze/butt mixture should simulate your lack of appetite.....
Oh — once your finished your workout, go to work (to replicate the long walk out)." — Greg Hamilton suggesting an altitude training

"The best training was to go to the pub, drink 5 quarts of beer, and talk about climbing." Ron Fawcett

"I suggest going out to the nearest pub and getting completely, and utterly, wasted. Make sure you smoke at least 1 pack of unfiltered Camel's. Get the full ashtray, pour a drink in it and then pour the mixture into a water bottle.
When you get home (ideally around 3:30am) stick the vile mixture into your freezer. Put on your best goretex and thermal layer. Climb in. At 5:30am, get out, drink (chew?) the mixture and go run the biggest flight of stairs you can find. Run until your heart threatens to explode.
Your dehydration caused by the alcohol should adequately simulate what you may experience at higher altitudes. Your lung capacity should be sufficiently impaired by the smokes to simulate a oxygen poor environment. The freezer episode should adequately replicate a bivy. Drinking the booze/butt mixture should simulate your lack of appetite.....
Oh — once your finished your workout, go to work (to replicate the long walk out)." — Greg Hamilton suggesting an altitude training

Thanks... drinking a bottle of wine, running to the crags and soloing a 5.4....this made me laugh. I know you weren't kidding....but I enjoyed that little image.

But ya to alpinestylist's reply......now I understand that climbers in general are a somewhat 'different' type of people...which is why the rock. But ya smoking??? Now I assumed instantly that you were refereing to mary(not saying that climber's are all pot heads....but i've known a few and most seem to....ANYWAY) I have a question. I already know the answer but I just want to make sure. I smoke...cigs'....I've cut back dramatically, cutting into running time, so ya does it really destroy your ability to "be all you can be" type thing?? I know its bad for you and s___...I've seen the ads but does it really affect you? I mean, I've known tons of people who smoke and can kick ass at extreme stuff. But ya, just wondering.

Shubee

Hi Lisa,
to Answer your question about how long does it take?
Well that totally depends on the route the objective and the commitment.
First off within alpine climbing there style differences...