Up or down hill?

[puredingo]

After a recent walk I've finally come to the conclusion I actually prefer going uphill. I notched up 40 years on this earth earlier this month and my knees feel every day of it, sure pushing hard uphill my lungs bust and my thighs burn but compared to the jarring, locking feeling and the ever increasing falling, slipping over of downhill I prefer the higher grind.

What's others opinions...Surely downhill is worse on the joints and the more you do the more you shorten your hiking life?

[Moondog55]

I have always thought downhill was worse when I am heavily loaded, unloaded uphill is worse

[Allchin09]

I'd have to agree with Moondog. I do find that I have to stop more often going uphill as it is tiring, whereas I can travel downhill for as long as I like without becoming tired but it just can be a bit rough on the knees.

[Hallu]

You can relieve your knees by going sideways like a crab and by using poles, but I'm guessing you already know that. I still prefer going down hill because I have strong knees and because climbing is physically harder and you don't see the views. Besides, unlike most people, I'm breathless and tired at the beginning of a climb, and I get gradually better, it takes me like between 1 and 2 hours to find my rhythm. But yeah I think like you most experienced hikers would rather go uphill.

The thing to avoid when you're going downhill is going too fast. Many inexperienced people almost run or stomp the ground, which is very bad for your joints. You need to make your thigh muscles work instead.

[MrWalker]

It depends on the slope. If the downhill is so steep that you drop on each step it can be very hard on the knees. But if you can walk smoothly then downhill is easier. The slope should not be so steep that you have to hold yourself back to avoid getting faster and faster.

[vagrom]

Examples?
Staircase Spur up to Bogong. A very pretty walk, so give me downhill there, anyday. Uphill goes on forever.
But the uphills to Mt Anne and Lady Lake are well worth the grunt. On the former, the reward comes with the occassional stops where you turn to look out on that incredible vista. On the latter, I went up with a newbie who was looking at the ground as you do, as we came onto the plateau. He looked up, then around and was staggered by the suprise.

[quicky]

Scenery and slope/gradients aside...

To me uphill is always easier too. Sure it gets you puffing, but I find an equilibrium pretty quickly, and can tolerate that level of output for a long time.

Downhill is simply annoying....most of the time.

[andrewbish]

I have conferred with the relevant body parts and can now indicate as follows:
- my quads prefer the down (with a +1 from my butt and lungs)
- my knees have a strong preference for the up as do my dodgy hips (& they don't lie!)
- my brain doesn't particularly like up or down, preferring instead nice, wide, flat trails with no obstructions, rocks, tree roots, etc where it can quietly zone out

Andrew

[Picaro]

I'm 54 this year. I can descend without problems if I take the time to strap my knees, and use poles. On the occasions I thought I could do without, I was hobbling before I got to the bottom.

[jackhinde]

i like smashing hills for the thrill.
(unless it is steep enough for a rope then it is a no brainer as rapping is so much more fun)

[alanoutgear]

I blew my knee meniscus out last year on a steep downhill with a 20kg pack. The orthapaedic surgeon who fixed it said we are better designed for uphill rather than downhill, because loaded downhill shockloads exceed our design rating (surgeon joke alert).

Mind you he did say that although my knees are 60+ years old and I still have the original ones fitted, he reckons they've done pretty well all things considered (ie like 10 years running marathons in the 80s and 90s).

He also said that when my meniscus is fully healed I'll have the knees of a 20 year old (I bet he says that to everyone, and I didn't think to ask "a 20 year old what"?).

[neilmny]

Definitely harder, when loaded up, going downhill for me. I cover more ground and the heart rate stays lower
but the knees and front of the thighs complain plenty.

[taswegian]

Definitely uphill.
Like others, d'hill makes the knees wobbly.

But I find my biggest impediment is trying to walk at a slow pace for those with short legs. That is very tiring.
Also some track work where steps are poorly designed/ made is tedious, especially uphill.

[Picaro]

I bought a couple of pairs of zip off trousers specifically for this reason. Even if I'm in gaitors as well as boots, I just unzip the pants, fit the neoprene wraps and down we go.

[Davo1]

Loaded or unloaded give me uphill any day.
If it's a good stiff climb in for two hours , gaurantee it will take me two and a half to get back down or maybe even more some days.

[Onestepmore]

Downhill is scary, poles or not

[sherpa]

I have recently started enjoying walking up hill. This has become a metaphor for the rest of my life
which is going down hill at a rapid rate.

[north-north-west]

It all depends on the terrain. Climbing down into Lake Sydney, for instance, is sheer unmitigated hell.

[Lophophaps]

A few years ago a 60 metre ascent, such as it was, caused unhappiness, and many rests were needed. This was at the end of a long, tiring hot day with a very heavy pack. My body was revolting. Later in the same trip I went up 360 metre with one very short break. Another trip a steep descent of about 180 metre was dreadful – broken ground, overhanging scrub, couldn’t see the track. Then the ascent, 180 metre of steep desperation. Yet a descent of 700 metre and up the far side, another 700 metre, was done with just three rests, the middle on the sides and at the bottom. This was quite easy. Go figure.

I think it depends on steepness, length, terrain, how far you have come, weather, and maybe a few other factors.

[vagrom]

Hung jury. Walking on the flat takes the prize!

[ryantmalone]

Scrambling uphill wins every time.



Scrambling down on the other hand....

[north-north-west]

Pffffffffffffft. That's just the route up Sugarloaf. It's a doddle in either direction.

[taswegian]

I can relate to Lophophaps
long time ago we walked into lake Pedder, or perhaps mud slogged our way in. On way back the others got left far behind as the closer I got to car the faster I seemed to go.
Years later on a stinking hot and dry walk back from Lees Paddocks with my young daughter I was fine until that last little drag from the Mersey to the car seemed worse than all the walk put together. can still smell that dry Eucalpyt scent - beautiful stuff.

[gayet]

Hung jury. Walking on the flat takes the prize!

+1
But if one has to choose 2, I'll take downhill anytime over up. The knees, hips and spine quite like a downhill rush, but they just can't get their act together for any uphill slog.

I'd be a very happy walker if I could find a track that only went downhill or along the flat.

[Tortoise]

A very big +1 on that one, Gaye. I'll let you know if i find one. Of course for me, it'd have to include a spectacular mountain top...

Soooo, I climb mountains because i LOVE being on the top of them, and the view is always best with a good dose of endorphins from the climb. And i love the views on the way up (view stops, camera stops, puff stops, munchie stops, whatever), and on the way down, when my body is generally quite happy, given a pole or two. Searing lungs usually more an issue than knee/hip problems.

[MrWalker]

I'd be a very happy walker if I could find a track that only went downhill or along the flat.

I've gone on quite a few walks thatwere picked out because they are relatively flat and the walk is often a bit disappointing. There is often little change in the vegetation when there is no change in altitude, so walks like the old rail track to Montezuma Falls are not as interesting (along the way) as other walks that involve going up or down. Of course the falls (or whatever you get to) can be worth the trip when you get there.

[Lophophaps]

Bear Grylls is a mainly downhill person. The difficulty is landing on the top of mountain in a national park by helicopter. My understanding is that parachutes are frowned on as well. Mind you, BG was recently seen on or near Milford Track,if not at a summit at a high point, in an aircraft seat.

[davidmorr]

I'd have to agree with Moondog. I do find that I have to stop more often going uphill as it is tiring,

I read once a suggestion that you should walk at a pace that allows you to keep going without having to stop for rests. The advantage of this is that you do not have that cool-down/warm-up cycle to contend with, which allows the body to work more efficiently.

I have been doing this for the last ten years, and it really works. And by walking continuously, perhaps at a slower pace but without breaks, I actually cover more distance in a given time than the people who walk faster but have to rest every so often.

[MrWalker]

I read once a suggestion that you should walk at a pace that allows you to keep going without having to stop for rests. The advantage of this is that you do not have that cool-down/warm-up cycle to contend with, which allows the body to work more efficiently.

I have been doing this for the last ten years, and it really works. And by walking continuously, perhaps at a slower pace but without breaks, I actually cover more distance in a given time than the people who walk faster but have to rest every so often.

I try to avoid taking any breaks too. Rather than recovering I find I get cold and stiff as soon as I stop walking.
I use a water bladder so I don't need to stop to take a bottle out of my pack and this makes it easier to take a mouthful frequently rather than larger amounts less often. I also eat my lunch on the move although I haven't figured out a way to get at my lunch without taking off my backpack. However, I can only eat when on the flat or downhill, as I can't eat properly when gasping for breath going up hill.

[Tortoise]

I read once a suggestion that you should walk at a pace that allows you to keep going without having to stop for rests. The advantage of this is that you do not have that cool-down/warm-up cycle to contend with, which allows the body to work more efficiently.

I have been doing this for the last ten years, and it really works. And by walking continuously, perhaps at a slower pace but without breaks, I actually cover more distance in a given time than the people who walk faster but have to rest every so often.

I try to avoid taking any breaks too. Rather than recovering I find I get cold and stiff as soon as I stop walking.

Actually I do agree - the Slow Plod, with a rhythm of breathing & steps, sometimes allows me to catch up with people who walk faster and stop for longer. Sometimes i can keep it going for ages, but if it's really steep i need the stops too. Often just 20 seconds or so does the trick. My heart rate gets back to something manageable, I get back my lungs, and my muscles don't cool down. It's true that if i slowed the pace even further, I wouldn't need the stops. But I love the views!!