'Tude, I've always believed the best training for hiking a mountain is hiking a mountain, so I try to do that as often as possible. Unfortunately, the Blue Ridge north of Atlanta where I like to hike has been pretty much snowed out the past two months (yes it snows in the mountains here - normally not that much, but this has been one helluva winter). Most of my hiking this winter season has been at Kennesaw Mountain, about ten minutes from my home (yep, the one in that other thread - damn, I forgot to pack my Glock this past weekend!). The trails are configured brilliantly by the NPS, so that with two mountains of only 800 and 600 feet apparent elevation respectively, I can get about 3000 feet of elevation gain (and loss) in an 8-mile hike. Excellent for the quads, hips and lungs, but doesn't do squat for altitude conditioning. For a trip to the Sierra or Rockies, I always allow myself 3 days of acclimatization time before I begin to feel like I'm hiking normally at 10K and higher. For Whitney, that's meant lots'a Cottonwood/Horseshoe time when I get there.

After reading your workout routine a few months ago, I started doing more crunch sit ups - maybe 700 a week now, but with a goal of 1000 by the end of the month. A nagging tendinitis issue in my shoulder prevents me from doing the push-ups and pull-ups I'd like, so a trip to the doctor for a cortisone-steroid injection is pending. Some mountain biking, lunges and squats round things out for variety. Primarily hiking up/down mountains, though.