Running down a mountain

A

akennedy73

Joined
May 5, 2006
Messages
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Anyone ever run down a mountain? I've only done it twice - once in the Olympic Peninsula in some really wet conditions and once in the Canadian Rockies coming down from the Lake Agnes teahouse. It's a helluva lot of fun, probably one of the most fun things I've ever done - just wondering if anyone else has tried it. Here's a pretty good description of what it's like by Jack Kerouac:

"I looked up and saw Japhy running down the mountain in huge twenty-foot leaps, running, leaping, landing with a great drive of his booted heels, bouncing five feet or so, running, then taking another long crazy yelling yodelaying sail down the sides of the world and in that flash I realized it's impossible to fall off mountains you fool and with a yodel of my own I suddenly got up and began running down the mountain after him doing exactly the same huge leaps, the same fantastic runs and jumps..."
 
I call running down a mountain: "joint destruction derby". You'll either wear out your knees, twist an ankle, and/or trip and fall. Too dangerous for me.
 
Sure, I've done it several times, in my younger years;)--the Flat irons in Colorado. I'm middle-aged now and definitely would not do it like that anymore, but if you haven't tried it, you should.
 
I have jogged and slid down mountains before. Once, after a long and difficult ascent, I noticed that some rough weather was quickly rolling in, and I decided that a speedy descent would be preferable to a slow but damp one. It worked out, but my knees were burning the next day - which, fortunately, I was able to spend in a canoe, off my feet.

But, I have never set out to run down a mountain. Usually, I prefer to take my time and enjoy the view.

All the best,

- Mike
 
i've done it before, its loads of fun. i feel like the hulk in the first movie that came out a few years ago-when he is bouncing through the desert with 1/2 mile steps... feels fantastic to fly down a moutain, barely in control.

as far as preserving the joints-i just try not to do it too often, and i don't lock my knees at all, only keep them slightly bent at all times. this reduces the stress, but it is still alot of shock on the joints. the trick is to try to flow-not to make individual jumps or steps, but to just use your legs to make sure you aren't on your face.

it is exhilirating though, a little bit crazy feeling.

doing it in races is great too. there is one course i ran several times for the fall season, and its so much fun to just fly down. the only problem is that even when you are using gravity in your favor it still wears you out some, and worn out isn't what you want when you are running a 5000 meter race.
 
I don't really do full runs but I do go downhill pretty quick. I support my weight a lot with a good hiking pole though so I don't kill my knees.
 
Old joke - the difference between a young and old bull:

Young bull to Old Bull: "Let's run down the hill and s***w us a cow"

Old Bull to Young Bull: "Let's walk down the hill and s***w them all."
 
I'll do this on scree, call it scree skiing. My knees are way too old to do this on solid ground.

Gordon
 
That is one of the most fun thing to do. I do it mostly in the winter time when the grass is hight and thick lol.... But yes at 42 i still do it.. When you get to the bottom you got the bigest smile... The best way to do it is when you have a dog. You run down the hill and he is trying to trip you by getting infront of you or trying to jump on you at full speed. Just the thought of it and i cant stop smiling.
It should be an olympic sport if you ask me.

Sasha
 
I just watched the video and I'm still laughing. I've run down a few mountains when I was in my 20's. Full throttle, barely in control with a grin from ear to ear. Took a few good spills, but sure had fun. I'm now in my mid 40's and a bit more cautious but after seeing that video, might just try it again.
 
I prefer to have some controll going down a mountain. Out there it is sometimes rocks and roots and stuff to stumble in and smash against.
And anyway, the real challenge is to run UP, like some did in the video.;)
timann
 
Not a mountain but steep hills. A friend of mine tripped over a root doing it , and seriously injured himself. Broke his nose, and sinuses. He had a couple of seizures in the days following the accident.
 
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