> Someone going backpacking a few weeks every year is not going to have the same specific training. In fact, the paper goes into details about the specific str

> Someone going backpacking a few weeks every year is not going to have the same specific training. In fact, the paper goes into details about the specific strength training program carried out for this Chaco Canyon research. From https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.103876 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.103876 : "Author JC, a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), designed the training protocol. Subjects trained 6 or 7 days per week for 10 to 60 + minutes per day. Subjects initially alternated daily between training for a short duration (15–30 min) versus a longer duration (30–60 + min of carriage). For approximately the first half of the training program, the longer duration training sessions used lighter loads and the shorter duration training sessions used heavier loads. This allowed for subjects to become accustomed to both heavier loads and longer duration carries separately. By ∼Day 45 of training, subjects had become comfortable with heavier loads (∼25 kg) and henceforth kept the loads fairly constant while increasing session durations. By varying the loads and durations, subjects progressed in their training program with minimal soreness and no pain. Note that for safety, when donning and doffing the tumpline, the training logs were supported by a bench or table, at the approximate height of the lower back. By the end of the training phase, subjects JW and RK were able to comfortably carry 30 kg for 60 min solo without pain."