onebigelk: I went on my first elk hunt, at about 10500' to 11700' last fall, at the age of 50. It was a little hard starting but got easier as the hunting season progressed. Good conditioning is worth the trouble. I used to think to myself while suffering during my conditioning sessions that the pain I was experiencing then was going to diminish the pain that I would otherwise feel on the hunt if I didn't condition. Just a minor point of interest . . . I had my weight about where it ought to be and had conditioned a lot before the hunt, but nevertheless I lost about 10 LBS of weight during the 5 day 1st rifle season in Colorado and the couple of days of scouting/camp set-up preceeding the season. That suggests the rigors of mountain elk hunting. Also, I thought I was well conditioned, but I still got very tired and beat. I was able to keep after it every day, however, and that is a big part of the battle. Just keep after it, keep on going.