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Physical Fitness
Physical
fitness is an important part of any outdoor activity. But for those people
interested in getting into trekking, physical fitness is probably less of an
issue at the start than you might think. Since you will be starting with short
treks and working your way up, your fitness level is likely to build along with
your experience. An enthusiastic attitude is far more important at this stage in
the game. You can be the fittest person in the world but if you have no genuine
interest in trekking it will not become a long term activity for you.
However,
if you are planning to join a commercial
trekking or
mountaineering expedition you will need to
develop a high level of fitness so that you can comfortably and safely endure
several weeks on the trail.
Physical
training
There is no single fitness program to suit every person. We are all different.
You are advised to consult a fitness training professional to work out a program
that suits you but here are a few suggestions:
• Just do it:
There is no better training than trekking itself. Get a daypack on and get out
there as often as you can. But if, like most of us, your free time is limited
there are other things you can do to fill the gaps.
• Treadmill:
A treadmill is an awesome machine for building fitness and stamina. It is the
ideal instrument for helping to build a rhythm because it can run at a constant
speed. A good treadmill will also have an incline function to simulate hills and
a custom program function that lets you 'dial your own trek', hills and all! One
big advantage of training on a treadmill is that you can gradually increase your
pace and train your body to perform at a faster pace comfortably. This is
vitally important if you eventually plan on joining a mountaineering group where
safety and efficiency require the entire team to move quickly and together. For
example, in a storm or avalanche prone environment. It's worth a thought at this
stage.
• Weight training:
This is a subject that has sparked hot debate in the past among trekkers and
mountaineers. Some seasoned trekkers will tell you that there is absolutely no
need to weight train for this sport, with some claiming that they have never
lifted a dumbell in their lives but can trek for days on end. This may be the
case, but again, everyone is different. Remember that your body is the vehicle
that you are preparing to take offroad. Commonsense suggests that if the various
muscle groups are worked and exercised regularly then they will perform more
efficiently when the going gets tough and the trail gets rugged. Again, consult
a fitness professional for advice on a program that suits your individual needs
before attempting any of the above. |
