Seven tips to help you training for your Pinatubo hike.
1) Engage in aerobic exercises. Whether it's running, climbing stairs or even your gym aero group classes what's important is that you work on strengthening your heart and lung muscles. Recommended frequency: 1hr a day, 3-4 times a week.
2) Pump it! Lift weights to strengthen your thigh and calf muscles. When these babies are strong, climbing those mountains will feel like less of a punishment. Include your arm and stomach muscles as well by doing pushups, situps or stomach crunches.
3) Use the stairs. Any time you have a choice, skip the elevator and escalator and take the stairs. Example, you work at the 15th floor of your office building. Take the elevator up to the 13th floor then take the stairs to your office. This is an easy way to build up your leg muscles little by little.
4) Take long walks. and, whenever possible, incorporate hills and stairs into those walks. You’ll likely be on trails for extended periods of time on a trek – getting used to walking for hours at a time will help you endure once you’re on the hike.
5) Hike at altitude. If you’re climbing, you’ll likely be at some level of altitude. By spending your weekends hiking in the mountains, it will help you get used to the altitude at your destination.
6) Carry some added weight. During at least some of your workouts, walks or hikes, carry a backpack that has the approximate weight you’ll be carrying with you on the climb.
7) Walk in hiking boots that are well broken in. Whether you need heavy duty boots or those that are light hikers, don’t wait until the last minute to make sure they fit well and are comfortable. Also, by building up some callouses prior to your climb, it’ll ensure fewer problems in the mountains.
The bottom line? The better shape you’re in prior to departure, the better the experience will be once you’re on the trail.
Showing posts with label hiking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hiking. Show all posts
Preparing for a hike
Read these tips to prepare for a Hike
1. Decide where you want to go and do you homework. Your decision should be based on a number of considerations including, but not limited to, your current level of experience and fitness, whether you will be hiking alone or with a group, time of the year, recent weather patterns, expected distance to be covered, expected period to cover said distance and difficulty of terrain.
2. Analyse expected terrain. There are a lot of books and online reasources now that are available that can help would-be hikers on preparing themselves for their adventure. Look for information on distance, estimated time of completion, vegetation, campsite and water source locations and requirements on skill and equipments. National parks authorities are also a good source of first-hand information.
3. Take weather conditions seriously. Check weather forecasts BEFORE heading out. You are looking forward to an adventure, not a survival mission. Optimism is good but accept the reality that weather situations can and may change - you must be ready to deal with them accordingly. Be prepared to postpone your trip if the weather is not very cooperative.
4. Pack wisely. Take only the necessary gears with the least amount of weight.
a. Consider bringing items that are multi-functional over gears that can be used only for one-specific task.
b. Avoid food with heavy or excessive packaging. If you really need to carry some food that is heavy, try consuming it on the the earlier part of the climb.
c. Aim for clothing that is lightweight but has good insulating power.
d. Check if there is a regular supply of water along the way. This may minimize the water weight you need to carry for the duration of the hike.
1. Decide where you want to go and do you homework. Your decision should be based on a number of considerations including, but not limited to, your current level of experience and fitness, whether you will be hiking alone or with a group, time of the year, recent weather patterns, expected distance to be covered, expected period to cover said distance and difficulty of terrain.
2. Analyse expected terrain. There are a lot of books and online reasources now that are available that can help would-be hikers on preparing themselves for their adventure. Look for information on distance, estimated time of completion, vegetation, campsite and water source locations and requirements on skill and equipments. National parks authorities are also a good source of first-hand information.
3. Take weather conditions seriously. Check weather forecasts BEFORE heading out. You are looking forward to an adventure, not a survival mission. Optimism is good but accept the reality that weather situations can and may change - you must be ready to deal with them accordingly. Be prepared to postpone your trip if the weather is not very cooperative.
4. Pack wisely. Take only the necessary gears with the least amount of weight.
a. Consider bringing items that are multi-functional over gears that can be used only for one-specific task.
b. Avoid food with heavy or excessive packaging. If you really need to carry some food that is heavy, try consuming it on the the earlier part of the climb.
c. Aim for clothing that is lightweight but has good insulating power.
d. Check if there is a regular supply of water along the way. This may minimize the water weight you need to carry for the duration of the hike.
