Where do I Begin? Preparing Yourself for the Big Hike

Mountaineering, unlike other sports, requires specific conditioning of the body in order to be at par with its rigorous environmental conditions. Other than making yourself tuned-up and physically fit for the hike, you must be aware of certain pre-climbing preparations in order to ensure you and your team a fun and safe climb.

This conditioning tackles not only the body but the mind as well. Although it might require quite a bucket load of hardwork, perseverance, and patience, its purpose would bear fruit once the trek begins.

Listed below are some guidelines to put you in the most ideal condition for your hike:

Full body check-up. Knowing your body well bodes crucial especially if you are just beginning your journey towards the life of mountaineering. Be it your hobby or your chosen profession, having every part of your body checked is vital to knowing your strengths, capabilities, and limits. So go out and see your physician and don’t forget to tell him the purpose of getting this check-up. Remember, just like any other check-ups, your doctor wouldn’t know the what’s and how’s if you don’t tell them what you want and more importantly, what you need.
Engage on a proper diet. Now that you know the current condition of your body, it is high time that you become aware of what you put inside your body. This includes the solid and liquid intakes you are having prior to any training you engage it. Keep in mind that hiking would require you a lot of energy to burn and more than a lung full of air to breathe in. This means that you can’t eat too much of anything. Balance is key here, although cutting back on foods that would be harder to burn is also important. If your doctor advised you to lose some weight, then it would be better to consult an expert for a planned diet.
Workout. If you’re serious about making mountaineering your choice of sport or profession, it would be advisable to enroll yourself to a gym and get a trainer. In most cases, this type of conditioning requires cardiovascular training and upper body strengthening. However, there is nothing better than getting help of an expert in order to know what kind of training your body should undergo in order to withstand any conditions your mountain of choice might present.
Daily exercise. Although the gym would help in the toning of the body, it is also recommended to alot a couple of minutes of exercise to get your body used to physical activities and ready for the day.
Talk to peers/teammates. Doing anything alone could not only be boring, but considering a preparation this rigorous; it would also be disheartening when the going gets tough. What better way than to have someone share with the experience and reap the benefits of this conditioning? So grab a friend and start preparing for the hike of your life.