2019!! It’s here!! What better way to start the year than by signing yourself up for a big mountain expedition?! I know a few folk out there will have either signed up already or be seriously thinking about it – I certainly can’t stop thinking about the next big trip! A lot of people ask me about the training I do for these trips. You will know your own body and the areas you need to work on. But I have put together by top general tips to guide you into expedition training! These tips are from my own experience on treks, that I wish I’d taken seriously when I first started out!
1) Start Early!
I am the WORST for not starting my expedition training early on! But I promise you the stress you get when suddenly you realise ‘oh shit, I’m climbing a mountain in a couple weeks’ is just not worth it. Get disciplined with yourself and get a routine sorted early on, so it becomes second nature and you don’t even think of it as ‘training’. There will be tough times – but keep thinking of reaching that summit and the elation you’ll have with reaching it!! The training will be worth it, I promise. I started going to spin classes as part of my Stok Kangri training, and the trainer used to refer to “reaching the summit” during a tough climb on the bikes – little did he know how much that motivated me, as I had a genuine summit to think about!
2) Work Those Legs!
Your legs are the biggest muscles in the body. Not only will working them hard increase your general fitness, but for a mountain trek, they are your saviours. Machines at the gym such as the leg press and the stepping machine will work your legs AND your glutes, both big muscles you’ll be relying on day in day out on the trek. Keep in mind if you’re heading to a trek such as Everest Base Camp, where the toilets are ‘squat and drop’, the hint is in the name – get your squat game strong before your trek, because I can tell you from experience, after a long day hiking, with tired legs, it can be a struggle to keep yourself squatted over a hole in the ground to have a pee!
3) Climb a goddamn mountain
Working out in the gym or going for a run will certainly help with your fitness and I absolutely advocate you keep doing those if that’s the exercise you enjoy. But try and get at least a couple of mountain or hill days in. As fit as you are, the environment and terrain can be a further test on a trek. You can walk up a hill on an inclined treadmill in the air conditioned gym – great. This can be quite different to being on an actual mountain, with a heavy backpack, sweltering sun or battering blizzards (sometimes both in one day!), strong winds, sturdy walking boots and differing terrains. Its good to get a judge on how your body copes with these varying factors, as well as working on your fitness, so you won’t get a shock on the trek itself.
If you’re unsure about going out alone, have a look for some local walking groups you can join! For example, Iona’s Adventures (not me, another mountainous Iona!) and Scottish Womens Walking Group are just two great examples. You’ll be getting some good expedition training in, and will meet friendly, like-minded people along the way!
4) Boots
Buy your boots early and train in them. Breaking in your boots is another aspect you need to look at doing early on. Wear them on your training hillwalks, wear them to the gym, wear them on your commute to work. The more you wear them before your trek, the better. They will become your best friend! Also try different sock combinations to test what works for you and your feet. Some people prefer one pair of very thick socks, some prefer socks with built-in liners. Personally I prefer a pair of liner socks and a separate pair of trekking socks on top (Bridgedale socks are honestly the best socks I’ve tried yet and are well worth the price). Find what suits you and your feet, as everyone is different.
5) Speak about it!
The more you speak about your trip, the more it will be at the forefront of your mind. Put photographs around your house, or pin motivational messages on your fridge and your desktop. When people ask you about your trip, speak positively and confidently tell them all about it. It will really set it in with yourself just exactly what you are working towards too! EXCITING.
So that’s my top five tips for training for a mountain trek! And don’t forget to be proud of yourself!!! Signing up to these trips is an incredible first step! You have an amazing goal to work towards, and I promise the harder you work in your expedition training, the more enjoyable the trip will be.
If you have a big adventure coming up, drop me a comment below, I would love to know about it. And if you enjoy my posts, make sure you’ve subscribed by email!
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