Often people grow weary of the traditional methods to get fit, so personal trainer, Victor Surma, shows us how we can conquer mountains and get fit at the same time.
For anyone that has ever done some hiking, they know that nothing gets your heart beating faster than walking uphill. Add a 30-pound backpack to the mix and hiking up a mountain becomes one of the most challenging forms of exercise there is.
Climbing a Mountain as a goal can take hiking to a whole other level. Victor Surma says the following about mountain climbing:
“Mountain climbing is an excellent sport to get in to. For some it is an adrenaline rush and for others it is an opportunity to connect with the world around them. Climbing tests the strength and endurance of the person willing to put everything they have on the line.”
How to Train for Mountain Climbing
While most people won’t have Mount Everest or K2 on their list of mountains to climb, there probably is a peak just above 10,000 feet not too far away that would be a good goal for the first big mountain climbing experience.
Even a 10,000 foot peak can be challenging and needs some preparation ahead of the experience to ensure that a person not only reaches their goal, but also is as safe as possible. Victor Surma believes training is essential for a positive and safe mountain climbing experience.
- Start small– Several months prior of a big climb, people should be out just about every weekend climbing smaller mountains or hills. Challenging day hikes are a great way to begin conditioning the body for the mountain climbing experience. Pick hikes with increasing elevation change and duration. Even small hills can be good training hills by walking up and down them several times. This provides a great opportunity for people to explore the area in which they live. Even in America’s biggest cities, most are just an hour or so away from some great wilderness areas and state parks.
- Strengthen legs, knees, and the core– A strong core, legs, and knees are crucial for mountain climbing. During the weekdays Victor Surma recommends further cardio and strength training. Squats are one of the best exercises for this. Doing squats strengthens the core, strengthens the legs, and strengthens all the stabilizing muscles around the knees and ankles. Climbing up the mountain can be difficult, but many injuries occur coming down. Strengthening the knees and legs can helps prevent this.
- Pack training.- Since most 10,000 foot peaks will require at least one overnight in the wilderness or a cabin, people will have to pack in their gear. This adds another 30 pounds depending on the conditions expected. Smaller hikes leading up to the big climb should include training with a 30-pound pack. This conditions your body to the pack and will make the big climb a lot easier. This also assists in ensuring that the pack fits and is adjusted properly to the climber’s body. A bad fitting pack can cause a lot of unneeded difficulty on the trail.
- Train mentally– Despite the best training, mountain climbing is mentally challenging. It’s important that people mentally prepare for what they are about to do. There will be times on the trail that the climber has to “will” each step and push through the pain and/or fear. Victor Surma believes that training mentally before the climb is essential. Rock climbing gyms and high ropes courses are great for this type of training. They push the climber’s limits and put him/her out of their comfort zone. Unprepared people can fall apart mentally on the trail, but this is preventable if climbers are mentally prepared.
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Victor Surma Stresses the Importance of Research
According to Victor Surma, climbers should learn everything there is to know about the peak chosen. This includes the best time of year to climb, the weather conditions, the ranger station locations, maps, and what others have said about the climb. Because of the Internet, climbers can be well prepared and eliminate potential dangers from being ill advised.
Based of this research establish a contingency plan to use if things go horribly wrong or if the weather changes unexpectedly. Being prepared for every possible scenario is what separates those that survive from those that die when the climb doesn’t go as expected.
The Joy is in the Journey
Victor Surma urges everyone who wants to engage in mountain climbing for fitness to enjoy the experience and soak all aspects of the training in. Climbers have the chance to see beautiful scenery and experience sites the average person will never experience. Being focused on the goal and task of getting up the mountain is great, but take some time along the way to appreciate the journey and the scenery.
The benefits of mountain climbing are countless and most people after climbing their first peak have to experience the rush again by challenging themselves with even higher, more challenging climbs. From the sense of accomplishment and the feeling of being on top of the world, Victor Surma recommends mountain climbing to anyone who is looking for adventure and a change to the mundane fitness routine.
