Expedition Fit for a climb

Article Written By: rubelzaman

One of the main questions I get asked when organising an expedition is, How fit do I need to be? and What should I do to get fit for a climb? Every climb is different and requires different skills and different levels of fitness and endurance but I will try and supply some general tips for undertaking a trek at high altitude and staying healthy while at altitude.

The first element is personal fitness. It is all well and good running 10k every day on the running machine and rowing another 10K, and although this will help you prepare, to be truly prepared for the mountains you must be mountain fit and this involves getting out into the mountains and walking. If you don t have access to a mountain it is important to get out and walk in the countryside on hilly terrain. Another element which will help is to train with a weight in your backpack. This will get you accustomed to walking with a pack and to walking with weight.

Over the years I have seen super fit tri-athletes curl into balls at 4500 metres while 17 stone individuals plod their way to the top of trekking peaks. This is not due to fitness but altitude and the effects it can have on every individual varies. It is very difficult to predict who will be affected and the degree of severity.If you are slightly ill before going to altitude this can have a negative effect on the body which in turn increases the risk of your body not adjusting well to altitude.

Something as minor as a slight head cold can have very negative consequences on the body as you ascent into high altitude. One of the best ways to try and combat the effects is to drink as much water while at altitude as your body allows; keeping hydrated greatly increases your chances of not succumbing to form of altitude sickness.

Food and cleanliness while eating is another important factor to consider when at altitude. The higher the body goes the less food it wants to digest. It is important to eat as much as you can to keep your strength up. The food supplied on expeditions is not to everyone s taste and it is good to take your favourite chocolate bars and food that you will be able to consume if the camp cooking isn t to your liking. This will keep your strength up and give you a better shot at making it to the summit.

Hygiene while eating is also very important and I have seen more than a few summit bids halted due to diarrhoea through unhygienic practices while eating. Wash your hands at every opportunity and take a supply of wet wipes and anti-bacterial gel to make sure you are not touching food with dirty hands.

The most import thing to do while on an expedition is to listen to your local guides, they will know every trick in the book for a successful summit and 99% of the time will prove to be an inexhaustible resource of good advice.

About the Author

Why not Climb Kilimanjaro for charity? You can get fit, raise money and conquer the great Kilimanjaro climb - in one life changing trip!

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