| Talk to a mountain climber. They often speak of their experiences as sacred journeys. For some, climbing a cliff brings them to the edge of life and death. Whether on a moderate alpine rock climb or Mount Everest, staying mindful of your needs is vital. Imagine one of these people, scaling a boulder -- so adventurous. Actually, climbing is not spontaneous travel at all. You have to know every single rock and piece of equipment, and train months, sometimes years, in advance. With application, comes a greater sense of fulfillment … which takes time and patience.
The first lesson: Embrace the fact that we’re all different. “People come in many shapes, sizes, and ability levels, and each of our unique physiologies plays the central
role in determining what it takes for us to adequately prepare for a chosen objective,” according to the American Alpine Institute (AAI). So it’s important to start training gradually, and of course, to stay hydrated. How soon is too soon to start training? It’s never too soon, but it can be too late. Even experts admit that work, personal life and mental health can get in the way of training. Do you have a gym membership … and use it? Then a few months of training should do the trick. A bit of a couch potato? Invest at least a year.
The second, rather obvious piece of advice: “Climbing is the best training for climbing.” If getting outside is a challenge, then simulate what you would experience on a real climb. Hiking, stairs, skiing, swimming, trail running, and mountain biking all do the trick. Indoor activities can also prepare you. AAI recommends a low intensity cardio warmup to get the blood flowing, weight training, then a
longer cardio session to target cardio-fitness and move the blood through the muscles broken down during the workout.
Third, plan ahead. Create a weekly schedule for exercise and rest days. Set specific goals. Be patient with your body. And finally, tackle that mountain. Professional climber and guide Coley Gentzel eats fatty foods to build up stores because heading into the mountains, where he expects to burn lots of calories.
Even if you’re not a mountain climber, what’s your workout? We each have something that gets our blood flowing. Take a moment. Plan how you can reach your highest potential. As Coley does, journal on the whole experience. Conquer that learning curve, reflect on what you enjoy and what you could do better in the future. Climbing is the best training for climbing. So do what you want to do, every day, and you’ll reach that peak.
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