May 10
10
Getting Ready for Hiking Season
I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to hit the trail! This is a tough time of year, waiting to get into the high country without having to lug any extra equipment along. I’m primarily a day hiker so my favorite season is coming up. Most of my favorite hikes are above 8,000 feet and it’s still a bit early but that doesn’t mean you can’t be preparing now for the end of June.
If you want to make the most of your day hikes, it’s a good time to get in shape. No matter where you hike in the mountains, chances are, you are going to be gaining some elevation on those hikes. Some of you may even travel to Colorado to do some hiking and probably live in a city at or near sea level. Here in Southwest Colorado, the elevation varies but suffice it to say you won’t find many hikes around this area that start under 6,500 feet.
Although there is no way to train for the reduced oxygen here at higher altitudes, you can get yourself in good physical shape which should make it easier for you to adapt. One good piece of advice is to plan on acclimating to the altitude when vacationing in the mountains. That means that you should spend a few days taking it easy and getting accustomed to the thinner air before you hit a strenuous hiking trail.
There is no special exercise that you need to do to prepare, just get out and start doing some walking especially if you’ve been pretty sedentary this winter. Add some cardio to your walking by picking up the pace and throwing in some hills. Any type of squats or lunges that build up your quads will also help you out. Cycling, swimming, running, roller-blading are all good ways to have fun while getting in shape.
Being physically fit will help you feel good while hiking up a mountain and will make your experience more pleasurable. Take some time each day to get out and get moving and start planning your hiking trip to Colorado so you have a good incentive to keep up the good work.
