My favorite vacations involve at least one glute busting hike with insane elevation gains and impressive mountain views. These hikes are often breathtaking, but they can test you mentally and physically. The good news? There are ways you can prepare before you hop on a plane for your next hiking adventure.
Physical Prep
- Add some hill workouts into your fitness routine
- Have a gym membership? Hop on the treadmill and increase the incline! Walking on the treadmill with an incline can mimic what you’ll experience when you’re climbing up a steep hike.
- Do you struggle with boredom at the gym? You can buy a treadmill with a screen that provides you with virtual hikes led by trainers. For example, this NordicTrack can make you feel like you’re hiking all over the world from the comfort of your home.
- Need a more budget-friendly option? Find a park with physical hills! Michigan is one of the flattest states in the US, but I’ve been able to find some awesome hills at my local Metropark.
- Cardio, cardio, cardio.
- No one wanted to see this one on the list, but everyone knew it would be here.
- Make sure you’re doing 30-60 minutes of cardio 3 times a week whether it’s biking, power walking, swimming, or running. You won’t regret adding this into your routine!
- Pro tip: once a week, take a brisk walk with your hiking backpack. Make sure you include weight in your pack such as a first aid kid, snacks, and water bottles. This will help get you ready for that extra load you’ll be carrying on your hikes.
- Start practicing yoga
- This one may surprise most readers! Yoga is so beneficial for flexibility, strength, and mental strength, but one thing I’ve found particularly helpful for hiking is yogic breathing. Learning how to control my breathing has made high elevation hikes easier on me. I spend less time panting and I’m able to conquer steep hikes more easily!
What to Bring With You
- Pack a pair of trekking poles
- For too long, I suffered without trekking poles. I thought they looked lame and were cheating. Boy, oh boy, was I wrong. Poles provide you with additional stability, they protect your knees, and they make going uphill easier.
- If you’re an avid hiker, I recommend purchasing higher-end poles. I have Black Diamond’s Distance Z Trekking Poles and I love them.
- Not yet convinced that the trekking pole life is for you? There are budget poles you can buy such as these Mountainsmith Roamer poles.
When You Arrive
- Water, water, water!
- Starting the day you leave, make sure you’re hydrated. Staying hydrated while you travel will always make you feel better, but especially in the case of travel where you’re doing physical activity.
- Pro tip: bring an empty water bottle or two to the Airport. There are usually filling stations after TSA.
- Give yourself time to adjust to elevation
- I live in Michigan around 650 feet above sea level. When I travel to places like Denver that are much higher, I give myself a day or two in the area before doing a rigorous hike. My body just isn’t used to thinner air and exercise is going to be more difficult until I’m acclimated.
On Your Hiking Adventure
- Bring snacks on the trail with you
- Having fuel on a hike will allow you to continue pushing yourself and will provide your body the energy it needs to recover after the hike. I personally like to bring an apple, a couple of sandwiches, some granola bars, and flavor blasted cheddar goldfish. Don’t forget to pack your trash out! At Floral and Fauna, we leave no trace.
- And as a bonus, is there anything more magical than enjoying a PB&J on the top of a mountain you just summited? I don’t think so.
- Take your time!
- Hiking is not a race. Feel free to take breaks as often as you need. Pull over on the side of the trail, drink some of your water, and even eat some of your snacks.
- The outdoors is for everyone. Let me repeat that: the outdoors is for everyone. Of course, you shouldn’t choose a hike outside of your skillset for safety purposes. But you belong out on the trail! You may get passed and you may get passed a lot, that does not matter. I frequently get passed by people with gray hair who look at least 3 decades older than me. You know what I think when they pass? God, I hope I’m still doing this when I’m their age.
I hope some of these tips will help you prepare for your next hiking adventure. Are there any tips you have that I didn’t include? Comment below!
Happy Travels!
XOXO, Mackenzie
