Planning A Successful Hiking Trip

Of course, with a song in your heart and dreamy pocket at Mt. Kilimandjaro you can come up. But a little shock, you're going to be in.
Trekking is hard work without at least pre-trip training or a good basic standard of fitness. Let's be real – anyway, it's difficult to work. The price is paid in sweat for a great trek. Sore calves and dull quads are honourary badges with blisters and lost pride marks.
But, in exchange, you get some of the world's most untouched and pristine scene. And what do you know? The easier it will be, the more you train for your epic walk.
You must not be an Iron Woman to go to the Basicamp Everest, or to the summit of the Toubkal. Far from that. Far from that. Anybody has to work with trekking; just be sensitive and work a little for it. Here are some of our best tips for your next trip:

1. Start walking now (never before the training starts)

This might seem the most obvious step to begin with (forgive the pun), but you would be surprised how many people don't. The best way to get ready for a long journey? Make a few long walks. You should start with small distances and work to the length of your journey. Leave one day between walking when you start your training to recover your body. However, as your body becomes fitter, try every day back to back – it helps to build your strength for the unrelenting nature of a ten-day trek, where you won't have the luxury of relaxing days. You would prefer to spend 4-6 hours walking– comfortably – before you leave.

2. Make your routine of leg-based cardio...

Besides long walks, your daily routine should also include some stick-based cardio. Cycling is great for muscle building in your legs but soccer, soccer, squash and swimming are great as well. Mix your spin classes or cycling explosions with squats and lunges, if you do more fitness workouts (the more weight, the better).

3. ...and every opportunity for you to take the stairs

Stairs and quads can also be done well when you are on the workplace or the train station, so take the stairs instead of the lift or escalator.

4. Make sure that you walk correctly

You do it since you were around one year old, but monitoring how and if you do it properly is super important. Make sure you first hit the ground with your heel and roll over your head, which drives you to the next phase (this will reduce the risk of sparkling waves and tendon pulls – ouch). Continue up with your head, eyes and shoulders.

5. Combine your workout...

It is unlikely that you will walk along highways and highways when you are on your walking, so you should not train just downhill walks and roads. Try to train on surfaces similar to the paths on the trek instead. When you're in the direction of Everest or Kili, try to train on rocky steep ground and loosely shelled; try to find muddy paths if this is Kokoda. It is very important to prepare your feet, knees and ankles for the stress on the trip.

6. ...and walk through all weather types

It is unlikely that you will also have ten straight days of perfect weather on the hike, so be prepared for all conditions by walking cold, windy, warm and humid (if possible, of course!).

7. Try to use pole hiking.

Walking poles will become your two best two new friends when you navigate the Kili gravel paths or lumber down the Dead Woman's Pass on the Inca Trail. They take your knees off on the downs and give you additional support on the ups. Include poles in your workouts so that you're accustomed to walking.

8. Rucksack train

You won't carry your main pack on almost all of our trekking trips, but you'll have to carry a little daypack full of essentials such as your camera, snacks, sun screen, water and water and wet weather supplies. So make sure you are faced with a weighted bag with all of your days/weeks/months of training. If you want to really push it up, pick up your bag with a few extras and so it is a bit heavier than what you are planning to walk with on the trip (chortle).

9. Maintain fuel for the tank

It is so important that you have plenty of food and water on your trek (hydration is important!). Nuts, dried fruit, chocolate and muesli bars are all fine and fast energy sources and protein, and keep in your daypack a selection of these healthy snacks. In addition, bring a reusable cantine; mountain rivers are often a big source of fresh water, but our guides offer boiled (and cooled) water each day. Try to eat and drink 'on-the-ground' while you are in training mode so that your body can get used to digestion during hard work.

10. Good pair shoes investment

Your feet are your most important part of the body on a trek, and keeping them atop a toe does not take much. First, invest in a pair of waterproof and good quality walking boots; you also want lots of help and ventilation. Wear them in, then. Then. How are you doing that? Wear it all over. You train, walk to the shops, work and organize formal events (well, maybe not). But you get the idea; it helps avoid blisters, bunions and lost finger nails by wearing them in the weeks and months leading up to the trek. Then store up on some very good pairs of socks that wind up the moisture and keep your feet dry (preferably the wool/nylon mix),Wear two pairs while you walk to minimize your chance of blistering when you want to get a bit crazy.