Training & Wilderness Adventure

Training for Wilderness Adventures

For the most common wilderness experience, hiking, the best training is simply to hike. This is true for any wilderness activity: canoeing, climbing, caving, etc. Most outdoor activities lie in this strange middle ground between strength and cardiovascular fitness. I would say most importantly you should train your cardiovascular fitness if practicing the activity itself isn’t an option. This can be whatever method you want. Running, cycling, swimming, etc., are all good ways. I don’t have any predetermined way I train for adventures. I don’t train for them specifically either. If you can prepare for a big outing by doing said activity before hand, that is best.

During your Adventure

If you’re going on a long adventure, I’d say 10 days plus, depending on the nature of the activity, it’s going to be hard to continue to train for weight lifting or running. You probably won’t have the means and should focus on your activity anyway.

Post Adventure

Your fitness is probably going to suffer during your adventure. Typically, the kind of activity you’re doing doesn’t normally translate to lifting or running. The longer and more physically demanding your trip is, the more rough it will be getting back to normal training. Your strength and endurance will come back fairly quickly though and there is no need to worry if your strength/endurance has declined a bit.