Some Ways Of Training For Kilimanjaro

By Scott Morgan


The majestic Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest in Africa. Getting to the highest peak, which stands at 5,895 meters above sea level, presents a huge mental and physical challenge even to the most experienced climbers. Adequate preparation is key to the success of the exercise. It is recommended that one begins training for Kilimanjaro exploration at least two months prior to the exercise.

The type of physical routine that you get involved in should help you build cardiovascular endurance and your muscle strength. Weight training helps you improve your performance and helps protect joints such as the ankles, knees and the spine which tend to be strained when hiking. Your target should be to carry a backpack of about 20 pounds as you take a flight of stairs at a rate of 30 steps a minute.

The main focus of the training should be building cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength. Develop a weight training routine that will help you improve your performance while protecting your joints such as the spine, the knees and the ankles which are at a great risk of injury during hiking. If you can carry a 20 pound backpack up a flight of stairs and climb 30 steps a minute, you are ready for the woods.

Even after you feel that you are ready for the challenge, you will be well advised to visit your doctor to get a comprehensive medical checkup. The doctor should establish whether you have any diseases or medical conditions that may be worsened by the hike. Such may include cardiovascular conditions such as heart failure, anemia and hypotension, metabolic condition such as diabetes and respiratory disorders such as asthma among others.

High altitudes subject the body to a huge stress especially with regard to oxygen requirements. You need to be involved in high altitude training to ensure that you pre-acclimatize to such conditions. The surest way of achieving this is taking part in hiking activities in smaller hills and mountains. If you arrive in Tanzania in good time, you get an opportunity to train on the smaller mountains found in the vicinity of the Kilimanjaro.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced climber, you need to arrive a few days earlier. This will help you relax and shake off the jet lag. At the same time, it will give you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the local climate and food. There is at least a 5% chance of making it to the peak if you arrive in good time.

There are a number of essential things that should make it to your pack. These include navigation equipment such as a map, a compass (or GPS), insulation materials to help protect you from the cold, first-aid supplies, headlamps and sun protection among others. Do not forget to carry your sleeping bag and emergency shelter. As for the clothing, get a waterproof jacket, hiking pants, gloves, a long-sleeved shirt and hiking boots.

Persons that are traveling to Tanzania need to ensure that they have the proper documentation that will allow them enter the country. Visa requirements apply to most countries outside the Commonwealth. Ensure that you find out in advance what is required for your specific case. It would be unfortunate to miss out on the opportunity after weeks of preparations.




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