No backpacker – beginner or expert – can ignore physical fitness in preparing for a climb. A certain level of fitness is required for a pleasant and safe climb. In order to enjoy the scenery and the company of fellow backpackers, one must be fit enough to keep up with them. The lack of preparation has made a lot of potentially great climbs end in total disaster.

To help you in preparing for a climb, we have listed down some
guidelines.

1. All participants of the climb must be physically fit. The best type of fitness program involves continuous endurance training through aerobic sports such as swimming, cycling, and walking.
2. Weight training is the perfect supplement to an aerobic program. This will help you develop your muscular strength and endurance.
3. Any participant in a climb who gets sick before the climb should forego his participation. A sickly climber only becomes a laibility of the group.
4. An old adage says that the best exercise for backpacking is backpacking. The hardiest hikers and climbers are those who spent a great deal of their time hiking, backpacking and climbing.
5. Being fit gives you the confidence to tackle backpacking or climbing trips, such that psyching comes almost naturally.