Handling Tough Uphill Hikes

Train with a Backpack, use Trekking Poles, and Get on the Trail Early

Jul 20, 2006

There is not much to say about hard hikes up hill with a full pack on. They are strenuous and exhausting. There are a few things you can do to make them easier though.

Train.

The only way to adjust to carrying a heavy pack is to carry a heavy pack. Load the pack down with some bags of sand or dumbbells in a stuff sack. I have found that going on my morning walks all year round with 37 pounds in an old external frame pack keeps me in shape for trips. I make sure to include a steep hill on my walks.

Use Trekking Poles.

Trekking poles make an uphill climb much easier, becuase you are getting some lift with your arm muscles, instead of just climbing with your legs. Trekking poles also provide a hiker with stability. If you slip with a loaded backpack on, it is much easier to catch youself from a pole four feet off the ground with a trekking pole, than catching yourself with your hand on the way down, and risking an injury.

Start Early.

The most difficult uphill hikes are more easily conquered when you start at dawn. You get the luxury of hiking in cool air, and being refreshed from a night's sleep at the trailhead. You also are able to take more rest and food/water breaks and not rush up the trail to set up camp before dark. More than once I have started at sunrise, stopped around 1pm to take a nap, (sometimes even setting up my tent), then begun again to hike for several more hours.

The copyright of the article Handling Tough Uphill Hikes in Backpacking, Hiking & Camping is owned by James E. Ratzloff. Permission to republish Handling Tough Uphill Hikes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Jul 21, 2006 3:16 PM

Jill Florio :

excellent information and article! I would add that if you are a treadmill user, you can set your treadmill for the highest incline choice available. You can also wear a pack on the treadmill. Don't be embarrased if you are in a public gym! It's better to be more fit on the trail...and you might make a friend in the gym (when people asking you what you are training for).

Jul 21, 2006 3:49 PM

Jill Florio :

oh, and btw, your pictures are superb, as always. What are your dogs' names? THey look like awesome friends. :)

Jul 22, 2006 3:23 PM

Kelby Carr :

This is a great article... I've always done the uphill hikes the wrong way... occasionally, with no training, so that halfway up I'm asking myself, "Why the * did I decide to do this???" Then, of course, I get to the top and remember. If you haven't been, I highly recommend climbing Montsegur near the Pyrenees. It's got cool ruins of a Cathar castle at the top. It's a short climb (maybe 20-30 minutes up), but it's pretty hard. I don't think you can camp there, but there is a great chambre d'hote (b&b) in the village below.

The walking stick advice is great, too!! I remember whenever we would climb and camp years ago, we always looked for a good sturdy, long stick at the beginning to take on the climb. That probably isn't the best way to do it, but it was always fun to take it home and use it again later. We'd even carve off the bark so it was smooth.