Fitness & Training for Alpine climbing and Mountain expeditions
It is important you maintain a constant overall level of fitness. Technical expertise is also fundamental in all mountain and backpacking activities.
Trekking and climbing peak trips.
The difficulty of a mountain and trekking trip lies in altitude and terrain. Your personality, strengh and endurance also play a role in mountain challenges.
Even for "non-technical" treks or peaks, practicing outdoor activities is essential.
Long cardio runs or bike rides help to improve your stamina and your ability to walk longer and faster. Gym, weight training and aerobic fitness programs give more strengh and prevent injury. Prefer aerobics and cardio training instead of heavy weightlifting. But the best tip is ... go climbing!
Even with popular and non-technical hikking peaks like Kilimanjaro or Mt Kenya you get a real taste of high altitude, Acute Mountain Sickness and severe weather.
Snow-capped peaks.
Those peaks require special equipment and technical gear : crampons, ice axe, safety harness, carabiner ... Slopes are usually moderately steep but you need to have the sufficient knowledge and mountaineering skills to challenge yourself on high climbing peaks.
It is often recommended to take two to three days ice class to learn the use of picks, crampons, ascenders and learn the basics. Chamonix Valley is one of the best place to learn. Book with us a training course in Chamonix Valley >
High Altitude Climbing Expeditions.
Expedition peaks are mentally and physically extremely demanding. Go running with weighted bagpack. Strive to hike faster. Tackle long days of walk in strenuous terrain. Climb steeper hills. Be ready for the unexpected. In one word ... kick yourself !
Your exercises should be based on heavy training programs designed to increase your strengh, power and stamina. Thoses peaks demand excellent glacier travel skills, heavy mountaineering ability and very strong determination. It is also highly recommended to make a test of endurance before your climb to be sure that you are able to acclimatize properly during tough efforts.
You must also have sufficient knowledge of AMS (Altitude Mountain Sickness), to recognize their symptoms and have the sufficient knowledge of prevention and treatment.
It is also essential that you get enough rest before your climb and be in excellent physical and psychologiacal condition.
Learn more, Get higher.
Ifremmont aims to develop Mountain Medecine Activities in placing its experts as well as its specialized structures and logistics to provide mountain medecine assistance on each expedition. Its 24/7 medical monitoring on expedition thanks to satellite connexions offers the best medical advice and assistance on expedition. The medical monitoring is provided by expedition doctors and expert physicians that can be reached by Sat Phone or via Internet with a webcam. Combine with the all equiped medical suitcase, Ifremmont offers high level of expertise even on remote Base Camps.
Ifremmont also perform Medical Training Sessions for all climbers.
Ultra-marathon is the ultimate challenge that involves running longer than the traditional Marathon length of 42.195 kilometres (26.2188 mi). You should be able to run greater distance, to be mentally prepared and to develop a strong determination to achieve your goals.
You must train on regular basis on steep mountain trails, develop your muscle strength and improve your stamina. It is highly recommended that you participate to running events in the aim to improve your performance and reach your goals. Train hard !
