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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.

It is important that you keep consulting with your doctor to ensure that you remain medically fit. The doctor will subject you to a full checkup to find out if you have any diseases that would make it difficult for you to go for the hike. Some of the conditions that may be a cause for concern include metabolic disorders such as diabetes, chronic respiratory conditions (such as asthma) and cardiovascular disorders such as heart failure and hypotension.

Once you have achieved physical fitness, your next worry should be on how to cope with the challenges of high altitude. One of the biggest problems posed by such altitudes is the fact that the air becomes a lot thinners and breathing becomes quite difficult. To pre-acclimatize to these conditions, you need to be involved in high altitude training. Climbing smaller mountains is one of the ways of doing this.

Regardless of the level of your hiking experience it is advisable that you arrive a few days early. This will give your body a chance to rest as you prepare to take on the mountain. At the same time, you will get a chance to get used to the new climate, food and culture. Persons that arrive early have a higher chance of reaching the summit than those who arrive just before the event.

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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