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Hiking Strength Program

Hiking Strength Program

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The final installment of the Hiking Strength Series is here!  This post will layout a 10 week program that will target your training to crush your upcoming hiking adventure! The previous Hiking Strength posts detailed different movements and exercises that are the basis of this program.  Descriptions, photos, graphics and videos help provide explanations and movement standards to help get you on your way. Introduction Squats! Bulletproof Your Legs Build a Durable Core Stronger Upper Body The Program The Hiking…

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Hiking Strength Series – Stronger Upper Body

Hiking Strength Series – Stronger Upper Body

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Rounding out the Hiking Strength Series will be upper body work.  If you have followed the series so far, we have discussed various exercises and routines to help you train and prepare for your upcoming hiking adventure (links for previous posts below).  Training your upper body is no different.  For example…hauling heavy packs?  Strengthen shoulders and back.  Scrambling up a rocky face?  Develop capable arms and chest.  Slip, and end up dangling off the side of a cliff clutching a protruding…

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Hiking Strength – Build a Durable Core

Hiking Strength – Build a Durable Core

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The next step in building a strong, trail ready physique will be to focus on core work. On the trail, having a strong and solid core will help you maneuver obstacles, haul packs for miles and will reinforce your overall strength training. During winter backpacking, in particular, pack poundage can tend to add up with the addition of cold weather gear.  The pack here was around 50-60 lbs! Fortunately core training is not just beneficial on the trail, but also…

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Hiking Strength Series – Bulletproof Your Legs

Hiking Strength Series – Bulletproof Your Legs

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A few years back I was on a 3-day Outward Bound (OB) backpacking adventure in the mountains near Leadville, Colorado. It was late October and snow was already knee deep in some areas and just plain slick and wet in others. The goal was a summit attempt on a local 13’er.  We were off trail and learning map and compass skills.  We had just started day two and were a little over 11,000 feet when a member of our team…

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Hiking Strength Series – Squats!

Hiking Strength Series – Squats!

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Kicking off the Hiking Strength Series is the movement most effective for building strength and stability – the Barbell Back Squat.  Hiking and backpacking through rugged terrain or maneuvering steep elevation changes can be physically taxing.  Squats will strengthen the legs, improve hip drive and fortify the core allowing you to power through any technical terrain with confidence.  When trained consistently it will work and develop the entire body, improving strength, mobility, coordination and even endurance.   If there was a…

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Hiking Strength Series – Introduction

Hiking Strength Series – Introduction

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Hiking Strength Series – How to improve strength, stability, and endurance on the trail to be ready for your dream hike “You are wise to climb Mt Fuji, but a fool to do it twice.”   -Proverb In July 2010, I was in Tokyo for a short conference on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.  While there I had the amazing opportunity to climb Mt Fuji and despite my lack of training, I couldn’t miss the chance to see the iconic…

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