Students can participate in the Stairway to Everest Challenge without following Training for Everest, however, it will add an important dimension to the experience. Training for Everest has been developed in consultation with Les Gramantik, Byron Smith's personal trainer for the climb. Les is Director for Athletics, National Sport Centre, Calgary. Byron would like to encourage all students, regardless of ability, to make healthy decisions about their lifestyle, such as choosing to include moderate physical activity on a regular basis. Training for Everest is designed to allow participants to set their own training goals.
Individuals decide how quickly they meet and adjust their goals, assisted by heart rate monitoring.
Byron wants students to challenge their abilities, but not to set unrealistic goals. Physical training is one more way for students to fully participate in the Everest 2000 Expedition. Students will learn more about the cycles of physical training for an athlete, and will understand the commitment that Byron has had to make for the expedition. In the following phases, students will be engaged in experiments, activities and interactions with the expedition team as they explore the effects of intense physical activity at high altitudes. Students will relate this to Byron's training and physical fitness, and will compare the results of their experiments and activities to those conducted at Basecamp on Mt. Everest.