Levels of performance are rising even among recreational climbers and mountaineers. Good physical conditioning is one of the keys and can make the difference between enjoying an outing and merely enduring it. Most mountaineers train regularly. Aerobic activities such as running cycling, swimming, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking uphill with a heavy pack, and climbing stairs are popular exercises for flexibility. Specific exercises, those closest to climbing itself, are probably the best preparation.
Physical fitness is the foundation for all strenuous activities of mountaineering.
We need to be positive, realistic, and honest with ourselves. There is a personal balance required here. Many a veteran mountaineer says the greatest challenges are mental. This book outlines the basics of equipment and techniques and suggests how to learn from practice. But judgment, the most important of all mental qualities in climbing, develops form how we integrate our knowledge and experience.