We do the treadmill thing and elevate it to simulate going uphill. Thanks so much. Well, some hikers say that the only way to get ready to put on a pack and walk uphill is to put on a pack and walk uphill. I ve found that there is some truth to this statement after all, nothing is really going to prepare you for the rigors of all-day mountain backpacking except being out there and doing it.
Treadmills are great starting points.
So are stair climbers. That s because when we talk about getting fit for backpacking, we re really talking about three things. First is the actual uphill walking. The muscles you ll be using are the calves, quads, hamstrings, and buttocks, so anything you can do to work those will help. Second are the lungs and heart cardiovascular fitness.