SummitPost.org

So I have basically no experience with mountaineering, though I have done a fair amount of hiking in Arizona and the Rockies without difficulty. A bit of background: I am 22, a runner and have run 2 marathons at around 7:30ish pace, though I do not cross-train as much. I also hurdled in high school and a bit in college. I do not lift much, either. Only for rep, not weight. If I plan on climbing Rainier in 2021-2, what extra training should I be doing? Am I generally fit enough to not make any major adjustments? Thank you.

Physically, you'll most likely be just fine. Start now and climb up (and down!) stairs, don't just go find a stairclimber in the gym. Lots of stairs/week, build up those legs. Start hiking around home, better if you have hills, build up to several miles per trip.

The most physically demanding part of the trip I found was from the parking lot to Camp Muir. Almost a mile elevation gain in about 4 miles of trail, about 1/2 way through sloggy snow.

Now the part where you really want to go with someone who KNOWS what they're doing is glacier travel and reading the weather. Your best bet is to spend the few $$$ and go with a guide service. They're up there all year, and know the snow conditions, the glacier conditions, the trail conditions, are very good at teaching you travel and self-arrest techniques, have medical training, good judgment as to where/when to go/not to go, have SAT phones and two-way radios (real ones, not just the little walkie-talkies you find in the sporting goods stores) in case things wrong, and so on.

If you were out there in the area and could build a rapport with someone you could eventually trust, that might be a good idea, but if you're just going to "go do it", hire a guide. My favorite is International Mountain Guides (http://www.mountainguides.com/rainier.shtml), based in Ashford. I've used them 4 times (and I started mountain climbing with Rainier, and summited it at 61yrs old). Anyway, that's what I think from personal experience.

So I am an avid trail runner and ultramarathoner and have climbed Rainier a couple dozen of times, so I think I have a good perspective on this. Basically climbing thousands of feet of elevation with a heavy pack trains you for running much better than running trains you for climbing thousands of feet of elevation with a heavy pack,


So, what does that mean? Running gives you a base of aerobic conditioning on which to build. You will need to lift weights. Focus on functional, body weight exercises. Pull ups, push ups, dips, lever ups, hanging leg raises, planks, bench press, arm curls, bent over rows all done gymnastic rings and dumb bells. Do super sets alternating pulling with pushing exercises. Train your legs, squats, one legged bending squats, walking lunges, and calf raises are all good.

The best workout you can do is find a big hill and hike up it with a heavy pack at least once a week.

The comments regarding the guide services is spot on. I have to disagree with SAT phone or radios. You can get cell reception from most places on Rainier.















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