"Just a Training Walk"
It's what leaders of overnight walks dread, the person who doesn't normally do any bushwalks with the club, but is planning a Big Overseas Trek and would like to use us for a few "training walks".
Of course because it's just a "training walk" it doesn't need to be taken seriously, what could go wrong? And as for adequate preparation - don't be silly, whoever heard of training for a training walk?
Unfortunately what those in this situation have often found out to their cost, is that many of the overnight hikes in Victoria are far tougher than the iconic treks that people are widely attracted to.
Some of the club's experienced walkers were asked to compare a number of local overnight walks against any more well known treks that they'd done, with a "difficulty" rating assigned within a non-linear scale of 1-10. There is of course a degree of subjectivity in the result, and it is possible to devise arduous off-track expeditions well off this scale, however this covers routes that are on well defined tracks and documented in readily obtainable guidebooks.
These rating assumes a walk is done during
the season of most favourable weather for its location. 
The
internationally famous walks have generally (apart from the Kokoda Trail)
achieved their status by virtue of their scenery. Spectacular scenery isn't
found by tramping across hectares of flat open plains, however although these
walks pass through rugged country, much of their route takes the easiest path,
tracks are well constructed and facilities are well developed. While Victoria
is no slouch in the scenery department, it has no walks developed to a standard
that attracts the 'occasional' hiker seeking a 1-2 week walking holiday before
retreating back to their desk and TV set for the remainder of the year (although
the Great Ocean Walk is showing some promise of this).
Tips for Training
So let's get back to the start - you are planning
to do some major trekking in a few months time and want to train for it. This
is a very sensible thing to do - don't get the impression from what you've
just read that going bushwalking with a club such as YHA can't help you. It
most certainly can, it's just that there is a right and a wrong way to go
about it.
There is usually more than one component to the preparation for a trek.
1) Achieving a higher level of fitness
2) Getting used to carrying a full pack
3) Getting used to the food and equipment
The common mistake is to tackle all of them at once. Approach each separately
at first, then when you are comfortable with each, combine them with some
overnight walks. If you've just purchased a new pack, you'll need to become
used to its weight fully laden and ensure it is correctly adjusted. To do
this, take it on an easy day walk first. Use water containers to make up the
bulk of the weight, that way if you become too uncomfortable, they can easily
be jettisoned. Gradually you should include all the major camping gear (tent,
sleeping bag etc) you plan to carry, so that the weight and its distribution
is realistic.
Carrying a 15-20kg pack up and down hills is never easy, but shouldn't cause sore shoulders, hips or any other rubbing or pressure points. If you've done a few practice walks and the pack still feels uncomortable, the chances are it isn't properly adjusted (or the pack is an inappropriate type).
If your preparation also requires improving your fitness, try some harder day walks (with just a day pack at first). Jogging, swimming, playing sport will get you fit as well, but there are certain muscles that only seem to get used for bushwalking, so the best preparation is with small scale versions of what you are aiming towards. If you will be trekking the Samarkan desert, do some long beach walks, generally however uninterrupted hill climbs of at least 200-300m are the most useful for the sort of treks listed on the previous page. Good practice spots around Melbourne are the 1000 Steps, Mt Dandenong, Mt Macedon and (the ultimate challenge) Mt Juliet.
When your pack-carrying and hill climbing are up to speed, it's time to combine them on a weekend trip. This also takes care of the other elements of preparation - getting familiar with any newly purchased hiking equipment and the hiking diet. The last point is sometimes overlooked. If your trek will be self-catering instead having porters or camping at villages, make sure you spend a few days living off the type and amount of rations you plan to subsist off. If you can manage something like the Razor-Viking circuit (which coincindentally is planned for this year's Melbourne Cup weekend) without too much of a struggle, you can be confident of coping with any popular long distance walk.
Like Riding a Bicycle?
Once anyone learns to ride a bicycle, it doesn't matter how long they go without
using one, they can still jump on a bike and pedal away at any time without
having to worry about the need for training wheels. Surely pack-carrying works
the same way? Sadly it doesn't, although many people seem to indulge in this
piece of wishful thinking. As with a bike, you'll retain the balance skills
needed to carry a large mass on your back, but if you haven't pack-carried
for several months or even years, your joints and muscles, particularly shoulders
and back will need a period to get used to it again.
A rule of thumb is to undertake in the two months leading up to an extended walk, the same total number of days pack carrying as the walk
|
Outdated CVs Those who haven't had any recent
bushwalking experience, but attempt to deflect any questioning of their
capability by quoting a resume of the Big Overseas Treks that they have
done are the flip side of problem arising from inexperienced walkers
attempting to take too big a step with a training walk. Here are three
examples. Case #3 |
Thanks to Bruce Meincke for his assistance with this article