As wonderful as it sounds, it might be a daunting task to prepare yourself for a thru-hike adventure. If you are planning on it for the first time, it is better to consult PCT and JMT hikers who are well-experienced.

For a successful thru-hike, it is important to prepare yourself for the mental and physical challenges that can be useful in the long run. Whether you are hiking for weeks or a month, not every day is going to be an easy task to complete. The Barefoot Theory Community Manager Kim hiked through the Pacific Crest Trail and set an example of how to train your mind throughout the process.

When I hiked the John Muir trail, I found out that it is important to prepare both the body and the mind before moving forward and start exploring.

Here are some tips and tricks by experienced PCT and JMT hikers which can prepare you for your next adventure:

 Prepare For the Elevation

While you prepare your mind for a tough ride, it is important to prepare for the elevation that you are going to come across during the hike. It is important to build the strength of your lungs. Kim had prepared with the help of everyday cardio and muscle relaxing after so that it prepares her for the event. You can check with your local high school or football stadium so that they allow you to practice and walk through the stairs. It becomes easier after some time.

 Take Care of Your Gear

It is important to know that you won’t have any help with your gear while you are out exploring and hiking. You should know how to fix things if one of your equipment breaks. Reading a topo map, and building your tent are some of the important things to learn and take notice of what goes where so that you are self-sufficient and self-reliant.

 Build Your Strength

Your upper arm, shoulders, as well as calves, should be given equal importance to knowing about the amount of weight you are carrying. There are various ways through which you can build your muscles. For starters, you can fill your backpack with gear or a heavy weight to train yourself in hiking for long hours and elevated routes. Build your muscles with the right amount of added weight each day or every alternate day so that you are ready before the adventure starts.

 Cardio

As much as your lungs and mind are ready to tackle the treacherous path, it is also important to build your strength through cardio. Squats, deep lunges, as well as planks and push-ups are some of the ways to start your daily exercises. It is important to build your muscles over time and be consistent with them. Cardio can help you strengthen your muscles and keep your workout consistent.

 Yoga

Last, but not very least, training your mind every day for the long haul is not that easy. Yoga can be very helpful in building your peace of mind and making it easier for you to manoeuvre alone and be self-sufficient during the adventure. Being mentally strong is an important factor in completing such brave feats.

 Planning for a thru-hike next?

You can plan out and go through the situational occurrences that you can come across and practice it thoroughly before your venture out into the wild.