Training for High Altitude Hiking - in a Swimming Pool?



Celebrating our 25th anniversary on the continental divide northwest of Banff, Alberta, late July, 2010.

If you've ever taken a drive around the northern Chicago suburbs, one memorable feature (besides the heavy traffic) that stands out is the lack of terrain.

But if you enjoy scenic vistas and play golf, you're not totally out of luck around here.  One suburb features a nine hole golf course crafted atop a "mesa" - actually, a giant solid waste landfill.  Another offers a fun-filled sledding opportunity down a steep grade referred to affectionately among locals as "Mt. Trashmore."

My wife and I enjoy hiking together.  And we wanted that activity to be the centerpiece of our recent 25th anniversary celebration.  But anyplace flat was out of the question.  We wanted hills.  Big hills.  Something requiring us to train beforehand to get the most out of the experience.  So we gathered input from friends and family about mountainous hiking venues.  We finally decided on the Canadian Rockies - specifically, the Banff/Lake Louise area of Alberta.

One of the many stunning views encountered while hiking in the higher elevations of the Canadian Rockies.

My wife enjoys walking.  And she doesn't loaf or shuffle along like I do.  Something between that and power walking.  A power gait with a purpose.  So I was confident that she'd be in fighting trim if she kept up with that in the months preceding our trip.

Biking took center stage for me at the time, but I wanted a second form of endurance training heading into the summer (see prior post).  It wasn't going to be mountain climbing around here.  And I wasn't yet confident in my ability to avoid injury if I took up running just yet.  It turns out that of all places, our local outdoor aquatic center provided a unique answer for me.  Long distance freestyle swimming with training fins, to be specific.   Something that allows upper and lower body to join together to produce direct propulsion.  After a few weeks, I found I could complete four miles - with brief stops at each mile mark - in just over two hours.

Turns out, the swim and bike routine built my endurance to a level that allowed me to adapt quickly to a much higher altitude.  And my wife was right there with me, hiking an average six to seven miles each day on steep terrain.  This was one of the most enjoyable vacations we'd ever taken together.  An experience we hope to repeat many times in the future.