mercredi 24 février 2016

Training For Kilimanjaro Mountain Climbing

By Martha Powell


Standing at a massive 5,895 meters above sea level, the Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa. The mountain is located in northern Tanzania and is a popular mountaineering destination. Getting to the peak of the mountain takes five to eight days. When training for Kilimanjaro, the routines should be the same as those undertaken for any high altitude challenge. In this article, we will look at how you should handle your preparation.

The challenges associated with climbing the Kilimanjaro are mainly two fold; physical strain and physiological strain due to altitude. You need to prepare your body adequately to take on both sets of challenges. High altitude training at home will help you train your body to pre-acclimatize before you embark on the hike. Among the benefits that pre-acclimatization helps to achieve is to help your body to copy with reducing concentrations of oxygen.

The general recommendation is that training should be started not less than two months prior to the climb. Persons that have never hiked before should strive to achieve endurance at a slower pace. This means that they should begin with shorter training duration, a slower speeding of walking and should carry less weight and increase it slowly over time. The target should be to carry approximately twenty pounds as you climb 30 stairs.

It is important that you remain in close contact with your doctor even as you continue with your training. The doctor will help establish whether your body can withstand the physical exercise as well as the climb itself. He will also screen for any medical conditions that may be aggravated by the hike. Such may include spine disorders, metabolic disorders (such as diabetes), cardiovascular conditions (such as heart disease and hypotension) and respiratory diseases.

One of the markers of fitness is heart rate. The recommended heart rate for someone who plans to conquer a mountain of the magnitude of Kilimanjaro should be less than 100 beats per minute. A higher rate than this possess significant health risks. If you have such a rate, you may go ahead with your plans but only after a thorough check up by your doctor. Persons at extremes of ages (below 18 and above 60) have the greatest risk.

A number of vaccinations and preventive medications are needed when traveling to this part of the world. Immunizations for hepatitis A and B are among the most important. Hepatitis A is transmitted through close physical contact and though intake or contaminated food and water. Hepatitis B, on the other hand, is transmitted through body fluids such as blood and semen. Since you will be traveling to a tropical region you also need to be protected against malaria and yellow fever.

You need to carry your hiking gear as none will be provided. If you are a frequent hiker, you are conversant with the equipment that is required. Generally, you need technical clothing that includes a hooded waterproof jacket, hiking pants, a long sleeved shirt, hiking boots, socks, gloves and fleece pants among others. Make sure that you carry one sleeping bag and a trekking pole as well.

You need to meet certain requirements before you are allowed into Tanzania. You need to have a valid passport as well as one of three other documents: a residential permit, a pass or a visa. These documents have to be shown to the immigration officials at any of the points of entry. Some countries (especially from the Commonwealth) have an arrangement with Tanzania such that visa requirements are waived.




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