What is Conditioning?
Conditioning is any form of exercise done to improve overall physical fitness, stamina, and athletic performance. In our case, it is for the purpose of getting ready for backpacking in the mountains. The conditioning needs to prepare us for both uphill hiking and carrying a winter backpack.
For many hikers in the Seattle area, conditioning consists of short weekend hikes on trails near the city, such as Cable Line Trail (3 miles, 2,020 ft gain), Mount Si (8 miles, 3,150 ft gain), and Tiger Mountain (15.2 miles, 2,300 ft gain). These are great conditioning trails, but they require time to get there and complete. I enjoy hiking these trails, but a quicker, more routine-based approach is more practical and easier to sustain.
Make it Regular
Regular walking provides both physical and mental health benefits. It is an accessible form of exercise for people of all fitness levels. It can improve cardiovascular health, strengthen bones and muscles, help with weight management, and boost mood and cognitive function. Getting these types of benefits only requires about 150 minutes of walking per week, or about 30 minutes per day 5 times a week.