It sounds miserable, doesn't it? But, I loved it! Maybe it was the clean, crisp air or the deep blue of the sky. Or perhaps it was because the only sound I could hear was my own ragged breathing. Whatever it was, it was way better than being inside my stuffy house running to nowhere on my treadmill.
My first backpacking experience wasn't necessarily ideal--my pack was too heavy and I hadn't taken precautions to deal with the blister incident--but I was finally using my body in a functional way. While my thighs burned and my calves ached, I thought about all those squats and lunges I'd done over the years. I'd been doing them for strength and for nice-looking legs, but those exercises now had a purpose. How much would I hurt if I hadn't done those exercises on a regular basis? How far would I make it up the mountain if I hadn't been running for the last five years?
Hiking is one of the most comprehensive exercises you can do. Not only do you get an incredible cardiovascular workout, your lower body gets an incredible endurance and strength workout. A 130-pound person can burn up to 170 calories during a 30-minute hike, and a 170-pound person burns over 230 calories. Now all that trail mix makes sense, doesn't it?
Before you head out into the wilderness, make sure your body is ready for such a strenuous activity. Conditioning is important for ensuring you have a pleasant, injury-free adventure.
