Strength Training For Mountaineers (You Are Not A Bodybuilder!)

Strength training has some phenomenal benefits for any mountaineers out there. But, as a whole, mountaineers aren't great at putting together a well rounded, structured strength training program.

Strength Training
For Mountaineering

One of the most significant issues here is many mountaineers are stuck in the old school 'bodybuilders' mindset. 


In which, during their strength training, they target individual body parts.


I.e. this exercise works my chest, this exercise works my quads, this exercise works my hamstrings.


The reason this is so common is many mountaineers learn this approach during their younger years, maybe in the local gym, perhaps as part of their sports training or maybe off the internet. And most people stick to what they know and are comfortable with/ 


Now, this approach can work; there is no doubt about it.


But it has two significant drawbacks:

1. 90% of the time, you end up training your body out of balance* 
2. It takes forever!

*So many mountaineers are guilty of doing 75% their lower body training on their quads, and barely anything on their hamstrings/glutes...


As a mountaineer, a MUCH better way of classifying your strength training is breaking up exercises into 'pushing' and 'pulling' exercises.


For example, a squat would be considered a pushing movement. And a deadlift would be regarded as a pulling movement.


The beauty of this is all you need to do is choose an equal number of push and pull exercises in your training week, and you will be training the body in balance!


Not only will this ensure a well-rounded training session, but thinking in this way will save you a tremendous amount of time as well (as you no longer have to 'target' every individual muscle group).


So what exercises fall into these classifications?


Well, if you need a hand here, I have a shortlist of a number of the most common exercises for mountaineers here:


The Best Strength Training Exercises For Mountaineers


Then all you need to do is decide on a workout template and sit down and choose which exercises you want to use for your program.


Easy!


This is one of the dozens of small changes which can bring a mountaineers strength training away from the old school bodybuilding approach, and into the modern era of strength and conditioning.


Now if this email has left you feeling a bit confused, and you wanted help putting together a structured, well balanced and specific strength program to help you on the mountain, you can check out the Online Summit Program here:

https://www.summitstrength.com.au/online-mountaineer.html

Yours in adventure,

Rowan