The Trekker's Black Hole

You have booked yourself onto the adventure of a lifetime. And you are counting down the days until this life-changing experience. But in the meantime, what are you supposed to do?

This morning I was training long time client Steve and we were discussing what we had previously coined 'The Trekker's Black Hole...'

The 'Trekker's Black Hole' are those intervening months in between when you book that adventure you have been dreaming of and when actually hit the trail.

In this time you are excited, motivated and can't wait to get into it!

But, if you are booked with an organised trekking company, you are simply told you need to go out and get fit and left to figure it out entirely on your own.

No direction, no instruction (beyond telling you to 'go out and hike' and maybe 'get your legs strong) and no support.

When Steve first booked onto his Everest Base Camp Trek, he got stuck in the black hole.

He quickly realised that he didn't have the first clue about what he needed to prepare for a hike altitude hike. 

So he reached out for help. (That is how we met!).

But unfortunately, the majority of trekkers are not like Steve. And the majority will try to do it themselves.

And, more often than not, I think this is a mistake.

Because while getting 'fit' might seem pretty simple from the outside...

Let me tell you, as someone who has spent over ten years putting my blood, sweat and tears into learning the art of coaching...

Who has studied until my eyes fell out at University, learning the ridiculous amazing intricacies of the human body...

And has spent a scary amount of money on continuing education courses...

It is not always as simple as it first seems!

And that is the exact reason why you hear so many sad stories; of exhaustion, of ruined knees, off altitude sickness and dozens of other causes of a failed adventure.

And that is the exact reason why Summit Strength exists:

To fill that black hole.

To give hikers, trekkers and mountaineers clear direction, clarity and purpose on precisely what they need to be doing in their preparations.

So that they can have the best chance possible of having a safe, enjoyable and successful adventure.

So if this rings true to you, and you realise you are currently stuck in the Trekker's Black Hole...

I highly recommend you reach out for help.

You can find me here:

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

Yours in trekking,

Rowan

*Originally published 28/11/2018