Pre-Trip Training
Alpine Challenge
Preparing For the Hiking
Your trip will be significantly more enjoyable if you have a good level of fitness and well broken in boots. We cannot overemphasize the importance of well broken in boots. There have been students who have had to leave their trips because of blisters from boots that were not broken in. The training guidelines below are designed to help you properly break in your boots and develop a solid fitness base.
Five weeks before your trip: Wear your boots for 15-30 minutes a day to walk around your house or neighborhood so your boots will begin to conform to your feet.
Four weeks before your trip: Take three 30-minute hikes or walks in your boots.
Three weeks before your trip: Take three 60-minute hikes or walks in your boots.
Two weeks before your trip: Take three 1-hour hikes or walks in your boots with a backpack loaded with 10% of your body weight.
One week before your trip start: Take two 2-hour hikes or walks in your boots with a backpack loaded with 15-20% of your body weight.
Trip Difficulty
Alpine Challenge is rated 9 on a scale of 1-10 (1 is easiest) and is Overland’s most challenging hiking trip. Participants must be prepared for long days on the trail as daily mileage ranges from eight miles on the shortest day to over 15 miles on the longest. Groups wake early, hit the trail right after breakfast and hike (with breaks) until at least mid-afternoon. The terrain is challenging—with long, steep uphill sections, rocky descents and some hiking on snow; inclement weather can add a further challenge.
Experience among participants will vary but no previous hiking or backpacking experience is required. Your enjoyment of this trip will hinge on several factors:
- The quality, duration and intensity of your preparation. Your health, safety and well being on the trip will depend on your pre-trip preparation.
- Your desire to hike. There are a couple of travel days built into the itinerary that allow for rest and relaxation but when we're in the mountains, we're on the trail, loaded up and hiking.
- Your understanding that while the trip is beautiful it is not a sightseeing trip.
- Your commitment to teamwork and the group. A trip such as this requires compromise, patience and selflessness. Support your trip leaders and your trip mates and you’ll find that you have a great experience!
Train hard for the trip, be prepared for a challenge and come ready to be an important member of a close-working team.
“This trip, like his previous two Overland trips, was a great adventure for Dan. The trip was well planned—challenging but realistic. The leaders were excellent motivators and team builders. And what’s not to love about the Alps?!” Miriam Cooperman, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania
