Preparing for consecutive days in the mountains

Establish the demands before setting targets

Ask Craig about the expected walking time, ascent and descent, terrain, pack weight, and longest day for your proposed route. Those details let you discuss preparation without adopting another operator’s benchmarks.

Send a short account of a recent hike: where you went, time on foot, elevation change if known, what you carried, and how you felt afterward. Include any previous multi-day trips and altitude exposure. This is useful planning context, rather than an automatic acceptance test.

Build a foundation you can repeat

REI’s hiking guidance combines aerobic activity with leg and core strength, balance, and recovery. Walking practice with a suitable pack helps connect that preparation to the activity you will do on the trip.

Increase the demands gradually and leave room for rest. Fit and test your footwear and pack during preparation. A qualified training professional can help adapt exercise to your starting point; seek medical advice about personal health concerns.

Keep technical skills in the plan

GoTrek’s Mexico Volcanoes and Orizaba Express programs require prior ice-axe arrest, cramponing, and rope-team skills. Describe when you last practiced them and discuss any refresher with Craig before departure.

Everest Base Camp and Kilimanjaro do not require technical climbing experience. They still require preparation for repeated walking days. For Manaslu and Kanchenjunga, establish the demands of the agreed private route before choosing training goals.

Treat altitude as a separate question

The CDC explains that fitness does not reduce susceptibility to altitude illness. Being strong at home does not remove the need for an appropriate ascent schedule.

Discuss the proposed overnight progression and acclimatization time with Craig. A shorter trip or a helicopter arrangement should not be taken as proof that the schedule suits you. Ask a qualified clinician about personal altitude concerns and medications.

Make the final review practical

Before departure, bring your training notes and equipment questions back to Craig. Identify what is ready, what needs adjustment, and whether the proposed trip remains the right fit.

• Confirm the agreed itinerary and physical demands.
• Review any required technical skills and recent practice.
• Test the footwear, layers, and pack you plan to use.
• Resolve equipment questions before buying specialist items.
• Discuss remaining preparation concerns before registration.