Motivation

After the depression of the training schedule, this cheered me up

Training Schedule

Don't know about you but the training is not going so well. Well OK, just not going. So I thought a bit of research was required to find out what my odds are.

Some bad news:

• The big push is a 12 hour day (starts at 2.00am!)
• We have about a 50% chance of making it
• All the below points to having to be fitter than I ever have been

From Mountain Madness:

TRAINING PROGRAM: This trip is physically demanding and we cannot over emphasize the importance of physical conditioning. We suggest you begin your training program at least two months prior to departure. While strength is important, endurance training should be your primary focus. Walking up hills and stair climbing are both excellent ways to condition your lower body. Begin slowly, without the weight of a pack, eventually adding weight as you increase your training pace. Take a long hike (4-6 hours) several times with a weighted pack (40-60 lbs.) up and down hills or on small mountains (weight your pack with water containers and pour out the water before your descent to minimize knee stress). Supplement this activity with running, cycling, swimming, racquet sports, basketball, etc. for additional aerobic conditioning. If possible try to take at least two longer hikes of 6-10 hours with at least 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Several days before your departure you should rest and drink plenty of water.

The good news is that they use the same text for preparing for their Matterhorn trip so they are possibly bluffing. (the Matterhorn is one of my life time objectives by the way.)

Sadly though Alpine Guides state the need to be at “fitness level 3” which they define as:

You do cardiovascular sport 3-4 sessions a week. ie you get out every weekend, plus 2-3 times midweek. At this level you are happy doing a 6-8 hr hillwalk, 50ml cycle or 5hr mountain bike ride without being totally cream crackered. If you are into challenges - then the thought of training to do a 1/2 (or maybe even a full) marathon, wouldn't seem too ridiculous. (Should be able to do the full Langdale Horseshoe: Langdale - Pike of Stickle - Angle Tarn - Bow Fell - Crinkle Crags - Pike of Blisco - Langdale in a day without finishing up exhausted.)

Not sure "You" is "Me" unfortunately. Looks like we may have a training walk plan though James? Anybody fancy a half marathon in August? For reference here is a 10 week training program for a half marathon which would be about right if we start now!

The International School of Mountaineering add:

“As a training guideline you need to be comfortable (!) carrying a 10kg rucksack for a full day out in the hills, taking in as much ascent as possible.”

But hey, what would they know. Responsible Travel have these words of wisdom to add to my gloom:

Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months before your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions is also recommended.

Hopefully "responsible" doesn't apply to us.

The site which provided the 50% statisitic ("statistics show an average rate of success of 55 % for roped parties on the Three Mont-Blanc route, and 50 % for roped parties on the Goûter route" offer 5 common reasons for failure, one of which is:

Insufficient training: you must train seriously during the three months before the training course : run 30 minutes three times a week, bike six hours a week, or walk 8 hours each week-end, on routes with a few steep hills.

Don't know about you but the last time I spent six hours on a bike in a week was when I had a Grifter.

So on balance, yes there is a little work to be done. At least I am now sufficiently scared which was, afterall, the objective of doing some research.