Training

Even though I might be in better shape than many men my age and don't have any particular health issues, I know I'm not fit enough to hike for days with a backpack on. So, I'll need to train so my body can handle it.

Up until now, I've never set foot in a gym or fitness center — and I've got no intention of starting now. Nothing wrong with that kind of exercise, it's just not really my thing. If I want to get my body used to walking long distances with a pack, I figure it's best to start gently and see how it goes.

I dug out a simple 30-liter backpack I got as a retirement gift and filled it with a bag of soil I found on the balcony. Then I started walking around my neighborhood. The walks varied in length but were mostly between 5 and 30 kilometers. I wore my well-worn running shoes, and they worked just fine. No discomfort, no blisters. I walked mostly on pavement, but also some gravel roads and trails.

As I gradually got more gear, I started walking with a new backpack — packed as if I were heading out on a multi-day hike. That brought the weight of the pack up to what felt about right for me, around 6–7 kilos including water. And still, everything worked out far better than expected. I ended up doing quite a few of these training walks over the span of a couple of weeks.