Hiking Uphill Efficiently

Having been Head of Tax and a consultant for the founder and his management team at Bridgewater Associates in Connecticut, Dennis John Olmstead assists senior management with transaction issues and compliance with company policies. When he isn’t busy with his professional activities, Dennis Olmstead spends time hiking.

Uphill hikes leave many people sweating and breathing heavily, but the rise in metabolism, burning of more calories, and increased physical exertion makes the challenge worth it. Before any uphill section, hikers should warm up. Uphill sections work the muscles more intensely and a warm-up prepares these muscles for the extra activity, thus ensuring they propel the body forward efficiently.

Hikers should also consider their technique. When going uphill, shorter steps are best since they make lifting the body up easier. Maintaining a steady stepping rate also helps. While this pace is slower for some hikers than their regular pace on even ground, keeping with the same pace doesn’t tire the body out and promotes faster progress up the hill.

At the same time, hiking uphill requires consistent breaks. Short breaks keep hikers moving quickly up the hill by giving their bodies a chance for recovery. It lets hikers get their breathing and heart rate more under control so they don’t overexert themselves when going uphill.

Finally, leaning forward slightly helps maintain balance for hikers. This slight lean should come from the ankles, while the rest of the body maintains an erect posture. Since the goal of this technique is maintaining balance, don’t lean too far forward or backward when going uphill.