Travel Advice Top 5 Training Ideas for Everest Base Camp Trek in the USA 7th August, 2023

The best way to condition your body to this type of physical exercise is by hiking outdoors. Explore the natural beauty of the USA’s spectacular landscapes, diverse terrain and some of the nation’s best backpacking hikes. From impressive mountain ranges and rainforests to deserts and rugged coastline, the nation’s vast National Parks boast an abundance of wildlife and vegetation rich climates, perfect for hiking. So, what are you waiting for?

Following our blog on what training you need to do for Everest Base Camp, we’ve put together a guide to some of the best hikes in the USA to inspire your Everest Base Camp training ideas.

The most popular hikes in Yellowstone are through wooded areas or geyser basins. If you are looking for something more challenging for your Everest Base Camp training, you’ll want to explore some of the trails off the beaten track. One of the most popular hiking trails within the National Park is the route from Dunraven Pass to Mount Washburn. The route takes an average of 4 hours to complete so will be a good test of your physical endurance and the climb to the 10,234ft summit is well worth it as the panoramic views of Yellowstone from the top are truly unforgettable.

It is worth bearing in mind that for most of the year, the best trails for hiking in Yellowstone are covered in snow. To avoid these dangerous conditions, the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park is between July and September. So, if you are planning a visit to Yellowstone National Park during your training for a trip to Everest Base Camp with Kandoo Adventures, be sure to visit during the summer months and set off early to avoid the crowds!

The Half Dome Trail is a 17-mile round trip and it takes between 10-14 hours to complete, so is best suited to experienced hikers. The trail offers remarkable viewpoints and waterfalls to rest at along the way. At the summit of the 4,800ft trek, you will need to apply for a permit to climb to the top of the Half Dome with the cables provided and be rewarded with a view reaching across whole park.

Of course, the park offers shorter trails which are ideal for less confident hikers. We would recommend checking out some of these if you are visiting the area. It is advised that you are able to walk for 5-6 hours with minimal breaks before you embark on a trip to Everest Base Camp where you will have to walk up to 8 hours every day for 7-8 days in a row. Don’t push yourself too hard and start with smaller walks as your strength and endurance will build up gradually over time.

If you really want to test your mountain fitness, the Klahhane Ridge Trail to Mount Angeles in Olympic National Park should be on your Everest Base Camp training bucket-list. In total, the trail takes 4-6 hours and reaches an altitude of 2,551ft. The final stretch to the summit of Mount Angeles is very steep and requires some rock scrambling but once you are at the top it is totally worth it for the awesome panoramic views over Olympic National Park.

Practicing incline hiking is a hugely important part of your preparation for the Everest Base Camp Trek, so aim to get outdoors where you can. If you are new to hiking, it’s best to explore long trails in the US with an experienced mountaineer for safety.

The Emerald Lake hike is a great first hike in the Rocky Mountains as it can be completed by just about anyone. The route takes between 2-3 hours to complete, and the manageable elevation gain will help you acclimatise to the higher elevation if you haven’t trekked any mountains in the Rockies before. For more experienced visitors to the park, the Odessa Lake to Fern Lake trail is a more challenging route in terms of duration and elevation. There are several ways to walk this route but on average this trek will take 4-7 hours to complete, so physical and mental endurance are a must for this route. Along the way you will visit several stunning lakes and be greeted with views of the evergreen trees that cover the parks valleys.

Things to do in the Smoky Mountains National Park include hiking the Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte. This route offers everything from clear creeks to woodland trails and even takes you to the highest peak in the park at 6,593 feet which offers panoramic views of the surrounding land. Other challenging routes include the 11 mile round hike to Mount Cammerer which provides an elevation gain of over 3,000 feet.

All in all, the Smoky Mountains National Park offers an abundance of great hiking trails ideal for Everest Base Camp training to boost your mountain experience and build endurance.

We understand that not everyone has access to mountainous regions in the US and many will require travelling long distances. A great Everest Base Camp training alternative to hiking in national parks in the US is going on regular long walks in your local area. This will be extremely beneficial for improving stamina and helping to build your body up to being able to walk up to 8 hours a day for 7-8 days in a row. So, grab your walking boots and get trekking. Practicing spending lots of time on your feet is ultimately the best way to prepare your body for trekking Everest Base Camp.

Another essential for any Everest Base Camp training plan is strength training. Your body needs to be strong enough to endure long periods of hiking with equipment, so strong legs are a necessity. As well as regular strength training, you should include walking on an inclined treadmill or stair master at least 2 times per week in a gym if you don’t have access to long hiking trails in your local area. Always remember to stretch after any strength training session to relieve your muscles and prevent injury. Stretching will also improve your flexibility which will allow your body to recover faster.

Kandoo Adventure’s Himalaya Training Guide recommends the following exercises to prepare your legs for long hiking expeditions:

• Squats
  
• Front and reverse leg curls
  
• Lunges
  
• Step aerobics
  

Exercises to will help you strengthen your upper body and core include:

• Should presses
  
• Back and shoulder flyes
  
• Sit-ups
  
• Kettle-bell rows/swings
  

You can work on improving your mental stamina in a number of ways but we recommend challenging yourself in a physical activity and pushing your body past what it thinks is its breaking point to reach a certain goal. Take running for example. If you are new to running start small and tell yourself, you will run for 5 minutes without stopping then walk for 30 seconds before starting again. Slowly increase the running distance and challenge yourself to completing a 5k and so on. You should set goals that challenge you but aren’t completely unachievable. Be realistic!

With the right training plan and a determined mindset, anyone can complete the challenging trek to Everest Base Camp.