The New Year often brings big resolutions—grand ambitions and lofty goals. But here’s the truth: big dreams aren’t built in big gestures. They’re built in the quiet moments of showing up, day after day, whether you feel like it or not. For those of us drawn to the mountains, whether we’re running trails, climbing peaks, or training in silence, we know that the real work is rarely glamorous. It’s not the summit photo or the race finish. It’s lacing up your shoes in the dark of winter. It’s getting in the miles when no one’s watching. It’s fighting the little…
Author: Steve House
Read all about why heart rate and HRV data should be interpreted within the broader context of physical and mental stressors.
The point of climbing a mountain like Everest is to become the person that can climb Everest. Steve House Training for a Mount Everest expedition demands a meticulous blend of physical, mental, and technical preparation. While our book, Training for the New Alpinism, delves deeply into these topics, this guide provides concise, actionable advice underpinned by essential theories to help you understand the "why" behind an effective mountaineering training plan. Let’s embark on the journey of preparing you for the highest peak on Earth. The Everest Mountaineer as Athlete Mount Everest challenges climbers with extreme physical and mental stress. Unlike…
Follow this in-depth guide to learn how to perform the heart rate drift test and to learn why it is an essential tool for aerobic self-assessment.
Switching between seasonal sports can be tricky. Read Uphill Athlete’s recommendations for mountain athletes to ensure an enjoyable, injury-free transition from winter skiing to spring trail running.
No mountain has ever been climbed. Those steps, those handholds, those ice axes are the foundations upon which we lift ourselves—and one another—up. Not above others, not even above our past selves. We go to meet ourselves. Our true selves. The mountain truly is an analogue to ourselves. “Within alpinism’s narrow framework we seek transcendence and relentlessly pursue what remains hidden from us on flat ground: Our true selves.” -Beyond the Mountain (2009) Why do we go to the mountains?Taking risks and doing tough things isn’t particularly hard, or brave; your actions are a manifestation of who you are and…
Want to know everything about training for rock climbing? Read on to develop the necessary strength, technique, and endurance to tackle any angle of ascent.
Training for alpinism is arguably one of the most complex mental and physical skill sets that people train for simply because you have to be good at everything. For many climbers the 1938 route on the Eiger would rightfully be a career highlight. It is a brilliant climb, truly world-class in every way. In this article I will use training for and climbing the Eiger via its North Face as a parable for training for all alpinism. Physical training In the case of alpinism, we’re going to describe the physical demands in terms of technical demands. To safely complete this…
Updated on January 12, 2022In my last newsletter I had asked you to join me in "wrestling the why", and you responded with a quality and quantity of thought provoking insight well beyond my expectations. So today I share your thoughts with. After all, this conversation belongs to us all.Noel Gerritse wrote: Training helps me feel better: I’ve felt like my best self when I’ve been in the best shape of my life. But besides those shorter moments, what’s consistently true is that when I train I feel like a better version of myself. Happier, stronger, more balanced – both…