For when you have a busy schedule, but still want to maximize your fitness before taking on a big climbing challenge.
TRAINING PLANS
Mountaineering: Limited Training Time and Availability
Heart Rate-Based
Optimize your training, even with a busy schedule.
Are you a time-crunched climber? Are you planning a 2-10 day mountaineering objective and have limited time to train? Will you be trekking through the Himalayas soon? Complete this plan and you will be prepared for peaks like Kilimanjaro, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Vinson, Colorado 14ers, or easier trekking peaks like Nepal’s Island Peak. Also makes a great trekking training plan.
This thoroughly updated plan progresses over 12 weeks and tops out at 7:40 hours of training in the final week. All the endurance workouts in this plan can be uploaded to your smartwatch to guide you step-by-step. It does not include a final easy week, so it is important to plan one very light week (such as travel) after completing the program and before tackling your main objective.
This plan began life as programming designed by a coach for a busy professional heading to Kilimanjaro and has been updated and refined over the years to become a finely tuned plan that fits a niche for many ambitious climbers and adventure travelers.
The focus of this plan is 100% on your aerobic fitness which is the limiting factor for most climbers with a busy schedule.
This training plan requires you use a chest-strap heart rate monitor and GPS watch to log all your training. For the RPE-based version of this plan, click here.
Plan details
- Our best plan for the athlete with limited time.
- Buy it once. Own it forever. Unlimited Updates.
- Email support and forum support.
- Works great as a trekking prep training plan.
- Provides vital preparation in fewer workouts.
- Minimize time commitment, maximize fitness gains.
- Good for both guided and unguided climbers.
- Authored by Steve House, Uphill Athlete founder, IFMGA qualified mountain guide, and author of Training for the New Alpinism and Training for the Uphill Athlete.
To buy this plan, you will be taken to Training Peaks to complete your purchase.
All our plans are delivered through TrainingPeaks, the most robust training tool available.
Built by Uphill athlete coaches with input from world-class Mountaineers
The plan offers a solid fitness foundation for basic mountaineering objectives. If your goals are complex, for example climbing multiple peaks in a 4-6 month window, you’ll want to join the membership community or work 1:1 with an Uphill Athlete coach.
This training plan offers an efficient and convenient approach to elevate your fitness levels while minimizing the risk of injury before embarking on a demanding climbing endeavor. It is an excellent solution for individuals pursuing non-technical objectives, with time constraints for training.
First complete our Beginner Mountain Fitness plan, and then hit this plan. It’s a great combination and your legs will be rockets.
After completing the program, it’s essential to plan for a very light week or some downtime before tackling your main climbing objective. This helps your body recover and ensures you’re in the best condition for your climb. Use this time to rest, travel to your destination, or engage in light activities to stay fresh for your upcoming challenge.
Can’t decide? Try our training plan navigator or contact us.
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