Perfect for aspiring mountaineers looking to prepare for easier 4,000-meter or 14,000-foot peaks.
TRAINING PLANS
Mountaineering: Beginner Mountain Fitness
RPE-Based
Prepare to climb your first mountain in 8 weeks with this beginner-friendly plan.
Stop dreaming and start training.
You dream of visiting the summits of iconic peaks like Mt. Rainier, the Grand Teton, Mt. Baker, Mont Blanc, Colorado 14ers, Mt. Whitney, and easier 4,000-meter and 14,000-foot peaks. This plan can help you to make that dream a reality.
This 8-week beginner mountaineering training plan is the perfect preparation for a 1-3 day mountaineering objective. This includes easier peaks such as Mt Baker or Colorado 14ers. Rainier or Mont Blanc aspirants should jump up to the 12-week or, better yet, our 16-week mountaineering training plan.
As a thoroughly modern, smartwatch-compatible, heart-rate-based training plan, each workout is defined for you in terms of your desired heart rate intensity and the exact duration. The workouts are designed to be hikes or walks but can be executed as slower runs by more trained individuals. These are complemented with proven mountaineering-specific strength workouts.
Harness the transformative power of a meticulously designed training plan infused with endurance training principles that are guaranteed to deliver results.
This plan is based on your RPE, or “Rate of Perceived Exertion,” where workout intensities are guided by how hard you are working based on your perception of effort (how hard the workout feels to you) rather than by heart rate. This plan is an adapted option for those who want to learn to calibrate their true effort levels in their workouts.
Purchase the HR-based version of this plan here.
Whether you use an RPE-based or heart rate-based training plan, we recommend that you use a chest-strap heart rate monitor and GPS watch to log all your training.
Plan details
- Our most beginner-friendly plan.
- Buy it once. Own it forever. Unlimited Updates.
- Workouts upload to your smartwatch.*
- Email support and forum support.
- Easy-to-follow instructions.
- Uniquely designed for ~4000m mountaineering objectives.
- Launching point for bigger adventures.
- Good for both guided and unguided climbers.
- 49 workouts.
- 8-week pre-mountaineering training plan with weekly checklists.
- A comprehensive combination of strength and endurance exercises.
*Apple Watch syncing is currently not supported for RPE plans. If you would like to use this plan with an Apple Watch, purchase the HR version.
To buy this plan, you will be taken to TrainingPeaks 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
Absolutely! This 8-week beginner mountaineering training plan is designed with aspiring mountaineers in mind, including those with no prior experience. It provides easy-to-follow instructions and is an excellent starting point for your mountaineering journey.
This is a great place to start if you’ve never followed a structured plan before. The instructions are easy to follow. Strength training is included in this plan and assumes no previous experience. It’s a popular choice for those preparing for 4,000m/14,000ft peaks, like Mont Blanc, Mt. Rainier, Colorado 14ers, etc.
Yes, it will! While this plan is focused on preparing for summits up to 4,000 meters with easy to moderate difficulty, it also serves as a launching point for bigger mountaineering adventures. The combination of strength and endurance exercises will lay a solid foundation for tackling more challenging peaks in the future.
Can’t decide? Try our training plan navigator or contact us.
MOUNTAINEERING TRAINING PLANS