Is Trekking for You?
Summary
What benefits can be expected from trekking?
Who is the trekking for?
Trekking practice: what equipment?
Where and how to practice trekking?
What is Trekking?
Trekking, also known as long-distance hiking, refers to the practice of hiking over long distances requiring finding accommodation or sleeping in a tent along the way.
Characterized by the great diversity of the lengths of the routes, their difficulty, the altitude at which it is practiced or the place chosen, a trekking route can be done alone or in a group provided that you are in good physical condition and sufficiently prepared.
What benefits can be expected from trekking?
More demanding from a physical point of view than walking, trekking brings the same benefits while making more demands on the body. Thus, whatever the distance covered in trekking, it is known to:
– Strengthen the muscles of the whole body, especially in the lower body;
– Soften tendons and joints;
– Stimulate the cardiovascular system;
– Promote weight loss;
– Contribute to the proper functioning of the bronchi and lungs;
– Lower blood pressure;
– Stimulate blood circulation;
– Combat nervous tension and stress.
Good to know: in case of health problems and before practicing high level trekking, it is recommended to seek the advice of a health professional such as a doctor or a physiotherapist.
Who is the trekking for?
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The practice of trekking is open to all, provided that you train regularly and you are in good physical shape. Therefore, trekking is contraindicated for:
– Pregnant women;
– People suffering from heart problems, respiratory insufficiency and asthma, especially when trekking in high altitude;
– People with fragile or weakened joints, especially at knee and ankle level;
– People suffering from osteoarthritis or arthritis.
Please note: trekking is open to people with visual impairments or being visually impaired, on the condition that they are accompanied by a trekking guide.
Trekking practice: what equipment?
For the practice of more or less long and difficult trekking, certain accessories are indispensable and must be carried in all circumstances. We count among them:
– Special trekking backpack with a large capacity and several attachments;
– First aid kit containing bandages but also all the material intended for first aid;
– Outdoor footwear specifically designed for trekking;
– A canister and water bottles to carry water;
– Solid food such as protein bars and dried fruit.
Where and how to trek?
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Generally speaking, trekking can be practiced throughout the year and throughout the whole world. It is possible to practice trekking:
– Alone at an advanced stage of trekking;
– In a group. In this case, the group can be made up of enthusiasts or according to the region where the trekking is practiced;
– With organizers specialized in the organization of trips dedicated to trekking, especially abroad.
In order to obtain more information or to join a trekking group, information is available on the website of the National Hiking Federation.
Please note: the largest trekking areas in the world are located in the high mountains of Nepal, Bolivia, the Andes and Tibet as well as in desert areas such as the Sahara.
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