Each of our adventures is graded for terrain, fitness & endurance. It’s not a perfect system and is also relative to your level of perspective and experience, so it is just a guide. There are only three grades, but we may say moderate-challenging or medium-high if sections of the particular multi-day adventure might meet that grade. Our team are also qualified personal trainers and very experienced in training people for any level of adventure activity, so if you are unsure if an adventure may be suitable for your level of fitness and experience, contact us to discuss. We also can ensure people meet the required fitness expectation before the adventure through some face-to-face or online training sessions if needed.
Terrain
Low:
Sections are predominately flat, and the routes are well groomed and well marked. There may be some undulating terrain on the route, but hills would generally not exceed 200m in elevation. No ropes or special equipment is required to navigate the terrain, and no experience is necessary.
Moderate:
Sections containing flat, undulating, and hill features with a climbing elevation of potentially more than 200m might be encountered along the route. The route could be well-groomed, or there may be some overgrowth in some sections. No ropes or special equipment is required to navigate the terrain, and no experience is necessary. Many iconic Australian treks would fall into this category.
Challenging:
Sections containing flat, undulating, and hill features with a climbing elevation of potentially more than 500m might be encountered along the route. The route could be well-groomed, or there may be some overgrowth in some sections. The route may also contain snow and ice or volcanic rubble. You may be required to rock scramble, cross obstacles over rivers, traverse water knee-deep and walk in snow. The guides may use specialist equipment like ropes during water crossings. Previous experience in multi-day large-pack walking is preferred.
Fitness and Endurance
Low:
A level of fitness sufficient to carry a light pack (5kg) and be capable of walking for several hours over slightly underlying terrain with short stops along the route every hour or so. Training would include regular walking out to 10km, hill climbs, and some gym work to develop strength and endurance fitness. Training may also include light running, swimming and bike riding.
Medium:
A fitness level is defined as one who exercises regularly, although not necessarily to a high level, but capable of carrying a pack weighing (10kg) for several hours at a time out to a distance of 15km. Training would include regular cardiovascular exercise (3+ times a week) incorporating gym, bike, swimming, and stairs work and would also include pack carrying (10kg) on rough and uneven terrain once a week out to 15km and some regular hill work. Training should be centric on building up both your cardiovascular and endurance capacity.
High:
A high fitness level can move over undulating and hilly terrain with a heavier pack (18kg) for extended periods in outdoor conditions. Training would be more specific to the adventure activity and days in the field and would include hill climbing with a large pack and carrying it over rough terrain out to a distance of 15km. In addition, training would consist of regular cardiovascular exercise (4+ times a week), incorporating gym, bike, swimming, and stairs work and pack carrying (18k) on rough and uneven terrain once a week. Currently, only our Overland Track adventures is a large pack carry, so a lighter pack can be used for training if you are not doing the Overland Track.
The Right Advice:
The owners of Peak Potential Adventures are also qualified personal trainers, so if you would like to discuss your current level of fitness and what cardiovascular and endurance training you would need to complete and enjoy your adventure, please get in touch with us.
