The golden rule for a successful activity: know your limits and gear your choices towards your real abilities. This chart indicates the minimum physical condition to have before the beginning of the activity, independently from your level of technical skill.
It is also important that, at best, you leave knowingly, choosing an activity related to your technical abilities. In order to help you, we can always offer you an evaluation of your technical skills. Under our Levels section, you will find a summarized chart that explains how our icons can help you sort it all out.
Physical level of the activity |
Your experience |
Test: You can walk? |
Your preparation |
|
In shape
5 hour stages |
You walk regularly and are able to walk 4 to 6 hours with an average daily vertical drop of 500 to 700 m.
OR
You are physically active. |
- during 12-15 km on a hilly trail or with a vertical increase of 600 m (250 m/hour increase);
- with a light backpack. |
Two months prior to departure:
Walk once a week (around 2-3 hours with a vertical drop of 600 m or during 15 km) with a backpack (about 6 kg) if possible at altitudes higher than 2,000 m.
OR
All through the year, practicing a physical activity regularly (once a week), aiming to develop endurance (footwork, cycling, swimming with 30-minutes increments), without being out of breath or experiencing exceptional tiredness constitutes good preparation. |
|
In good shape
6h stages |
You walk very regularly through vertical drops or you are physically active. You can walk 6h to 7 h a day for many days with an average daily vertical drop between 800 and 1,000 m.
OR
You recently achieved a level 1 activity without much difficulty.
OR
You practice an endurance-developing physical activity. |
- during 15-18 km with a vertical increase between 700 and 1,000 m (300 m/hour increase);
- and carry what you need for a day;
- if possible, at altitudes higher than 2,000 m. |
Two months prior to departure:
Walk once a week (around 3 hours with a vertical drop between 700 and 1,000 m or during 15-18 km) with a backpack (about 6 kg) if possible at altitudes higher than 2,000 m.
OR
All through the year, practicing a physical activity very regularly (2 or 3 hours a week), aiming to develop endurance (footwork 8-10 km, cycling 80 km, swimming 1,5-2 km), without being exceptionally out of breath or tired constitutes good preparation. |
|
In great shape
7h stages |
You have experience in this activity, more often with portage (personal belongings as well as group gear) and good endurance.
OR
You can walk 7h to 8 h a day for many days with an average daily vertical drop of 1,000 m.
OR
You recently achieved a level 2 activity without much difficulty. |
- through a vertical increase higher than1,000 m (350 m/hour increase) or during 20 km;
- and carry what you need for a day;
- if possible, at altitudes higher than 2,500 m. |
At least 3 months prior to departure:
Train to run at least 10 km or jog for 1h, 2 or 3 times a week during at least 3 months, if possible on rugged land.
OR
All through the year, practice an intense and endurance-developing sport 3 or 4 hours a week, (cycling 80-100 km, swimming 3 km).
OR
Walking more than 4 hours once a week (more than 1,000 of vertical drop or during 20 km) with a backpack (about 8 kg), at altitudes higher than 2,500 m. |
|
In excellent shape
8h stages done regularly |
You have experienced committed activities or expeditions.
OR
You master the activity and you can walk more than 8 h a day for many days with an average daily vertical drop of 1,200 m.
OR
You recently achieved a level 3 activity without much difficulty.
|
- through a vertical increase higher than 1,200 m (400 m/hour increase) or during 20 km;
- and carry what you need for a day;
- if possible, at altitudes higher than 3,000 m.
These activities are best suited for long-time athletes who train intensively many times a week.
|
At least 4 months prior to departure:
Train to run at least 20 km or jog for 2h, 2 or 3 times a week during at least 4 months, on rugged land if possible.
AND
All through the year, practice an endurance-developing sport 3 or 4 hours a week, (cycling 80-100 km, swimming longer than 3 km).
OR
Walking more than 6 hours once a week (more than 1,200 of vertical drop or during 25 km) with a backpack (about 8-12 kg), at altitudes higher than 3,000 m.Au minimum quatre mois avant le départ: | |
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