The Season Most People Overlook
As a mountain leader, this is something I hear alot:
“Summer’s coming, time to get fit ready for the hiking season.”
But the thing is, the people who glide up mountains in July, who make steep climbs look effortless and carry their packs like they’re weightless… they don’t start training in summer. They start in winter.
While most people are sitting indoors waiting for blue skies and long evenings, the mountain-ready are quietly putting in the work. Not by chasing big summits or ticking off miles on a treadmill, but by building the kind of strength, habits, and confidence that only winter can teach.
Because the truth is mountain walking isn’t just walking. It’s resilience. It’s preparation. It’s discipline. And winter is where that begins.
Training Beyond the Treadmill
Step machines and inclined treadmills have their place, but mountains demand more, much more. Long days on rough terrain call on muscles that aren’t used during flat gym sessions or casual weekly walks.
If you want to be truly mountain ready, winter is when you lay the foundation.
Strength Where It Matters
Hiking isn’t just about legs. It’s about the whole body working as one system.
You build it by focusing on:
Lower Body Power
Squats
Lunges
Step-ups
Deadlifts
These mimic the real movements of steep ascents and long, technical descents.
Core Stability
Mountains punish a weak core. A strong one helps you stay balanced over rocky ground and protects you from fatigue or injury.
Think planks, twists, slow controlled raises – nothing fancy, just effective.
Lower Back Strength
Anyone who’s spent a long day carrying a pack knows the lower back takes the brunt of the effort.
Back extensions, RDLs, bird dogs – simple tools that build endurance where it counts.
Shoulders & Upper Body
Your legs might take you up the mountain, but your shoulders carry the journey.
Rows, presses, carries – movements that make your pack feel 5kg lighter without removing a single item from it.
Fitness That Feels Like the Real Thing
Incline work helps. Stair machines help. But controlled, weighted movement trains your body for the unpredictability of the outdoors, not just the monotony of a machine.
Winter gives you the freedom to build without pressure. No race to be summit-ready. Just steady, deliberate progress.
Walking Through Winter
There’s something special about walking in winter. The quiet. The cold. The sense that the landscape is resting, waiting for spring – just like you.
Not every walk needs to be an epic one. A local trail, a muddy woodland circuit, even your usual route with a heavier pack… it all keeps your mountain legs alive.
And it’s good for the soul.
Winter teaches you to appreciate the challenge, not just the views.
Always Take Cake (The Secret Ingredient to Winter Prep)
There’s one rule that doesn’t make it into most training plans, but absolutely should: always take cake.
Winter walks don’t need to be all grit and discipline. Sometimes the simplest rituals are the ones that keep you going.
For me, it was something my daughter and I used to do – our little tradition called the Winter Picnic. It wasn’t complicated. It meant heading out into the cold with a flask full of soup and bread, or a slice of cake and a hot flask of Vimto, and finding a quiet spot to enjoy it together.
Those small moments turned winter training into something more than exercise. It wasn’t just about getting miles in; it was about making memories. It was about stepping away from the warmth of home and discovering that even a freezing day can feel magical when there’s cake involved.
Getting the family involved transforms winter prep from a chore into an adventure. Kids don’t care about step counts or incline gradients – they care about being outside, exploring, and enjoying the treat at the halfway point. And honestly? Adults aren’t much different. A shared laugh, a warm drink, and a good slice of cake can turn a cold hike into a highlight of the week.
Winter is tough enough. Rewarding the effort makes it something you look forward to and it’s amazing how much easier training feels when adventure (and cake) is part of the plan.
Testing Your Kit Before the Season Starts
Summer failures are usually born in winter neglect.
New boots that haven’t been worn in.
A rucksack you never actually walked with.
Waterproofs that turn out to be… well, not waterproof.
Winter is the perfect time to sort all of this out.
We’ve even put together The Gear Store to help you prepare
Wear Your Gear Before You Need It
Put your boots on for weekend walks. Load your pack and feel how it sits on your shoulders. Try your layers in cold, damp weather – the exact conditions they’re designed for.
You learn:
What rubs
What needs adjusting
What needs replacing
What kit you trust when things get uncomfortable
Getting Your Summer Setup Ready
When the good weather finally returns, you don’t want to be scrambling around replacing missing pieces or trying to break in new footwear. Winter prep makes summer adventures smoother, safer, and far more enjoyable.
Why Booking Your Challenge Early Sets You Up for Success
If you’re thinking about taking on a challenge next year, whether it’s your first big mountain day or a multi-day expedition, winter is the perfect time to commit. Not just mentally, but practically. Booking early gives you something incredibly powerful: time.
Time to train.
Time to prepare.
Time to understand exactly what you need to succeed.
When you sign up for one of our events, you don’t just get a place on a challenge. You receive everything you need to begin your journey straight away – a full training plan, a kit list, and detailed event information. Instead of guessing what to work on or waiting until spring to get started, you can begin building your strength, confidence, and knowledge the moment you register.
Early commitment also creates motivation. Knowing you have something big on the horizon gets you moving on the dark winter evenings and keeps you consistent on the days when the sofa looks more inviting than the gym. It turns training from a vague intention into a purposeful routine.
And if you’re unsure what challenge to take on next year, you don’t have to choose alone.
Head over to our Open Events page for inspiration – or drop us a message. We’re always happy to help you find the adventure that fits your goals, experience, and dreams for the year ahead.
Why Winter Matters More Than You Think
The mountains don’t care how many miles you logged on a treadmill. They care about preparation, physical, mental, and practical.
Winter gives you time.
Time to strengthen.
Time to build habits.
Time to test, tweak, and improve.
By the time the sun comes back and the trails dry out, you won’t be starting from scratch.
You’ll be ready. Stronger, fitter, confident and mountain ready.
Because adventure doesn’t begin at the trailhead.
It begins long before that, in the quiet months, when no one’s watching, and the work is its own reward.
