The Best Of Both Worlds

Training in the cold at high altitude.

- Ryne Gioviano

While at this time of year you’re probably thinking about summer vacations, grilling, and yard chores, the fall isn’t too far off.

Many of us will be heading afield to fill the freezer, and while not everyone gets the chance to go on an extreme mountain hunt, training like you’ll be working at altitude and in the cold pays dividends. Not a hunter? Maybe you’re going hiking somewhere, climbing, or perhaps you just love the idea of a HALO (high altitude low opening) jump into northern British Columbia where you’ll be in the mountains for days. Now’s the time to consider changes to your training regimen — leave it until a couple of weeks before and you’ll be way behind the curve. This last scenario, in particular, poses a higher risk for cold-related problems because the exposure is for a prolonged amount of time. Regardless, don’t worry, though. We have you covered.

COLD

Responses: The first step to preparing yourself for the cold is knowing how the body responds to it. It’s important to point out that the human body gains heat through radiation (from the sun), metabolism, and muscle action, with muscle being the most substantial source. Therefore, the amount and intensity of movement can be crucial to staying warm in a cold environment. Without much movement occurring, you’re not going to get a substantial amount of heat either through muscle contractions or metabolism because the increase in movement also causes increases in metabolism.