Hi everyone!
Has anyone ever participated in a NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) course before? I signed up for a 31 day hiking backpacking course next June that is 160 miles (257 KM) long through the North Cascades in Washington - I have almost 10 months to prepare - I want to lose about 25 lbs before I go on this hiking trip. FYI it has absolutely nothing to. Do with weight loss I myself just personally want to get in shape BEFORE I attend
Here's a link if anyone is interested in the thought of the NOLS school - they have over 1.5 million dollars a year for scholarships and bursaries AND it's not for '' troubled'' kids like the outward bound programs reputation has - they have all age ranges and a wide variety of programs albeit for a cost (mountaineering in Alaska sounds so. Cool...) alot of college students can do a course for actual transfer credits it's affiliated w the University of Utah I believe
http://www.nols.edu/courses/location...kpacking.shtml (that's the one I'm signed up for!!!)
I'm hoping that working out and day hiking w a 50 lb pack (buying my own pack and slowly starting. To walk around w it full will help me prepare? help me lose the weight and get fit in preparation too - it looks like it'll be hard work but a ton of fun. The scenery looks beautiful and the reviews I've read on online forums and blogs etc are pretty glowing - of course there are always risks involved in hiking in the wilderness w injuries and animals etc
Was wondering if anyone here does hiking or has participated in similar programs for the fun of it - I'm excited to go next year! Any tips on preparation?
The only thing I'm worried about is I've heard it's like really difficult to lose weight AND build muscle strength at the same time - I don't want to lose the 25 lbs and be a weakling before my trip especially w all the activity expended having to carry approx 45-50 lbs in a backpack for 160 miles over a month. That's why I'm starting now to get in shape and strengthen my body. I lost almost 50 lbs a few yrs ago but wasn't doing any serious gym work so I got '' skinny fat '' and then I regained half of it back