“I could walk all day as long as it’s flat.” If I had a dollar for the number of times, I’d said this, let alone heard it from others. I’d be a rich woman.
The reality is, hills mean views—great vistas of the sea, expanding views of forested paddocks, coastline for miles. Hills are rewarding. Hard work, but rewarding.
The thing is, when you’re short, you do have to work a bit harder than your tall friends. There’s no denying that being able to take great long strides is a distinct advantage when walking up a hill. Short legs mean shorter strides, and you literally take more steps to achieve the same thing!
Hiking preparation is key
I’ve found that training is the key. The more hills you walk up (and down), the easier it gets. Tatnell’s Hill, on the TIW walk, is 548m at its highest point. It’s a steep walk up – and all the track notes say it takes 40-45 minutes. It’s a challenging part of the walk, but as I said, so rewarding when you get to the top.
I really wanted to do this, so I found hills near where I lived and walked up and down them. It’s just as important to train for the down as it is for the up.
- Natone Hill in Lindisfarne is a good one
- As is Gordon’s Hill in Rose Bay
Easily accessible, with plenty of well-marked tracks. You can get a good bit of huff and puff and elevation in a very short space of time.
Walk training tips
I train with a pack on. I constantly check my stride, walking longer strides going uphill when I can. Going downhill, you’ll often need much shorter strides, particularly if there’s a bit of loose gravel.
I use walking poles. They help with stability and getting over rocks and tree roots, particularly going downhill.
The reward
I generally have a red face and a smile when I get to the top of a hill.
I am always challenged, but I usually feel prepared and the sense of achievement getting to the top is a reward in itself.
The views? The icing on the cake!
