Progressive Hiking Schedule Snoqualmie Washington Region

Published:  02/07/2019

This is me enjoying the view from Mailbox Peak Summit. Say hi if you see me out on the trail!

I am Maria Faires. I am a mountaineering fitness and nutrition expert. 

I am a true outdoor enthusiast who enjoys showing friends, family, and even strangers, how to enjoy more time in the wild. When I'm not working, you’ll find me outside hiking or boating. 

I think hiking is the by far the most fun and beneficial exercise someone can do. 

The benefits of hiking are numerous. Head to the trail and reap the benefits of hiking: 

• Improves sleep.
• Improves fitness.
• Improves your heart health.
• Improves your sense of balance.
• Builds stronger muscles and bones.
• Lowers cholesterol and blood pressure. 
• Improves mood and enhances mental wellbeing. 
• Decreases the risk of certain respiratory problems.
• Helps control your blood sugar levels and increases your body’s sensitivity to insulin.

Outdoor exercise is incredible for your health and you don't have to go hard-core to get the many benefits of hiking.

The beauty of hiking is that you can hike at any pace, at any elevation, and for any number of miles or hours.

No matter what trail you hike, every hike has its benefits. Even a moderate one-hour hike is a great way to get a dose of cardio in, all while strengthening your muscles and boosting your cardiovascular fitness. And as the elevation goes up, so do the benefits of hiking.

I suggest progressively increasing the difficulty of your hikes. If you are training for a backpacking trip or a mountain summit, it is best to start training in earnest at least 8 weeks before a backpack trip or 6-8 months before a summit. Prior to that, it really helps to start with a good base of cardiovascular exercise such as moderate walking, jogging, biking and thus already have basic conditioning. If you do not have this base, a 12-16 week progressive build-up to pre-trip hiking fitness is more appropriate.

Training helps you enjoy the hike, backpacking or summit climb. You are more relaxed and fully present to appreciate your surroundings if you are not under the physical and psychological stress of being overwhelmed with the effort of hiking.

Contact me if you need assistance planning your fitness regimen for mountain climbing or backpacking. I've successfully climbed Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Angeles and trained hundreds of clients to climb those and Aconcagua, Mt. McKinley, Mt. Blanc, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Carstensz Pyramid and Mt. Everest (See the testimonial from Dan Akerman)

Want to know how to hike downhill to save your knees? View my YouTube video here.

If you live in the Seattle area, the Snoqualmie Mountain Region offers spectacular hikes. I have listed many of my favorites in as progressive fashion as I can estimate.

Note that some of these hikes are not accessible during the winter season. So check WTA.Org for trail reports, weather reports, directions and parking pass requirements. You might need either a NW Forest Pass, or a Discover Pass. 

And before you head out, make sure you have everything you need to prevent and respond to emergencies and to safely spend one or more nights outdoors.

Maria Faires' Progressive Hike Schedule Snoqualmie Region