Walking slowly on purpose: the pace that gets you up
Why the slowest pace you can hold all day is the right one, and how to find it with a simple talk test.
Big hike prep coach
I’m Zawadi. I help ordinary adults train for a first multi-day hike up a high mountain. I share stairs, step-ups, loaded walks, packing and pacing, and I sell plans, checklists and two video courses.
Get ready for your first big mountain, one stair at a time
Live class
The next live class
Forty minutes, all levels, camera optional.
Saturday, November 14 · 7:00 PM
Save my spotLatest posts
One plain post every Friday on training, packing and pacing for a first big hike.
Breaking in your boots before the trip
How many short walks it takes, what to wear them with and the signs a boot is not right for your foot.
The packing list I check twice
Everything I put in a daypack and a bag for a week on a big mountain, and what I leave at home.
Online course
My course
Video course · 7 lessons
Ready for a Big Hike
From your first flight of stairs to a loaded walk of several hours, in seven short lessons.
- How a big hike is different
- Stairs for beginners
- Step-ups, step by step
- Your first loaded walk
- Walking slowly all day
- Training in bad weather
- Your last four weeks
Downloads and merch
Shop
Downloads arrive by email. Merch is printed to order and shipped by Printful.
PDF
Stair Training Plan
Eight weeks of stairs, from one flight to a ten-minute climb, for people who live in flats and houses alike.
PDF
Big Hike Packing List
Every item for a multi-day hike on one printable list, with a space to tick it off.
PDF
Step-Up Progression Chart
Sixteen weeks of step-ups, with height, reps and load for each, on one chart.
Hello, I’m Zawadi
I grew up in the green foothills of a big mountain, and I have walked to the top more times than I can count. I am not a fast walker. What I am is slow, steady and well packed, and that is what gets almost everyone to the top.
Now I coach adults who have never done anything like it. Most of them start on a staircase, with a small pack and a lot of doubts. A few months later they are walking for hours and talking while they do it.
Everything I post is what I teach my own walkers. The posts are free. What I sell is the part you can print and use: plans, logs and checklists, and two video courses for people who want to arrive ready.
Newsletter
Slow Steps
A short letter every Friday for people getting ready for a big hike: one lesson, one thing to pack and one thing to try this week.