The aim of the current study was to investigate the physiological responses to a typical hill-walking event. Thirteen subjects (11 male and 2 female) participated in the study during the months February to March. On separate occasions subjects completed a self-paced 12 km hill-walk, varying in elevation from 100 m to 902 m above sea level consisting of a range of gradients and terrain typical of a mountainous hill-walk. During the hill-walk, continuous measurements of oxygen consumption and rectal temperature were made. During the first 5 km of the walk (100 - 902 m) rectal temperature increased (36.9 +- 0.2 to 38.5 +- 0.4°C). Subjects operated at approximately 50% of VO_2_(peak), with a average heart rate (HR) of 148 +- 8 (b.min~(-1)) during this first part of the walk. Rectal temperature decreased by approximately 1.5°C during a 30-min stop for lunch, and continued to decrease a further 0.5°C after walking recommenced. During the final 6 km, subjects descended from 902 -100 m; over this period, VO_2 was maintained at approximately 30% peak, and HR averaged 126 +- 5 (b.min~(-1)). Practical recommendations to enable both hill-walkers and leaders to be better equipped for the mountainous environment are considered.
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