Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: The Mental Training Every Hiker Needs

You’ve planned your route. You’ve bought the boots. You’ve loaded up on gear and researched the trail. But have you trained the most important part of your body for your upcoming hike?

👉 Your brain.

Most people prepping for a guided hiking trip focus on the physical — miles walked, packs carried, workouts crushed. And sure, that’s critical. But if you're heading into the mountains thinking a guide will completely erase all the discomfort, that’s not entirely true.

Real talk: It’s going to get uncomfortable.

You might feel exhausted, sore, a little grumpy, or unsure of yourself at times. That’s part of the magic. And the way you respond in those moments? That’s where the real growth happens.

Meet Your Mid-Singulate Cortex

Let’s get a little science-y for a sec. The mid-singulate cortex is the part of your brain responsible for persistence, discipline, and doing the hard thing now so future-you benefits later.

The wild part? This part of your brain grows every time you practice something uncomfortable on purpose. Every time you choose to push through a tough workout, take a cold shower, or hike in the rain instead of skipping it — you're building literal brain mass that helps you stay focused, calm, and mentally resilient.

Embracing the pain of an unwelcome early season snow in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado

Daily Ways to Train Mental Grit

• Stand on one foot while brushing your teeth. Sounds silly, but it improves balance and mental focus.

• Take a walk in bad weather. Skip the treadmill and feel the elements — you’ll be glad you did when it rains on your trip.

• Go on a hike at dusk or dawn. Low light = more sensory awareness and decision-making practice.

• Try intermittent discomfort. Things like ice baths, pushing your pace on hikes, hiking for 1 more minute when you feel like you can’t, or even unplugged walks build your tolerance for challenge.

• Do that thing you’ve been avoiding for 5 minutes. The hardest part of any activity is getting the ball rolling, so set a timer for 5 minutes, and do just the hardest part even if you don’t have time for the whole activity, workout, walk, etc.

  
  

Resilience is the Real Reward

When the trail gets steep, when your feet are sore, when you're three miles from camp and it’s starting to rain — your mindset is what keeps you going. That’s the difference between a miserable trip and a transformative one.

So don’t just train your legs. Train your mind.

Looking to simplify the training process? Check out these pre-made plans by Upward Mobility Fitness!

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