Theme 3: Energy and the Human Body

This theme was developed with the contributions of Byron Smith's personal trainer and the team doctor, who will be accompanying the climbing team to Mount Everest.

Les Gramantik, personal trainer for Everest 2000 Expedition Leader Byron Smith , has contributed physical fitness challenges for the students. Canadian children of all ages will be invited to join the "Stairway to Everest Challenge", simulating the ascent of Mt. Everest by climbing the equivalent number of stairs in their school or home. By participating in the on-line training program their personal fitness levels will be improved.

Under the direction of Dr. Virginia Robinson (Everest 2000 Team Doctor), members of the expedition will conduct human physiology investigations on Mt. Everest while students participate in parallel activities. For example, students will calculate the concentration of oxygen in the air in their area, while the Basecamp team calculates the level of oxygen along various points of increased elevation on the trip. Students and climbers will post their results, and compare oxygen levels in Canada to those in Nepal, relating oxygen levels to physical performance.

Activity List
Stairway to Everest Challenge
Students will participate in this fitness challenge to explore and experience a climber's training demands. In teams, they will reach the top of Mt. Everest by climbing the equivalent number of stairs. To celebrate, students will plan festivities based in Nepalese culture and will share their celebrations with students from Canada to Nepal.

There is a strong connection between the Stairway to Everest and the Goal Setting projects found under Theme 1, Goal Setting and Decision Making. Stairway to Everest, including the Training Challenge, requires students to set goals, create a plan to meet them, monitor their progress, and make decisions as they continually adjust their plan to meet their goals.

There is also an opportunity (optional) through the Stairway to Everest Challenge for your students to raise money for the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation. This money would be used for Nepalese schools and hospitals, a desperate need in this developing country.
MORE: Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation.

Training Challenge (First part of the Stairway to Everest Challenge)
Students are invited to plan their own physical fitness training program, based on guidelines suggested by Les Gramantik, Byron Smith's trainer. Students plan their program through heart rate measurements and intermittent testing for a minimum of six weeks.

In following phases students will relate physical health and training to Byron's ability to climb Mt. Everest. They will conduct physiology experiments and compare their results to those of the Expedition Team at Basecamp.

The goal for any fitness program is to increase personal levels of fitness and health. Some of the exercises in the Training Challenge may be inappropriate for certain individuals' current level of fitness or flexibility. Feel free to adjust and adapt the program to suit your personal needs. If you have specific health issues, discuss these exercises with your doctor, or a fitness professional before beginning. Remember that no exercise should cause pain while it is being performed. If it hurts... stop!

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