Whether you ski in the winter, bike in the fall or hike in the spring and summer, mountain recreational activities require a unique type of fitness. All of these activities require balance, agility and coordination. Although some activities, such as hiking, snowshoeing, biking and cross country skiing have fitness benefits in their own right, a supplementary training program is still essential.

So what does this have to do with budget travel? Simple answer: Injuries are expensive! Getting injured while doing the sport you love can cause you to abandon that activity. For your next vacation, you may be likely to substitute that hiking trip for a trip to (good heavens) Disney, which is hardly a budget destination.

Fortunately, you're in luck! I just began a gig as a Colorado Mountain Fitness Examiner for Examiner.com. I'll be posting fitness tips three times a week, so be sure to check it out. You might also want to look at my blog on Prevention.

Play safe and have fun!