To investigate the effect of exercise on the physical fitness in the elderly, 135 males and 118 females (climbing group), aged 69.9 ± 6.7 years, participated in this study. They regularly performed the mountain-climbing under conditions of 6.4 ±1.3 days / week of the frequency, 2.0 ± 1.0 km of the distance of the mountain-climbing, 29.0 ± 1.6 min. of the time required and 71.7 ± 27.2 m / min of the averaged climbing speed. The average heart rate during the mountain-climbing was 91.2 ± 4.5 beats / min. The period of the mountain-climbing was 11.0 ± 6.7 years. They were measured height, weight, % body fat, vertical jump, grip strength, toe touching, leg power and heart rate during step exercise.
　Their values measured were compared with values of similarly aged elderly (sedentary group) without regular exercise in their lifestyle. The values of grip strength, vertical jump and toe touching in the climbing group were significantly higher than those in the sedentary group, and the rate of decrease in toe touching with proceeding of the age was lesser in the climbing group than in the sedentary group. Leg power, toe touching positively correlated with the distance of the mountain-climbing, and heart rate during step exercise negatively correlated with the distance in female.
　There were no significant correlations between other conditions of the mountain-climbing and measured items. It was suggested that the mountain-climbing in the elderly improved the physical fitness, and that the distance of the mountain-climbing was effective factor for getting training effects in the physical fitness.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.11/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE