Category: Backcountry Performance

Sport-Specific Exercises for Mountain Athletes

Whatever your sport or passion pursuit, doing “the thing” is the most-specific activity you can do. But in many situations we don’t get to do said “thing” quite as much as we’d like. That’s when doing exercises that have a high degree of transfer becomes exceptionally useful. Mountain athletes such as hunters, hikers, backpackers, skiers (when boot-packing), and others need…

Fit for the Field 2023!

I love coaching, training, and rehabbing athletes of all ages, types, and abilities. It’s been my jam for 40 years. One of the athletic populations with which I work a lot is the Backcountry Hunter. I coach a lot of these athletes on an individual basis, but I also have the privilege of offering the Fit for the Field online…

Backcountry Performance…Selecting the Right Boot

Howdy Howdy! I hope you are having a fantastic day! Mine is indeed that because today I get the opportunity to discuss a topic about which I’m really passionate (honestly, there are a lot of those topics). As a self-acknowledged gearhead, I’m always interested in the functionality and ergonomics of equipment, and how that interfaces with human biomechanics. Let’s say…

Shoulder Protection for the Lifetime Athlete

The human shoulder is a marvel of design. It is perhaps more than a joint and is best described as the shoulder complex. This is because it is somewhat complex. Comprised of a shoulder “girdle” made up of your clavicle (collarbone), scapula (shoulder blade), and humerus (upper arm), the shoulder complex blends mobility and stability in truly unique fashion. That…

Analysis of the Hunting Athlete

Howdy! I’m putting these thoughts together during Spring Break so if you’re on a trip, I hope it’s an amazing one. I’m doing a bit of a “stay-cation” mostly because I’m busy with work and planning to save some time off for later in the spring.  Not long ago I did a little piece that was very well received within…

Building the Backpacking Athlete

Everyone is an athlete. Everyone can be an athlete. Everyone should be an athlete. The minute you start seeing yourself as an athlete, good things happen. Your athletic identity guides you to not just exercise, eat well, and be healthy – but to train for peak performance in your chosen sport or passion pursuit. Almost magically, your behaviors become purpose-driven…

Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers and Autonomic Nervous System States

Ok, so here I am finding myself training a lot of people with passionate lifestyle pursuits. Backcountry hunters, backpackers, triathletes, skiers, mountain bikers…people who love what they do and are motivated to be able to do it for a lifetime. Folks who have goals, trips, and events targeted this year for which they are preparing.  Our discussions will often arrive…

Christmas Elk Chorizo!

By popular demand, from multiple community requests – as well as my own passion project – I bring you Christmas Elk Chorizo! Yep, it’s that time of year again when I make sausage and jerky, and it varies from year to year what products get produced.  All that depends on which animals got harvested, and what I’m feeling like creating.…

Athletic Injury: Forefoot Pain (metatarsalgia)

Have you ever developed a sore forefoot which felt like it was bruised…but you don’t recall doing anything specific to cause that problem? What about burning pain, numbness, and pins and needles sensations radiating into your toes when you put pressure on your forefoot? Are you a backcountry athlete who has struggled with boot foot and forefoot issues? This is…

Elk Hunting is an Endurance Sport!

To be honest, I don’t love endurance training. My jam in the workout sense is interval training and circuits. To each his/her own of course. But I’m glad I incorporate some endurance training into my conditioning plans.  My favorite sport, or pastime – really a passion, is elk hunting. I love almost everything about it. The nature experience. The quest.…