Category: Backcountry Performance

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.…

The Antelope Hunt Recap!

Episode 261 of the Podcast features The Antelope Hunt Recap! If you’d like to hear the story of my recent outing, including the preparation, the journey, and the field to table experience…give it a listen!

Training for Hunting…Training for Life!

The title says a lot. You can and should train for any sport or activity that is important to you. And you should make your training work over your lifespan — to give you as many years of high performance as possible. I train as a Lifetime Athlete and I train to hunt, among a few other things. I’ve been…

The Lifetime Hunter Summit

Hey there! I hope your summer is going well. It’s already mid-July and the days are literally flying by. I’ve got a list of items (work assignments, house projects, workouts, trips, etc.) that I’m hustling to check off. I imagine it’s the same for you. As part of the Fit for the Field backcountry hunter conditioning system, this summer I…

The Field to Table Journey

Spring is upon us and I’m filled with newfound energy and reflections on the process of renewal. In reality, late March really feels like the “first of the year” to me more than does January 1. Sometimes our societal constructs and the natural world don’t always coincide perfectly.  PK & I recently had a discussion on the Podcast about kickstarting…

A Physical Therapist’s Guide to Backcountry Footwear

[also available on the Podcast!] Let’s say you are headed into the backcountry. Or maybe it’s an adventure anywhere that gets you on some natural terrain. This could be the mountains, woods, swamps, or even the local recreational trail. Here are some common questions. What kind of shoes should I wear? How can I prepare my feet for the journey?…

Shooting With a Recoil-Sensitive Shoulder, Part 1

This is a science project. I recently acquired a recoil-sensitive shoulder. This is the story of how that happened and what I’ll be doing to continue pursuing one of my lifetime sports in the presence of an orthopedic issue. I decided to share this journey because I believe it has the potential to benefit many other LIfetime Athletes who participate…

Hunter Performance Part 3…Applications and Mindset

In this third part of the Hunter Performance Series, I’m going to discuss a variety of tactics and strategies that can enhance your effectiveness and enjoyment as a backcountry hunter. Many of these concepts will be useful for any mountain athlete or wilderness traveler. In Part 1 we covered conditioning and in Part 2 our focus was gear. Now we…