DOWNLOAD THE FREE 4-MONTH TRAINING PLAN PDF:
👉 https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools
🎁 THE ULTIMATE GUIDED HUNT GIVEAWAY: Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry (including the new camo Forged Base Boxers) earns one entry to win an all-expenses-paid custom guided hunt with Mindful Hunter Outfitting. You pick the hunt: BC Black Bear or Mule Deer, Alberta Archery Mule Deer, or Rifle Coues Deer in Mexico. 👉 https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/
The truth about backcountry hunting fitness. If you are doing CrossFit, high-intensity intervals, or heavy lifting to get ready for the mountains, you might actually be hurting your performance. In this video, I break down the 10 core principles of mountain endurance, heavily inspired by the groundbreaking book Training for the Uphill Athlete.
Learn why cardiovascular capacity isn't the real goal, why you need to build a fat-burning aerobic engine, and why "Zone 2" is the secret to endless energy in the backcountry. Whether you're training for an elk hunt, a sheep hunt, or just want to carry a heavy pack without gassing out, this is the exact system I use to spend 140 days a year in the field at 47 years old.
What we cover in this video:
- Why "Metcon" workouts create Aerobic Deficiency Syndrome
- The 80/20 rule for Zone 2 training
- How to build Muscular Endurance (ME) with heavy rucking
- Why having too much muscle mass hurts mountain performance
- A complete 16-week periodized training plan
- The best cardio machines if you live in a flat or urban area
If you want to arrive at the trailhead fresh, durable, and capable without paying for a monthly fitness subscription—this video is for you.
Chapters:
00:00 - Why Most Hunting Fitness Programs Are Flawed
01:01 - The Book That Changed My Endurance Training
02:40 - Principle 1: Endurance is a Metabolic Problem
06:50 - Principle 2: Zone 2 is the Foundation
09:01 - Principle 3: Specificity is King (The SAID Principle)
10:25 - Principle 4: Muscular Endurance is the Secret Weapon
11:44 - Principle 5: Continuity and Gradualness
12:33 - Principle 6: Periodize Your Training Year
13:30 - Principle 7: Separate Aerobic and Anaerobic Work
16:01 - Principle 8: Respect Global Fatigue Cost
17:25 - Principle 9: Avoid the Gym Bro Trap
19:11 - Principle 10: Train to Hunt, Don't Hunt to Train
21:15 - How Fatigue Destroys Your Marksmanship Accuracy
23:15 - Free 4-Month Backcountry Training Plan Breakdown
26:33 - No Mountains? The Best Cardio Machines for Hunters
Reels
5:00 – condense video and frustrated with other programs
Jake Downs
https://www.instagram.com/jake_d_downs/
Jay Nichol
jay@mindfulhunter.com
https://www.mindful-reviews.com/
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/
Forged In The Backcountry
https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/
Merch
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Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide
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No purchase required. Contest begins on May 17, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on July 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. There is a total of 1 prize available to be won consisting of: (i) A custom guided hunt with Mindful Hunter Outfitting including travel and tip (APR) $$10,000.00 CAD); Skill testing question required. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, The District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, Finland, France and Switzerland. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received before contest closes. No limit on entries. For full rules and entry details visit: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/blogs/resources/the-ultimate-custom-guided-hunt-giveaway-open-until-july-17-2026
