Episode
ELK HUNTING ALTITUDE - THE CONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT PREVENTS MOUNTAIN FAILURE | 🎙️ EP. 196
- Podcast
- Backbone Unlimited Podcast
- Published
- Jun 15, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1136
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Summary
Elk Hunting e-Books 👉 https://backboneunlimited.com/collections/elk-hunting-series-e-books In this episode of Backbone Unlimited, Matt Hartsky breaks down elk hunting altitude and the conditioning system that helps prevent mountain failure. Altitude does not usually beat hunters all at once. It starts with heavy legs, short breathing, poor sleep, low appetite, headaches, high heart rate, and bad decisions until the hunt turns into survival instead of execution. After 34 years of Western big game hunting and guiding, and more than 30 years as a strength, conditioning, and nutrition coach, Matt explains why general fitness is not enough for elk country and why altitude exposes weaknesses in aerobic base, uphill power, pack tolerance, downhill durability, breathing control, hydration, nutrition, and recovery. You’ll learn how to pace the first 48 hours, train for repeated mountain days, build loaded strength endurance, control your breathing after hard climbs, recover better at elevation, and prepare your body for the real demands of public land elk hunting. If you want to hunt harder, think clearer, avoid burning out by Day 3, and stay effective in steep elk country, this episode will help you train for the mountain instead of just surviving it.