{"podcast":{"title":"Backbone Unlimited Podcast","slug":"backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967","podcast_index_feed_id":7365967,"rss_url":"https://feed.podbean.com/backboneunlimited/feed.xml","website_url":"https://backboneunlimited.podbean.com","image_url":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/20847414/BACKBONE_UNLIMITED_PODCASTas0nb.png","author":"Backbone Unlimited","episode_count":100,"summary":"Backbone Unlimited is a western hunting podcast for public-land hunters who want to stop guessing and build a better system for finding elk, mule deer and black bears, beating pressure, reading sign, understanding wind and thermals, and making cleaner decisions in the mountains. Hosted by Matt Hartsky, Backbone Unlimited combines 34+ years of western big game hunting experience with decades of strength, conditioning, and nutrition coaching to help hunters prepare smarter and hunt more effectively. Episodes cover elk hunting strategy, mule deer hunting, bear hunting, public land tactics, archery elk hunting, rifle hunting, e-scouting, scouting, glassing, calling, bedding areas, feed, water, transition zones, mountain fitness, hunt planning, field decision-making, meat care, gear, pack-outs, and the mindset it takes to keep improving season after season. If you’re serious about becoming a more capable western hunter, Backbone Unlimited is built to help you train harder, hunt smarter, and never settle.","last_synced_at":"2026-08-01T10:19:29.589727+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967"},"episode":{"title":"HOW TO TRAIN FOR HIGH ALTITUDE ELK HUNTING WHEN YOU LIVE AT SEA LEVEL | EP. 213","slug":"how-to-train-for-high-altitude-elk-hunting-when-you-live-at-sea-level-ep-213","published_at":"2026-07-22T18:30:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967/how-to-train-for-high-altitude-elk-hunting-when-you-live-at-sea-level-ep-213","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967","url":"https://backboneunlimited.podbean.com/e/how-to-train-for-high-altitude-elk-hunting-when-you-live-at-sea-level-ep-213/","audio_url":"https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/kbig2a38pzddmvj4/How_to_Train_for_High-Altitude_Elk_Hunting_When_You_Live_at_Sea_Level96mmn.mp3","summary":"Living at low elevation doesn’t mean you have to spend the first several days of your elk hunt struggling to breathe, fighting heavy legs, and waiting for your body to catch up. In this episode, I break down how to prepare for hunting elk between 8,000 and 11,000 feet—even if you never train in the mountains. We’ll cover the specific aerobic conditioning, ruck training, incline work, downhill strength, breathing practice, and arrival strategy that help low-elevation hunters perform better at altitude. You’ll learn why general fitness isn’t always enough, why last-minute training usually fails, how to build a stronger cardiovascular engine, how to prepare for long climbs under pack weight, and what to do during the first 48 hours after arriving at elevation. The goal isn’t to survive until day three. It’s to arrive ready to hunt on day one. Learn more about Backbone Unlimited training plans, nutrition plans, elk hunting e-books, TEAM Backbone, and Elk Hunt Plan Audits at BackboneUnlimited.com. Train harder. Hunt smarter. Never settle.","meta_description":"Living at low elevation doesn’t mean you have to spend the first several days of your elk hunt struggling to breathe, fighting heavy legs, and waiting for…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1107,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967/episodes/how-to-train-for-high-altitude-elk-hunting-when-you-live-at-sea-level-ep-213/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/backbone-unlimited-podcast-7365967/how-to-train-for-high-altitude-elk-hunting-when-you-live-at-sea-level-ep-213.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}