In this bonus Q&A episode of the Hunt Backcountry Podcast, we’re joined again by John from Evoke Endurance to tackle listener questions on training for backcountry hunts. We dive into the realities of balancing competing priorities, building fitness for multi-day hunts, and why aerobic base—not VO2 max—is the true foundation of performance in the mountains.

John breaks down how to structure your training with limited time, how to think about strength vs. endurance, and what really matters when preparing for cumulative fatigue in the backcountry. We also get into practical topics like heart rate-based training, adapting plans around injuries, fueling strategies, and what to do when life inevitably disrupts your schedule.

If you’re trying to train smarter—not just harder—for your next hunt, this episode is packed with actionable insight.

THE TRAINING PLANS...

Use code EXO before 04/30/26 to save on the training plans...
20 Week Training Plan: https://evokeendurance.com/training-plans/backcountry-hunting-20-week-training-plan/
28 Week Training Plan: https://evokeendurance.com/training-plans/backcountry-hunting-training-plan/

LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE...

Episode 574 | "Building the Mountain Hunter: Physiology, Foundations, and the 20-Week Training Plan": https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/574
Episode 475 | "Proven Training Methods for the Mountain Hunter": https://the-experience-project.com/proven-training-for-mountain-hunting/
Understanding V02 Max: https://evokeendurance.com/resources/understanding-max-vo2/
Additional Free Resources from Evoke: https://evokeendurance.com/resources/

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/

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Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast