Send us a textIn this episode of the Hike Strong podcast, host Marcus Shapiro sits down with a true icon in the ultralight backpacking world, Glen Van Peski. Known by his trail name "Home Made" for his self-crafted gear, Glen is also dubbed "Legend" by friends like John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods Market, due to his profound influence on the hiking community. But Marcus has a different name for him—"Sage"—a nod to Glen’s wisdom that extends far beyond the trails.An engineer, father of t...

Send us a textMy name is Marcus Shapiro, a hiking strength and conditioning coach and the founder of FitForTrips.com. Today, I had the pleasure of speaking with one of my backpacking clients, Dermot. At age 54, he successfully completed an incredible 8-day backpacking adventure in the Maroon Bells. In our conversation, we dove into the key challenges he faced during our 16 weeks of hiking training, and Dermot shared some profound insights that seemed beyond his years.What makes this episode s...

Send us a textMy loyal audience is accustomed to tuning in to my interviews with hiking and backpacking guides. But today, I'm taking a detour to speak with an interesting guy named Nathan (Nate) Pipenberg. I was reading an article titled "The Best Backpacking Packs for Any Adventure" on the Outside app. At the bottom of the article, it reads, "Meet our testers." Nate Pipenberg was listed as a tester, so I decided to approach meeting him literally and interview him for you today.&...

Send us a textMy name is Marcus Shapiro. I am a hiking strength and conditioning coach and founder of FitForTrips.com. Today, I had the privilege of speaking with one of my Kilimanjaro trekking clients. His name is David, and he was 65 at the time of his successful Kilimanjaro summit. Our conversation revealed the elements that led to his climbing achievement. This was an honor and a pleasure for me. I am grateful to receive David’s endorsement. Enjoy the conversation...Ask Me How To Get Fit ...

Send us a Text Message.Oh, so you don’t know who Sunny Stroeer is? Do you know what an FKT is? Have you heard a clear explanation of how to hike successfully at high altitudes? Do you think trekking poles are for wimps? Sunny provides answers to these questions and more. So what are you waiting for? Click play now!In this really fun interview, Marcus Shapiro skillfully draws valuable insights from Sunny Stroeer’s expertise in extreme hiking as she simplifies the information into actionable st...

Send us a Text Message.As you read this, take a moment to ask yourself: Would I benefit from testing my mental and physical capabilities? If you answer yes, I have an alternative to endurance obstacle courses like Tough Mudder or Spartan Race. Consider challenging yourself by going on a backpacking adventure through some of the most iconic areas in the contiguous United States, where you'll be guided by experienced professionals (a.k.a. Team Leaders) who prioritize your safety and help you ac...

Send us a Text Message.To all you hikers out there who want to give mountaineering a go, this episode is for you. Marcus flushes out some fantastic knowledge from Karsten Delap, founder of Pisgah Climbing School. He is one of 200 people in the United States with the IFMGA licensed mountain guide certification. And he is the only one who lives in the Southeast. IFMGA stands for International Federation of Mountain Guides Association.Karsten is a highly respected mountai...

Let's delve into the world of Half Dome hiking, a thrilling Yosemite National Park adventure that requires both safety precautions and a strong dose of motivation. Marcus Shapiro turns to Scott Gehrman, founder of Lasting Adventures, for expertise on the subject. He has summited Half Dome 150+ times with clients brave enough to ascend and descend this majestic peak. After speaking with Scott, I've concluded that his clients' summit success is a testament to the confidence he exudes to his hik...

Marcus Shapiro is joined by Dave Fatula, White Mountains hiking expert and founder of Guineafowl Adventure Company. Dave successfully makes a strong pitch for why hiking in the White Mountains (in New Hampshire) is one of the most fun, beautiful, and rugged destinations in the Lower 48. Your challenge is to listen and then ask yourself how long you can resist before having to experience hikes in the Whites for yourself. He calls the White Mountains, Boston’s Backyard. Marcus...

Marcus Shapiro is joined by Mags and Olly - Tour du Mont Blanc experts! They both share a passion for the Tour du Mont Blanc hike a.k.a. TMB. After listening to the discussion, you will feel confident about committing to this iconic hike. Below is a sampling of some discussion topics:- Make your pitch for why someone should pick the TMB if they could only make one trip this year.- What is the most common fitness question you get?- Do you find a difference in fitness levels b...

Marcus Shapiro is joined by Will Burkhart,  owner of Badass Adventures.  Will has Guided and hiked the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim 55+ times and is one of the experts you should listen to before dropping into the canyon.  There are excellent hiking guides, and then there are badass guides like Will.  His confidence and competence were forged by his years as a marine, a professional adventure race pioneer, and a hiking guide for decades, leading easy hikes to high-altitude summits.  Marcus and...