Training Tip Thursday: Unleashing the Power of Functional Training for Backcountry Success

Welcome to another Training Tip Thursday at WLD MTN, where today we delve into the transformative world of functional training and its crucial benefits for backcountry enthusiasts. Whether you're a seasoned hiker, an avid hunter, or a passionate adventurer, the backcountry demands a unique combination of strength, endurance, and agility. This is where functional training comes into play, bridging the gap between conventional gym workouts and the dynamic physical challenges of the great outdoors.

We'll explore how functional training equips you with the necessary physical tools to navigate rugged terrains, tackle unexpected obstacles, and enjoy your backcountry experiences to the fullest. From exercises that mimic natural movements to workouts that enhance overall strength and stability, functional training is about more than just fitness; it's about preparing your body and mind for the unpredictable nature of the wilderness.

Join us as we uncover the key aspects of functional training, its benefits, and how it can be seamlessly integrated into your workout regime to elevate your backcountry adventures. Prepare to transform your approach to fitness and outdoor activities with the invaluable insights and tips we're about to share. Let's embark on this journey to build a stronger, more adaptable, and backcountry-ready version of ourselves.

There are no-B.S. benefits to functional training that hit home the most with backcountry hunters:

• Enhanced Real-World Functionality

• Reduced Risk of Injuries

• Improved Balance and Coordination

• Increased Muscle Strength and Endurance

• Better Joint Mobility

• Enhanced Athletic Performance

• Higher Calorie Burn

• Improved Posture and Muscle Tone

• Mental Boost and Enhanced Brain Health

Forget the beach muscles or how much you can bench press. With functional training it's all about how you manage the challenges that punch you square in the mouth when you’re out in the backcountry. We will dig into each of the benefits, some of the science behind it, and share functional exercises that aren’t just for show. These are purpose-built, field-tested movements that translate directly to the rugged terrains and high-stakes moments of the hunt. Welcome to the first stage of becoming an elite backcountry athlete.

The No-B.S. Benefits of Functional Training: Your Path for Backcountry Dominance

1. Enhanced Real-World Functionality

For backcountry enthusiasts, whether hunters, hikers, or adventure seekers, the benefits of enhanced real-world functionality through functional training cannot be overstated. This form of training focuses on preparing your body for the practical demands encountered in natural environments, which often involve complex, unpredictable movements and scenarios.

• Mimicking Natural Movements: Functional training involves exercises that mimic real-life activities. For backcountry athletes, this means training in ways that replicate the movements and challenges faced in the wilderness. This approach improves overall body mechanics, making you more efficient and less prone to injuries when navigating difficult terrains.

• Improving Overall Strength and Stability: The uneven and varied terrain of the backcountry requires a strong core and stable joints. Functional training enhances core strength and joint stability, which are crucial for tasks such as carrying a heavy pack over long distances, climbing steep slopes, or maintaining balance on uneven ground.

• Enhancing Endurance and Stamina: Backcountry activities often involve prolonged periods of physical exertion. Functional training improves cardiovascular endurance and muscular stamina, allowing backcountry athletes to perform at their best for longer durations.

• Boosting Flexibility and Mobility: The dynamic nature of backcountry environments calls for a high degree of flexibility and mobility. Functional exercises improve your range of motion, reducing the risk of strains and sprains while engaging in activities like trekking, climbing, or crossing obstacles.

• Promoting Mind-Body Coordination: Functional training also enhances coordination and proprioception - the body's ability to sense and respond to various physical situations. This is vital for navigating complex terrains where precise movements and quick reactions are necessary.

One excellent functional exercise for backcountry athletes is the Walking Lunge with Rotation. This exercise not only strengthens the lower body but also incorporates a twist to engage the core and improve balance and coordination.

How to Perform:

Stand upright with your feet together.

Step forward into a lunge position, bending both knees to about 90 degrees.

As you lunge, rotate your upper body toward the front leg. For an added challenge, hold a medicine ball or a lightweight object in front of you during the rotation.

Push off the front foot to bring your feet back together and step forward into a lunge with the opposite leg, rotating again.

Continue walking forward, alternating legs and rotating with each lunge.

This exercise not only builds strength in the legs and core but also simulates movements such as stepping over logs or navigating uneven terrain, making it highly relevant for backcountry activities.

Incorporating functional training into your fitness routine can significantly enhance your real-world functionality, making you a more capable, resilient, and efficient backcountry athlete.

2. Reduced Risk of Injuries

In the demanding environment of the backcountry, where athletes often encounter unpredictable and challenging terrains, the risk of injury is a constant concern. Functional training plays a pivotal role in reducing this risk by preparing the body not just for the expected, but also for the unexpected. Here’s how functional training benefits backcountry athletes in injury prevention and an example exercise to incorporate into their routine.

• Building Muscle Balance and Joint Stability: Functional training helps in developing balanced muscle strength across the body. In the backcountry, you often rely on certain muscle groups more than others, which can lead to imbalances and, subsequently, injuries. Functional exercises focus on strengthening all muscle groups, thereby providing better joint stability and reducing the risk of injuries like sprains or strains.

• Enhancing Core Strength: A strong core is crucial for maintaining balance and stability, especially on uneven terrain. Functional training targets core muscles, which not only supports the spine but also ensures better posture and alignment. This reduces the likelihood of back injuries, a common issue for backcountry athletes carrying heavy packs.

• Improving Flexibility and Range of Motion: Tight muscles and limited joint mobility can greatly increase the risk of injuries. Functional exercises enhance flexibility and range of motion, allowing for more fluid and injury-free movements. This flexibility is essential for activities such as climbing, bending, and reaching, which are common in backcountry pursuits.

• Training for Unpredictable Scenarios: Functional training often involves exercises that simulate real-world activities and scenarios. This prepares the body to better handle unexpected situations, such as quickly changing direction, navigating obstacles, or reacting to uneven footing, thereby reducing the risk of injury.

• Promoting Neuromuscular Coordination: Enhanced coordination between nerves and muscles is another benefit of functional training. This coordination is vital in responding to complex and dynamic movements, thereby preventing missteps or falls that could lead to injuries.

The Single-Leg Deadlift is an excellent functional exercise for enhancing balance, strengthening the hamstrings and glutes, and improving overall stability, all of which are crucial for injury prevention in the backcountry.

How to Perform:

Stand with your feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in one hand.

Shift your weight to one leg, keeping a slight bend in the knee.

Hinge at your hips and lower the dumbbell toward the ground, extending your free leg behind you for balance. Keep your back flat and core engaged.

Lower down as far as your flexibility allows without compromising your form.

Slowly return to the starting position, squeezing your glutes at the top of the movement.

Repeat on one side for a set number of reps before switching to the other leg.

This exercise not only strengthens the legs and core but also challenges balance and stability, mimicking the act of stepping over obstacles or uneven ground often encountered in the backcountry.

Incorporating functional training into your regimen is a smart strategy for any backcountry athlete. By preparing the body for the varied demands of the wilderness, functional training significantly reduces the risk of injury, ensuring that your time in the backcountry is both safe and enjoyable.

3. Improved Balance and Coordination

For backcountry athletes, functional training is crucial not only for building strength and endurance but also for enhancing balance and coordination. These attributes are essential in the backcountry, where uneven terrain and unpredictable conditions demand precise body control and stability. Let's delve into how functional training benefits balance and coordination, and explore an exercise that effectively fosters these skills.

• Enhanced Proprioception: Functional training improves proprioception – your body's ability to sense its position and movement in space. This heightened awareness is critical in the backcountry, where navigating through uneven, rocky, or slippery terrain requires acute body awareness to maintain balance and prevent falls.

• Stabilization in Varied Terrains: Exercises that mimic the unpredictable nature of backcountry terrains help train the body to stabilize itself in different scenarios. This ability to quickly adjust and maintain balance over diverse surfaces is vital for activities like hiking, rock scrambling, and crossing streams.

• Coordination Between Muscle Groups: Functional training involves multiple muscle groups working in harmony, which is similar to how you engage your body in the backcountry. Improved coordination between these groups ensures smoother, more efficient, and safer movements.

• Reactive Balance: Backcountry activities often require sudden adjustments in movement. Functional training helps develop reactive balance, enabling athletes to respond quickly and effectively to unexpected changes in the environment.

• Core Strength: A strong core is the foundation of good balance and coordination. Functional training targets these core muscles, improving stability and control, which is essential for carrying a backpack, climbing, or navigating challenging terrains.

The Bosu Ball Squat is an excellent exercise for enhancing balance and coordination. The unstable surface of the Bosu Ball challenges your body to engage multiple muscle groups, improving stability and core strength.

How to Perform:

Place a Bosu Ball on the ground with the flat side up.

Stand on the Bosu Ball with your feet hip-width apart, maintaining balance.

Engage your core and slowly lower into a squat, keeping your chest up and back straight.

Push through your heels to return to the standing position, maintaining balance throughout the movement.

Perform multiple repetitions, focusing on controlled movements.

This exercise not only strengthens the lower body but also challenges your balance and coordination. The unstable surface of the Bosu Ball simulates the unpredictability of backcountry terrains, making it an ideal tool for training.

Functional training is an invaluable component of a backcountry athlete’s regimen. By focusing on exercises that improve balance and coordination, you can significantly enhance your performance and safety in the wilderness.

4. Increased Muscle Strength and Endurance

Functional training specifically targets these aspects, preparing athletes for the rigorous demands of the wilderness. This type of training is essential for tasks like long-distance trekking, carrying heavy gear, and enduring prolonged physical activities. Let’s explore the benefits of increased muscle strength and endurance through functional training and highlight a key exercise that can help achieve this.

• Enhanced Physical Performance: Stronger muscles significantly improve overall physical performance. This strength is crucial for backcountry activities that require lifting, climbing, and carrying heavy loads, such as backpacks or hunting equipment.

• Improved Endurance: Endurance is the ability of muscles to exert force repeatedly over time. Functional training increases muscular endurance, allowing backcountry athletes to perform at a higher level for extended periods, crucial for long treks or hunts that span several hours or days.

• Reduced Fatigue: With increased muscle strength and endurance, athletes experience less fatigue during physically demanding activities. This means they can maintain a higher level of performance for longer, which can be the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful backcountry venture.

• Injury Prevention: Stronger muscles and increased endurance also play a critical role in injury prevention. They provide better support to joints and reduce the likelihood of muscle strains, ligament tears, and other common injuries associated with rigorous outdoor activities.

• Greater Load Carrying Capacity: For backcountry athletes who often need to carry gear, improved muscle strength and endurance enable them to carry heavier loads more efficiently, reducing the physical strain and energy expenditure.

Deadlifts are an excellent functional exercise for enhancing muscle strength and endurance, particularly in the lower back, glutes, hamstrings, and core – all crucial muscle groups for backcountry activities.

How to Perform:

Stand with your feet hip-width apart, with a barbell or dumbbells in front of you.

Hinge at your hips and knees, and grip the barbell or dumbbells with an overhand grip.

Keep your back straight, engage your core, and lift the bar by pushing through your heels, bringing it up to your thighs.

Keep the bar close to your body as you lift.

Pause at the top of the lift, then slowly lower the bar back to the ground.

Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

This exercise not only builds strength in key muscle groups but also mimics the motion of lifting heavy objects from the ground – a common activity in the backcountry.

Incorporating functional training exercises like deadlifts into your routine can greatly enhance muscle strength and endurance, preparing you for the physical challenges of the backcountry.

5. Better Joint Mobility and Flexibility

The diverse and unpredictable terrain of the wilderness requires not just strength and endurance but also a body that can move freely and adapt to various physical demands. Functional training, with its focus on natural movement patterns, is key to enhancing joint mobility and flexibility. Here's a closer look at these benefits and an exercise that supports them.

• Increased Range of Motion: Functional training involves exercises that mimic everyday movements, which naturally enhances the range of motion in joints. For backcountry athletes, this increased mobility is crucial for activities like climbing, crouching, or stepping over obstacles.

• Reduced Risk of Injuries: Better joint mobility and flexibility minimize the risk of injuries. When joints can move freely and muscles can extend to their full length, the likelihood of strains, sprains, and joint-related injuries is significantly reduced.

• Enhanced Performance: Improved mobility and flexibility lead to more efficient and effective movements. This enhancement is particularly noticeable in activities that require a combination of skills, such as balancing on uneven terrain, navigating through dense underbrush, or scaling rocky surfaces.

• Faster Recovery: Athletes with better flexibility and joint mobility tend to recover faster from strenuous activities. This quicker recovery is crucial in multi-day backcountry trips, where you need to be physically ready to tackle challenges day after day.

• Greater Comfort and Reduced Stiffness: Regular functional training can reduce stiffness and increase comfort during extended periods of physical activity. This is especially beneficial during long hunts or hikes, where sustained muscle use can lead to tightness and discomfort.

Spiderman Lunges are an excellent exercise for improving joint mobility and flexibility, especially in the hips, hamstrings, and lower back - areas that are heavily utilized in backcountry activities.

How to Perform:

Start in a high plank position, with your hands directly under your shoulders.

Step forward with your right foot, placing it outside of your right hand.

Drop your hips down to deepen the stretch, aiming to keep your back leg straight.

Hold this position for a few seconds, feeling the stretch in your hips and hamstring.

Return to the plank position and repeat with the left leg.

Continue alternating legs for a series of repetitions.

This exercise not only increases hip mobility but also helps in stretching the hamstrings and lower back, making it ideal for preparing the body for the demands of the backcountry.

Incorporating exercises like Spiderman Lunges into your functional training routine can significantly improve your joint mobility and flexibility, ensuring that you’re physically prepared for the rigors of backcountry adventures.

6. Enhanced Athletic Performance

This type of training focuses on exercises that translate directly to improved functionality and efficiency in outdoor activities. Here's how functional training elevates athletic performance for backcountry enthusiasts and an exercise that exemplifies these benefits.

• Comprehensive Physical Conditioning: Functional training targets multiple fitness aspects simultaneously - strength, endurance, balance, and agility. This comprehensive approach ensures that backcountry athletes develop a well-rounded set of physical skills, essential for tackling diverse challenges in the wilderness.

• Improved Power and Strength: Many backcountry activities, like climbing steep terrains or carrying heavy gear, require considerable power and strength. Functional training helps build these attributes, making these tasks less taxing and more efficient.

• Enhanced Endurance and Stamina: Long treks and extended periods of physical exertion are common in the backcountry. Functional exercises improve cardiovascular and muscular endurance, enabling athletes to sustain high levels of activity over longer periods without fatigue.

• Increased Agility and Quickness: The unpredictable nature of the wilderness often demands quick, agile movements. Functional training enhances agility, allowing athletes to navigate through challenging terrains and react swiftly to dynamic environments.

• Better Balance and Coordination: Maintaining balance on uneven ground and coordinating complex movements are crucial backcountry skills. Functional training improves these abilities, leading to safer and more effective navigation through rugged landscapes.

Box Jumps are an excellent functional exercise to enhance athletic performance, particularly in developing power, agility, and coordination.

How to Perform:

Stand in front of a sturdy box or platform at a height you can safely jump onto.

Bend your knees and swing your arms to propel yourself up onto the box.

Land softly with both feet on the box, maintaining balance.

Stand up straight at the top of the box, then step back down and prepare for the next jump.

Repeat for several repetitions, focusing on explosive power and controlled landings.

Box Jumps not only build leg strength and power but also mimic the type of explosive movements often needed in the backcountry, such as jumping over obstacles or moving quickly across uneven surfaces.

Incorporating functional training into your routine is vital for enhancing athletic performance in backcountry settings. By preparing your body to handle the specific physical demands of outdoor adventures, you can enjoy a more successful and rewarding experience in the wilderness.

7. Higher Calorie Burn

Functional training is not only about enhancing physical performance and reducing injury risk for backcountry athletes; it’s also an effective way to increase calorie burn. This aspect is particularly beneficial for backcountry enthusiasts at WLD MTN who seek efficient workouts that support their active lifestyle. Here’s a look at the benefits of higher calorie burn through functional training and a specific exercise that aids in this goal.

• Whole-Body Engagement: Functional training typically involves compound movements that engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously. This whole-body engagement requires more energy, leading to higher calorie burn compared to isolated exercises.

• Improved Metabolic Rate: Regular functional training can boost your metabolic rate, which means you'll burn more calories even at rest. This is due to the increased muscle mass that comes from functional strength training, as muscles require more energy to maintain.

• Enhanced Cardiovascular Efficiency: Many functional exercises are dynamic and can be performed at a pace that elevates the heart rate, combining strength training with cardiovascular benefits. This dual approach leads to a significant calorie burn during and after the workout.

• Versatility and Intensity: Functional training workouts can be easily modified to increase intensity, whether by adding weights, increasing speed, or including high-intensity intervals. This adaptability allows backcountry athletes to continually challenge themselves and burn more calories.

• Supporting Outdoor Activities: The calorie-burning effect of functional training is beneficial for backcountry activities that are often physically demanding. The enhanced stamina and metabolic rate support longer and more strenuous outdoor pursuits.

Kettlebell Swings are an effective functional exercise for high calorie burn. They work multiple muscle groups, including the core, glutes, hamstrings, and shoulders, and can be performed at a high intensity.

How to Perform:

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a kettlebell with both hands in front of you.

Hinge at your hips and slightly bend your knees to swing the kettlebell between your legs.

Propel the kettlebell up to chest height by extending your hips and knees, engaging your glutes and core.

Let the kettlebell swing back between your legs and repeat the motion, maintaining a rhythmic and controlled pace.

Perform multiple repetitions for a set duration or number of swings.

Kettlebell Swings not only provide a full-body workout but also get your heart rate up, making them ideal for calorie burning and cardiovascular conditioning.

Incorporating functional training into your fitness regime can significantly enhance your calorie-burning efficiency, which is beneficial both for overall health and for meeting the energy demands of backcountry activities.

8. Improved Posture and Muscle Tone

For backcountry athletes at WLD MTN, functional training is not just about building strength and endurance; it also plays a crucial role in improving posture and enhancing muscle tone. These aspects are particularly important given the demands of carrying packs, navigating uneven terrain, and maintaining activity for extended periods. Here’s how functional training benefits posture and muscle tone, along with an exercise that effectively supports these goals.

• Strengthening Core Muscles: Functional training often focuses on the core, which includes the muscles around your trunk and pelvis. A strong core is essential for good posture, as it supports the upper body and aligns the spine. This is especially beneficial for backcountry athletes who carry backpacks, as it helps distribute the load evenly and reduces strain on the back.

• Enhancing Muscular Balance: Functional exercises typically involve multi-joint movements that work several muscles simultaneously, promoting balanced muscle development. This balance is key to maintaining proper posture, as muscular imbalances can lead to postural issues.

• Increasing Body Awareness: Functional training enhances proprioception – your body’s awareness of its position and movement. Improved proprioception helps in maintaining correct posture during both static (e.g., standing, sitting) and dynamic (e.g., walking, climbing) activities.

• Reducing Risk of Posture-Related Injuries: Improved posture and muscle tone decrease the risk of injuries related to poor posture, such as lower back pain or shoulder strain, which are common concerns for individuals engaging in outdoor activities.

• Boosting Overall Aesthetic and Function: Apart from the functional benefits, enhanced muscle tone leads to a more defined and aesthetically pleasing physique. For backcountry athletes, this translates into better performance and endurance, given that well-toned muscles are typically more efficient and fatigue-resistant.

Plank Holds are an excellent exercise for improving core strength, posture, and muscle tone. They engage multiple muscle groups, including the abdominals, lower back, shoulders, and glutes.

How to Perform:

Start in a push-up position, with your hands directly under your shoulders and your body forming a straight line from head to heels.

Engage your core by pulling your belly button towards your spine. Ensure your back is flat, and your hips are not sagging or piked up.

Hold this position, keeping your breathing steady and your body as still as possible.

Aim to maintain the plank for a set duration, gradually increasing the time as your strength improves.

Planks not only strengthen the core but also teach the body to maintain a stable, aligned posture, which is crucial for backcountry activities.

Integrating functional training into your routine can significantly improve your posture and muscle tone, enhancing both the effectiveness and safety of your backcountry adventures.

9. Mental Boost and Enhanced Brain Health

Engaging in functional training not only conditions the body for the rigors of outdoor activities but also fosters mental sharpness, resilience, and well-being. Let's delve into these psychological benefits and introduce an exercise that supports mental health.

• Stress Reduction and Improved Mood: Functional training often includes high-intensity movements which lead to the release of endorphins, the body’s natural mood elevators. This release can reduce stress and anxiety, providing a sense of calm and well-being that is essential for mental health, especially in high-pressure backcountry scenarios.

• Enhanced Cognitive Function: Exercises that require coordination, rhythm, and strategy contribute to improved brain function. Functional training challenges the brain to plan, execute, and coordinate movements, which enhances cognitive skills like focus, memory, and problem-solving - vital for navigating the unpredictability of backcountry environments.

• Increased Mental Resilience: Functional training can be mentally challenging, pushing individuals out of their comfort zones. Overcoming these challenges builds mental toughness and resilience, qualities that are invaluable for backcountry athletes who often face physically and mentally demanding situations.

• Better Sleep Quality: Regular participation in functional training can lead to better sleep quality. Adequate rest is crucial for cognitive function and overall mental health, and is especially important for backcountry athletes who need to maintain high levels of alertness and physical readiness.

• Mind-Body Connection: Functional training strengthens the connection between mind and body. This heightened awareness can lead to improved concentration and a more mindful approach to physical activity, enhancing overall enjoyment and satisfaction in backcountry pursuits.

The Turkish Get-Up is an excellent exercise for enhancing both physical strength and cognitive function. This multi-step movement requires concentration, coordination, and motor control, challenging both the body and the mind.

How to Perform:

Lie on your back with your right arm holding a kettlebell straight up towards the ceiling.

Bend your right knee, placing your right foot flat on the floor. Keep your left leg straight and left arm at your side.

Push off your right foot and use your left hand to prop yourself up into a sitting position.

Push up from your left hand, raising your hips, and thread your left leg back to kneel on your left knee.

Stand up from the kneeling position, keeping the kettlebell raised above you.

Reverse the steps to return to the starting position and repeat on the other side.

This exercise not only improves physical strength, particularly in the core, legs, and shoulders, but also requires mental focus and body awareness, enhancing cognitive function and mental resilience.

Functional training offers significant benefits for the mental health and cognitive function of backcountry athletes. These exercises enhance the mind-body connection, reduce stress, improve mood, and build mental resilience, all of which are crucial for facing the challenges of the wilderness.

Equipment and Environment

The name says it all: functional. No fancy gear or high-tech gadgets required. It’s all about what works. Period.

Whether it's resistance bands, kettlebells, or good-old body weight, the tools of the trade are rugged and versatile, the exact qualities you need to adapt outdoors.

Everything you need to know about the equipment for functional training can be found in the name itself: ‘functional.’ Call it practical, useful, handy, or any other synonym, the whole concept is predicated on being adaptive and resourceful. The training tools are no exception.

Gear varies quite a bit based on your goals and real-world application. Resistance bands, stability balls, kettlebells, dumbbells, your own body weight - for backcountry training, you can get a ton of use out of any of those items and even less.

WLDMTN created entire programs dedicated to utility and achieving more with less. Why? Because in the backcountry, less is often more. You don't need a home gym to get started. A resistance band can be as effective as a bow, and a kettlebell can mimic the heft of a loaded pack. This is about training smart, not just hard. And the best part? Your wallet stays as intact as your resolve.

WLDMTN Programs: Real-World Training for Backcountry Hunters

Every WLDMTN program is designed with purpose. Function is the priority.

Focused on arming mountain athletes, tactical athletes, and first responders with real-world skills, our vast library can help you tag that trophy bull, crush your pre-deployment training, and give you the confidence to regain control in any emergency situation.

Here's how our training exceeds the challenges of backcountry hunting:

• Elevation Changes: Elevation changes at high altitudes are a whole different beast. The risk of altitude sickness is always looming. That's why our WLDMTN Backcountry Programs are engineered to enhance your oxygen adaptation. Through high intensity training and aerobic conditioning, you’ll acclimate quicker and expend less energy at the hands of elevation.

• Carrying Heavy Loads: You're not just hauling gear, you're hauling a lifeline. And if you’re fortunate, you’ll walk out with enough meat to completely fill your deep freezer. No matter how you look at it, the precious cargo in your pack is a heavy burden. Its contents will stress the body in ways that brute strength alone can’t solve. It demands intelligent movement. Our heavy-pack programs are designed to give you not just the muscle but also the mobility you need to navigate the wilderness efficiently.

• Uneven Terrain: The backcountry is a maze of rocky and unstable ground. Our programs incorporate exercises that challenge your balance and key you into your body awareness by enhancing your proprioception. With dedicated training it’s only a matter of time before you’re navigating the backcountry with confidence.

• Quick Movement: Milliseconds can timestamp the difference between a missed opportunity and a prized shoulder mount. In the backcountry, speed and agility matter. That’s why you’ll find agility drills and plyometric exercises throughout our programs. They’ll sharpen your quick movements and reflexes, decreasing the time between a focused thought and a clean shot.

• Full-Body Engagement: Every WLDMTN program places emphasis on muscle coordination and efficient movement. Both are cornerstones for maintaining your energy levels while moving for long periods.

Functional Training: A Holistic Approach to Elevating Your Hunt

Functional training is the whole package: strength, endurance, grit, balance, flexibility, and mobility. Isolating muscles like traditional strength training will leave you stranded in the backcountry. True change that matches your purpose comes from integrating every part of your body, training them to work in unison, and challenging them by closely mimicking the real use case. While the value of the benefits is clear, the functional training process is actually the big reveal. Ready to experience the transformative power of functional training firsthand? Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or elite backcountry hunter, functional training adapts to your level. It equips you with the tools to dominate your surroundings.