Hike Strong Podcast

Most travelers walk away from a guided trip thinking, “That was amazing”—but they have no idea what it actually took to make it feel that way.

In Part 2 of my conversation with former REI Guide of the Year Chris Anderson, we go behind the curtain to uncover what guides really do:

• How REI tried to flip the script and treat guiding as a real career—and why that model didn’t survive
• The long hours, behind-the-scenes prep, and emotion...

When REI announced it was shutting down its Experiences Division, the internet exploded with outrage. For many, it felt like the company was abandoning one of the most meaningful things it offered - a way to actually get people outside, not just sell them the gear.

In this episode, I sit down with Chris Anderson, Former director of Risk Management & Guide Training at REI - a key leader behind the Experiences Division - to unpack...

In this exhilarating episode, I talk with Alex Harz, creator and star of the captivating documentary "The Quest Everest." Alex shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories of his meticulous year-long training regimen, intense mental preparation, and unforgettable experiences climbing from Lukla to the summit of Mount Everest.

Listen in as Alex reveals:

• The surprising challenges he faced, including unexpected toe injuries...

Tia Banks never laced up hiking boots until her mid-30s—after a career as a pro basketball and flag-football athlete was cut short by a Grade 5 cartilage tear in her right knee. In this 41-minute episode, we explore:

• Reinventing yourself after injury: How she pivoted from court and field into totally unfamiliar trails, rediscovered her identity and went on to summit Kilimanjaro while battling illness, whipping winds and half the...

I’ll never forget the email that landed in my inbox last November. “Failure isn’t an option,” Trudy wrote. “How do I get in tip-top shape for a 30-day Upper Dolpo trek?”

Fast-forward five months: Trudy—67 years young and 88 pounds lighter—had logged almost 275 miles and 94,000 feet of elevation gain training, half of it on real stairs and mountain trails, the rest on treadmills between deadlifts and trap-bar sessions. She showed up ...

I’ve been a fitness partner with Thomson Safaris since 2009. So when I finally got the chance to interview someone from their team, I didn’t waste time on the usual fluff—no “best time to go,” no “how high is the mountain,” and no softball questions to promote their brand. We went straight to the real issue that every Kilimanjaro trekker talks about: altitude.

Carolyn Hardy, Senior Safari & Kilimanjaro Consultant at Th...

On today’s episode of the Hike Strong Podcast, I'm talking with Matthew, who shares his inspiring journey from feeling unhealthy and unmotivated to successfully completing a Kilimanjaro summit—his very first multi-day trek.

Matthew used my FREE 12-Week Hiking Training Plans from FitForTrips.com to get fit, lose weight, and build the essential leg strength needed for steep descents, rocky terrain, and intense stair sessions.

In today’s episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Renee—one of my amazing clients living in Montana at the time of her successful summit, now living in Alaska. Even if Kilimanjaro isn’t on your radar, you’ll find plenty of motivation and training nuggets here for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by a big, iconic hike. Renee was 40 when she tackled the 19,341-foot summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and later braved a demanding Alas...

I sat down once again with Will Burkhart, founder of Badass Adventures, to dive into a new topic: non-technical high-altitude mountaineering. Will was my very first guest on this podcast, and his episode on Rim to Rim hiking is a must-listen for anyone tackling the Grand Canyon in a single day. But today, we’re going even higher!

We define non-technical high-altitude mountaineering as climbing between 14,000 and 19,400 feet without ...

In today’s episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with one of my amazing clients from Maryland, John. He was 62 years old at the time he hiked the Tour du Mont Blanc and a one-day Rim to Rim hike within one month of each other.

Our conversation toggles back and forth between TMB and R2R. You’ll learn about John’s hiking training strategies, tips for each of the iconic hikes, fueling strategies, and more. John also discuss...

In 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 no...

My 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 s...

My 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 a...

My 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....

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 ...

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...

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 ...

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, Marcus concluded that hi...

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 ...