How Training for Adventure Strengthens Family Bonds | Part 2 – Hilary and Alexis’ Kilimanjaro Journey | HikeStrong | Ep. 26

In Part 2, Hilary and Alexis take us through the final weeks of training, their milestone breakthroughs, and the moments on Mount Kilimanjaro that revealed not just their physical readiness — but their resilience, mindset, and bond as a mother-daughter team.

We talk about how they balanced real life with peak-phase training, including graduation, a full-time job, and a family bike trip that forced them to consolidate workouts and rely on discipline rather than perfect circumstances. Hilary describes how the lunge progression and balance work finally resolved decades of knee pain from an old ACL reconstruction, giving her confidence heading into the steepest sections. Alexis explains how she made the wise decision to stop running late in training to avoid injury — and why stair training became her biggest asset.

Inside the peak phase, they share:

• Completing their 3,000-ft and 4,000-ft milestone challenges — and the confidence those tests provided
• The exhaustion, pride, and “I really did that” moments after long combined treadmill–stairs–stair-climber workouts
• How they adapted when life made consistent data tracking impossible
• The way Marcus coached them through limited time, busy schedules, and moments of self-doubt

Once on the mountain, the conversation shifts to what it felt like to truly disconnect. Alexis talks about the quiet magic of being unreachable — no phone, no news, no notifications — and how that presence reshaped the experience. Hilary shares the “calm exhilaration” of being in the moment each day, guided by a team that focused them on one day at a time.

They also discuss:

• Snacking strategies, Scratch chews, electrolytes, and staying fueled at altitude
• How the Thomson Treks guides monitored hydration, sleep, recovery, and morale — and why “positive mental attitude” became their anchors
• The only moment Alexis felt altitude sickness: 3:30am on summit morning
• The honesty, support, and partnership that helped her recover and keep moving

The episode ends with a lively lightning round: tent rituals, packing mistakes, favorite snacks, who woke up first, who took longest to get ready, summit emotions, what the stars looked like at 15,000+ feet, and what they ultimately learned about themselves — and each other.

And don’t miss the very end — stay after the outro music for a fun bit of behind-the-scenes B-roll from our conversation.

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