Fitness and Nutrition for the Mountains

A conversation Eastman's Elevated

We were forunate to sit down with Brian Barney and Eastman's Elevated to talk about nutrition while training FOR the mountains and how to manage your fuel ON the mountain itself.

3 Short Takeaways for Backcountry Hunters

1. Fueling depends on context: High-output backcountry hunts demand different nutrition strategies than everyday life—fast carbs and calorie-dense foods can be performance tools, not liabilities.

   
   

   Consistency beats extremes: Sustainable training, smart fueling, and repeatable systems matter far more than chasing perfect macros or ultra-low body fat.

   
   

2. Strength supports endurance: The strongest backcountry hunters balance aerobic fitness with functional strength to improve durability, recovery, and long-term longevity.

Backcountry Nutrition, Endurance, and Longevity:

What does it really take to perform deep in the backcountry year after year? On a recent episode of Eastman’s Elevated, host Brian Barney sat down with us to dive deep into the realities of fueling, training, and staying durable for long hunting seasons.

Rather than chasing extremes, the conversation centered on context-driven nutrition and training—what actually works when you’re burning thousands of calories per day, carrying heavy loads, and pushing through multi-day hunts.

Why Sugar Isn’t the Enemy in the Mountains

One of the biggest misconceptions in hunting nutrition is that sugar and simple carbs are always “bad.” Kyle explains that during high-output pursuits like elk hunting, digestion is compromised and calorie needs skyrocket. In these situations, easy-to-digest, calorie-dense foods can help hunters stay fueled when whole foods simply aren’t practical.

The key distinction? These strategies work because of extreme activity levels, not despite them. What’s harmful for sedentary lifestyles can be performance-enhancing in the backcountry.

Can You Train Your Body to Burn Fat Better?

Fasted training and metabolic flexibility came up repeatedly. While it is possible to train your body to rely more on fat, Kyle emphasized that hunting rarely stays in low-intensity “zone 2.” When intensity spikes—steep climbs, quick stalks, heavy packs—carbohydrates become essential.

The takeaway: train and fuel the way you hunt. Being adaptable beats being dogmatic.

Body Composition: When Lighter Isn’t Better

Dropping weight can improve efficiency, but there’s a tipping point. Too little body fat or muscle compromises durability, recovery, and load-bearing capacity. Instead of chasing a specific body fat percentage, Kyle encourages hunters to find their personal sweet spot—where strength, endurance, and recovery all coexist.

For most hunters, this means prioritizing:

• Adequate protein

• Enough carbohydrates to support training

• Sufficient dietary fat for hormone health

Strength + Endurance = Longevity

Endurance gets hunters up the mountain—but strength keeps them hunting year after year. Strategic strength training protects joints, supports movement under load, and reduces injury risk late in the season when fatigue sets in.

Rather than doing everything at once, Kyle recommends seasonal training focus: endurance-heavy blocks before hunts, strength-focused phases in the offseason, and maintenance year-round.

The Real Secret: Systems Over Motivation

Perhaps the most important lesson? Success comes from systems, not willpower. Consistently sleeping well, managing stress, cooking real food, and following a repeatable training plan does far more for performance and longevity than chasing perfect optimization.

As Kyle puts it: “I’d rather be consistently good than occasionally great.”