HikeStrong Podcast
The HikeStrong Podcast is where I share practical guidance on hiking, backpacking, and trekking preparation. Each episode blends fitness insight with real-world training strategies to help you build strength, endurance, and confidence for any trail.
I sit down with guests to break down how to train for demanding hiking, backpacking, and trekking goals using smart strength training, endurance training, and conditioning approaches. You’ll hear clear advice on altitude training, uphill training, and injury prevention, all woven into training conversations that support preparation for major destinations such as Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, Rim to Rim, Tour du Mont Blanc, the Camino de Santiago, Patagonia, Machu Picchu, the Alps, and the Dolomites.
Because training is never one‑size‑fits‑all, I also bring listeners inside real programs. In select episodes, I interview clients in a deep‑dive format that reveals week‑by‑week training details — real data, real challenges, and real solutions — offering a clearer picture of how people actually prepare for hiking, backpacking, and trekking goals.
A cornerstone of my approach is elevation‑gain training. I believe that consistently building weekly elevation gain is one of the strongest predictors of success on any major adventure. In each episode, I share clear, actionable ways to develop that strength — even if you don’t have access to hiking terrain — so you can stay on track whether you train on hills, treadmills, stair machines, or step‑ups.
If you're preparing for a major trip, gearing up for a multi-day backpacking route, or building a long-term plan for tougher hiking or trekking challenges, you’ll find episodes that support every step of your training.
Beyond training, some episodes feature voices from across the hiking, backpacking, and trekking worlds — guides, operators, storytellers, and industry experts whose insights can shape how you think about adventure. These conversations broaden your perspective and influence your outdoor experiences, even when the focus isn’t directly on training.
Listen, train with purpose, share with your adventure partners — then take on at least one unforgettable hiking, backpacking, or trekking experience each year. Train | Hike | Repeat
I’m Marcus Shapiro, a hiking strength and conditioning coach and an early pioneer in online training for hiking, backpacking, and trekking, helping adventurers get physically ready for everything from local elevation goals to high-altitude expeditions.
HikeStrong Podcast
Kilimanjaro Confidence Blueprint: Altitude Adaptation, Route Savvy, Guide Magic | Hike Strong Podcast | Ep. 16
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 Thomson Safaris, joined me for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it really takes to get to the top of Kilimanjaro—and why confidence, preparation, and the right team matter more than anything.
This episode will provide you with the information and confidence you need to choose the right route, prepare mentally and physically, and understand how world-class guides help you succeed, even when altitude strikes.
What We Cover in This Episode:
- The truth about altitude sickness—why almost everyone feels it and what to expect
- How Thomson Safaris’ guides monitor, support, and adapt to help trekkers summit successfully
- Carolyn’s personal altitude experience on Kilimanjaro—and how the guides kept her safe
- What makes Thomson’s guides different (hint: it’s not just the certifications)
- How guides build trust, manage group dynamics, and keep morale high
- Why fitness is your job—and the rest is the guide’s job
- A full breakdown of the four main routes to the summit, including:
- Grand Traverse: Best for first-timers, longer acclimatization, upgraded tents
- Western Approach: Most popular, good balance of challenge and cost
- Umbwe Route: Most physically demanding—only for experienced trekkers
- Machame Route: Budget-friendly, but crowded and fast-paced
- How to choose your route based on budget, fitness level, experience, scenery, solitude, and even knee issues
- Thoughts on Diamox—who takes it, how it’s prescribed, and when to start
- The difference between mental vs. physical preparedness, and why both matter
- What’s not in the pre-departure packet—but probably should be
- Extra gear tips: boots vs. trail runners, paracord for drying clothes, and more
- How Thomson treats its porters, and why their ethics matter when choosing an operator
ThomsonTreks.com / ThomsonSafaris.com
Carolyn Hardy: info@thomsonsafaris.com
Ask Me How To Get Fit For Your Next Hike, Trek or Backpacking Trip:
https://fitfortrips.com/consultation/
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https://fitfortrips.com/free-hiking-training-plan/
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https://fitfortrips.com/hikestrongpodcast
