In this episode of the Hike Strong Podcast, Marcus Shapiro sits down with Joel — a 63-year-old retired physician who went from a heart attack, beta-blockers, and years of declining fitness… to completing the Camino de Santiago and rediscovering what he’s capable of.

Nine months before this conversation, Joel reached out with a simple question:
Can I actually do this?

After a STEMI in his 40s, years of weight gain, and the limitations of beta-blockers, Joel felt out of shape, uncertain, and honestly — afraid of elevation. But he also had a growing list of adventures he didn’t want to miss.

This episode follows that journey.

Joel shares what it felt like to start over… 
What it was like training in a completely flat environment…
And how his confidence slowly returned — one walk, one stair climb, one small win at a time.

We talk about:

• The mental side of rebuilding after a cardiac event
• What it feels like to exercise on beta-blockers
• Reclaiming identity after years away from fitness
• Training alongside his wife and staying accountable
• The moment preparation turns into belief

And ultimately, what the Camino de Santiago meant to him.

From quiet coastal mornings along the Camino Portuguese…
to the realization halfway through the journey that he was ready…

And it didn’t stop there.

Since completing the Camino Walk, Joel has gone on to hike the Great Ocean Walk in Australia, continuing to build momentum with each new experience.

Looking ahead, he and his wife are planning future adventures including the Cotswold Way, the Tour du Mont Blanc, and even Kilimanjaro — goals that once felt uncertain, and now feel possible.

This is not a story about elite performance.

It’s about reclaiming your life, one step at a time.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late — or whether your body can still do hard things — this conversation will resonate.

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How do you train for Mount Kilimanjaro at 60+ without living near mountains?
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro isn’t just about summit night — it’s about the months of preparation beforehand.

In this episode, siblings Bob and Susan (both in their late 60s) share how they trained separately in completely different environments and successfully summited Kilimanjaro together.

Susan lives in the Washington, D.C. area and trained using local hikes in Virginia and Maryland, treadmill work, stairs, and strength training — one year after her second hip replacement. Bob lives in Iowa and trained in flat terrain, relying heavily on stairs and an artificial sledding hill to build elevation gain.

Both had real concerns: altitude sickness, balance, downhill scree, and handling back-to-back trekking days.

Over 12 weeks, they focused on elevation gain, lunges, balance work, and milestone challenges — logging more than 35,000–40,000 feet of vertical gain in training.

By the time they reached Tanzania, the physical side was no longer the question.
In this episode, we cover:

• How to train for Mt. Kilimanjaro without mountains
• Elevation gain vs. mileage
• Hiking after hip replacement
• Balance training for hikers over 60
• Trekking poles and downhill control
• Managing altitude sickness
• The value of experienced guides
• Why preparation reduces anxiety on big expeditions

This conversation is for anyone who believes big adventures are reserved for younger bodies or perfect terrain. Readiness can be built deliberately, locally, and imperfectly — and sometimes the most meaningful summits are the ones you share with someone willing to commit alongside you and stay accountable every step of the way.

HikeStrong mobile App: https://hikestrongapp.com/

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Most hikers research hiking gear and watch gear reviews before a trip.

You’ve probably watched hiking gear videos before your last hike—but have you ever thought about who’s creating them?

In this episode, we step inside the world of user-generated content (UGC) and talk with a real outdoor creator about how it actually works in the hiking and outdoor gear industry.

Marcus sits down with Ryan Heck, a UGC creator who works with outdoor brands like KÜHL and BioLite, to talk about:

• What user-generated content actually is
• How Ryan studies and tests hiking gear before showcasing it
• What makes hiking gear reviews feel authentic
• Layering strategy for hut-to-hut hikes in changing weather
• How hikers can approach content creation themselves

This episode isn’t about workouts. It’s about understanding the hiking gear content many outdoor enthusiasts already consume—and the role it plays in the broader hiking experience.

After listening, you may start seeing hiking gear videos on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook differently.

Ryan Heck: Outdoor Brand Content & UGC Creator | Trekker Heck Instagram

Ryan and Marcus will both be at https://hikeexpocolorado.com/ in May 2026.

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What do years inside the outdoor industry actually teach you about gear, preparation, and creating in nature?

In this episode of the HikeStrong Podcast, Marcus Shapiro sits down with outdoor photographer and filmmaker Dan Holz, co-founder of Fieldborn Creative, to talk about what he learned from nearly a decade working on the retail floor at REI, more than seven years leading photo and video at Osprey, and decades working in the field with hikers, athletes, and outdoor brands.

Dan shares behind-the-scenes insight into how outdoor gear is really designed and tested, why pack fit matters more than weight, and how working with real athletes in the field differs from staging outdoor marketing shoots. Drawing on his experience as a photographer and filmmaker, he explains how preparation — both physical and logistical — allows people to be present on the trail and on set, rather than just getting through the day.

Marcus and Dan also talk about how COVID reshaped hiking culture and the outdoor industry, what brands learned during that surge, and why authentic outdoor storytelling depends on lived experience, not polish or performance.

Whether you’re a hiker planning a big trip, someone curious about how outdoor brands operate behind the scenes, or a creator interested in authentic outdoor storytelling, this episode offers an honest, grounded perspective from someone who’s lived it.

Featured Guest
Dan Holz
Co-Founder, Fieldborn Creative
Dan is a lifelong outdoor professional whose career spans retail leadership at REI, creative direction at Osprey, and decades of fieldwork capturing authentic outdoor stories around the world. His work is rooted in lived experience and reflects how adventure actually unfolds.
🔗 Learn more: https://fieldborncreative.com

Dan and Marcus will both be at https://hikeexpocolorado.com/ in May 2026.

HikeStrong mobile App: https://hikestrongapp.com/

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Thinking about a Swiss Alps hut-to-hut hike but don’t know where to start? How do you actually plan it—and what do most first-timers get wrong?

In the final episode of this series, Marcus and Alex, founder of The WanderWeGo Co., dive into the practical realities of hiking in Switzerland. Alex shares what makes the Swiss Alps different from hiking in the U.S., including cultural norms, trail design, and the Swiss trail rating system—an area that often surprises American hikers.

They break down what a mountain hut really is, what it’s like to stay in one, and why hut-to-hut hiking is far more welcoming than many people expect, even for solo travelers or beginners. Alex also explains the logistics behind route planning, booking huts, packing smart, and preparing for the elevation gain that defines alpine hiking.

This episode is a roadmap for anyone inspired by Dave’s story and wondering how to take their own first step toward a Swiss Alps adventure—with clarity instead of overwhelm.

Topics covered:

• Hiking in the Swiss Alps vs. the U.S.
• Understanding Swiss trail ratings
• What the hut-to-hut experience is really like
• Planning routes, booking huts, and packing smart
• Common mistakes first-time Alps hikers make
• How beginners can confidently start planning

Get expert advice on hiking in the Swiss Alps from Alex, founder of The WanderWeGo Co.

HikeStrong mobile App: https://hikestrongapp.com/

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After months of training, what is it actually like to hike hut-to-hut in the Swiss Alps for the first time? This is the reality of a first Swiss hut-to-hut experience.

In Part 2, Dave is joined by Alex, founder of The WanderWeGo Co. and the consultant who designed his Swiss Alps route. Together, they move from preparation to lived experience—talking honestly about what surprised Dave on the trail, what challenged him most, and where his training showed up when it mattered.

They discuss why Alex intentionally steered Dave toward a more local, off-the-beaten-path region instead of the famous tourist routes, and how that decision shaped the entire experience. Dave reflects on the moments that stayed with him most, from physically demanding sections to unexpectedly emotional highs, and explains how knowing he was prepared allowed him to simply “show up” and enjoy the experience.

This episode connects the dots between smart planning, structured training, and what it actually feels like to hike day after day in the Alps as a first-timer.

Topics covered:

• First-time Swiss Alps hut-to-hut hiking
• What surprised a newbie hiker on the trail
• Off-the-beaten-path routes vs. tourist regions
• How training translates to real alpine terrain
• Advice for nervous or first-time Alps hikers

Get expert advice on hiking in the Swiss Alps from Alex, founder of The WanderWeGo Co.

HikeStrong mobile App: https://hikestrongapp.com/

Ask Me How To Get Fit For Your Next Hike, Trek or Backpacking Trip:
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What does it really take to train for a Swiss Alps hut-to-hut hike at 63—especially if you’re new to multi-day hiking? For Dave, it became a path back to strength, confidence, and independence.

In Part 1 of this three-part series, I sit down with Dave, a first-time hut-to-hut hiker, to talk about the training journey that prepared him for the Alps—and how that process became much more than physical preparation. Week after week, our training check-ins evolved into deeper conversations about aging, independence, freedom, and what it means to stay capable later in life.

Dave shares how walking and hiking—basic human movements—often need to be relearned in a modern, sedentary world, and how losing the ability to move long distances can quietly erode freedom and confidence. Training for the Swiss Alps helped him reclaim both.

This episode is for anyone wondering if they’re “too old,” “too late,” or “not experienced enough” to take on a big hiking goal—and for anyone who believes preparation can unlock more than just a successful trip.

Topics covered:

• Training for a Swiss Alps hike at 63
• Preparing for hut-to-hut hiking as a beginner
• Hiking philosophy, mindset, and independence
• Why preparation changes how you experience life, not just the trail

Get expert advice on hiking in the Swiss Alps from Alex, founder of The WanderWeGo Co.

HikeStrong mobile App: https://hikestrongapp.com/

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In Part 2 of this conversation, Blake Hansen returns to Mount Rainier with lessons learned from his first attempt. This episode focuses on what changed the second time — particularly around gear, systems, and on-mountain decision making.

We talk through how Blake refined his pack, clothing, hydration setup, food strategy, and break efficiency, and how those adjustments made the climb feel more controlled and sustainable. Blake also shares what he learned about layering, managing temperature, and staying ahead of fatigue as conditions changed throughout the climb.

Part 2 brings the story full circle, showing how applying lessons from the first attempt — especially around gear and execution — helped Blake move more confidently and ultimately reach the summit of Mount Rainier.

HikeStrong mobile App: https://hikestrongapp.com/

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In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, I sit down with Blake to walk through the beginning of his Mount Rainier journey — why the mountain became a goal, how his first training cycle unfolded, and what happened during his initial summit attempt.

We talk through the early training data, the challenges that showed up both in preparation and on the mountain, and how travel fatigue, limited sleep, hydration mistakes, and respiratory symptoms factored into the climb and ultimately led him to turn around just below 13,000 feet on summit day.

This episode focuses on the learning phase of training for Mount Rainier — what the first set of numbers revealed, where expectations didn’t match reality, and why a rebuild became necessary. Part 1 sets the foundation for the changes that follow, before Blake returns to Mount Rainier and successfully reaches the summit in Part 2.

HikeStrong mobile App: https://hikestrongapp.com/

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In this episode, Michele shares how one miserable backpacking experience in Yosemite — a trip that began with a rolled ankle and a 5,000-foot descent — nearly pushed her away from backpacking altogether. But instead of giving up, she decided to try again. With structured training and a clearer understanding of how to prepare for a heavy pack, she returned to the trail for a four-day trek in Death Valley and had a completely different experience.

Michele talks about rebuilding confidence in midlife and discovering that the right training made the trail feel not just doable, but enjoyable. She explains how stair sessions, incline treadmill work, balance training, and learning proper pack fit transformed her comfort and stability. She also shares a memorable moment when her guide told her she was the only person in the group using trekking poles correctly — a small but powerful sign of her growth.

We explore why running didn’t help her as much as hiking-specific training, how she adapted her weekly routine to fit the plan, and why consistency mattered more than long hours outside. By the end of her trip, she felt strong, capable, and proud to say, “I don’t hate backpacking anymore,” a line that reflects just how far she’d come.

If you’ve ever had a rough outing or wondered whether it’s too late to build real trail confidence, Michele’s story will show you what’s possible with the right approach.

There’s some B-roll at the very end, so stick around for a little extra conversation after the official podcast wraps.

For updates on the upcoming HikeStrong App, visit HikeStrongApp.com.

HikeStrong mobile App: https://hikestrongapp.com/

Ask Me How To Get Fit For Your Next Hike, Trek or Backpacking Trip:
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Get Your 3 Free 12-Week Hiking Training Plans:
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