In 2021 Sarah Book was put on life support after complications arose from a hospital admit she found herself in the midst of.  Little did she know the worst day of her life would serve as a major catalyst for her future.  Her story is both heart-wrenching and motivating.  

Her can reach out to Sarah here if interested. 

Check out more from Valley to Peak here. 

Several updates (and announcements!) for 2025!

Plus: A final bonus episode to wrap up '25 based on hiking questions for the trail.  See the list below. 

Check out Valley to Peak Resources Here. 

- - - -

Hiking is my excuse to be able to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich 😀 What snacks offer some good energy? I have often heard that gummy bears are good but what quantity? How much is too much? Fresh fruit if available or dried fruit? No difference?

I struggle to eat on longer hikes, how often should I eat, quantity etc I find I get really fatigued then eat something small to keep going

On long hikes, I strive to eat every hour on the trail. I typically consume carbs. Should I also be eating protein?

Is there anything we should prioritize to aid our recovery for hiking again the following day? I sometimes feel like I'm trying to get in a good meal at the end of the day, which means I might not sleep as well as I could, which makes the next day harder ... so I eat less and then have less energy than I want. Any tips?

Options for protein and meal options when you can’t eat the commercial dehydrated meals! They don’t agree with my stomach…:(

Since undergoing a couple of surgeries which involved bowel resections I have been advised to avoid nuts, seeds and skins to lessen the risk of an obstruction. I have always munched on nuts for a quick fix of protein. What snacks should I eat for a high intake of protein.

I sweat way more than my husband and feel like I need to drink a lot more water. Is there a way to calculate how much salt/electrolytes to consume to stay balanced? Or is it just trial and error?

I always have problems with salt/electrolyte tabs and powders. I prefer to simply drink water because the addition of supplements to the water makes me feel nauseous after drinking. I don't know if it's the key nutrients/minerals that bother me or the fact that I strongly dislike sweet drinks. Is there another way to replace lost salt/minerals during a long, hot hike?

Are LMNT salts superior to over the counter electrolytes that I might be able to buy here or in Europe? Also, years ago you had to mix the exact ratio of water to an electrolyte packet to get the right ratio. Is this still a thing? Looking at the back of an LMNT packet online, there doesn't seem to be a quantity of water stated. Was that a myth?

"How in the world did you find time to get ready for a sheep hunt AND be gone for that long?"

This was a question posed by many of you...and the question that made it hard to decide whether to go or not in the first place .

Lindsay and I sit down together to get HER perspective on what it means to be gone that long, what the spouse leaving can do ahead of time to take the burden off of home life and some input from me on how I balanced it all. 

Check out more from V2P here if interested. 

This week we look at cyclic dextrin as a fuel source during training- is it actually better for us/blood sugar response?  

Weights vs cardio?  Is one more advantageous for goals?

And, we announce how you can save some cash on Black Friday beginning now. 

Click here for an opportunity to take advantage of reduced cost on Foundations Plus Program.

Operation Net Zero Podcast referenced is linked here. 

Four of the top question you asked: 

- What are discretionary calories, why do they matter, and how much should we aim for?

- What your thoughts on blood work done?  Should I get some?  What should I get for nutrition?

- Why do people "relapse" on their weight/performance/nutrition goals?

- I'm getting older.  How do my protein needs change...or do they?

Plus more!

Check out our programs and materials or subscribe to our newsletter on our website!

Heidi is a dietitian who recently joined V2P to help create great content and educate folks who want to learn more about nutrition.  

We do an introduction, learn more about Heidi, her background, and recent (successful!) solo trip for elk!

Check out all of our information and content on our website!

We get a bunch of great questions from listeners, but Jake wanted to do a role-reversal on this episode to cover a TON of different topics as they pertain to nutrition at home, in the backcountry, and getting it all to work together.  

It’s really tough to make any kind of progress in training when we have near-constant setbacks while training.  Little issues can go from annoyance to concerning quickly. 

We’re joined by Rob Minturn of Wilderness PT this week to talk about how we can avoid setbacks by taking care just a few small things on the front end. 

Link to: 

• Super Feet

This is the recap of Kyle's 2024 dall sheep hunt in the Alaska Backcountry with Limitless Alaska Guiding and Mark Rowenhorst. 

----

Detailed gear and nutrition list is linked here for those interested. 

----

Click here for more information about Valley to Peak Nutrition and available resources!

Creatine has gained a load of attention in the last couple of years for it’s reported ability to enhance athletic performance, increase muscle size, and improve brain function. 

With accolades like that, it’s no wonder that people are starting to ask “is there a use and benefit for taking creatine in the backcountry to enhance performance while in the mountains?”

We’re here to answer that question today by evaluating: 

What is creatine exactly?

Should we care- why or why not?

What’s the deal- does it actually work?

Is it dehydrating- a common question that comes up in the conversation? 

Should I avoid or take it into the mountains?

Should I avoid or take it in preparation and training for the mountains? 

Let’s dive in…