Ep. 42: Spike Camp - How to Pace Yourself in the Backcountry

Ep. 42: Spike Camp - How to Pace Yourself in the Backcountry

From In Pursuit by MeatEater

May 28, 2026 · 46 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the importance of pacing in backcountry hunting, covering training, nutrition, and mental challenges.

On this episode of In Pursuit, Rich is joined by Jeff Dodds and Angelo Dicicco. They sit down for another Spike Camp episode to talk through one of the most overlooked parts of western hunting: pacing yourself. From training and rucking to e-scouting, nutrition, recovery, and knowing when to push versus when to back off, this episode is packed with practical advice for anyone getting ready for hunt season. They break down what it actually feels like to spend long days in the mountains, how fitness impacts decision making in the field, and why being underprepared can ruin a hunt before it ever really starts. The guys also share stories from past hunts, lessons learned the hard way, thoughts on training with your hunting partners, and why the mental side of hunting can be just as challenging as the physical side. Connect with Rich Froning MeatEater on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter , Youtube , and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Rich Froning

Guests: Jeff Dodds, Angelo Dicicco

Topics covered

  • pacing in hunting
  • fitness
  • nutrition
  • recovery
  • mental challenges
  • training

Keywords

  • hunting
  • backcountry
  • fitness
  • nutrition
  • recovery
  • training
  • mental side

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: MeatEater

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