Exo Experience Challenge

[Truck24hr]

That’s kind of the point I’m getting at. They hammered you, but for what end? How often do you step backwards, down hill, under load in the mountains while hunting? Burpees will hammer you too, but how often do you do a burpee on a backpack hunt?

I think an either or is the best way forward: either 1,250 feet of gain or 1k box step ups is a better solution.

There’s always a place for musculoskeletal training in anyone’s overall program, but there’s no substitute for application specific training. At least that’s been my experience, YMMV.


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I don't think I'd agree, but that's ok. Lots of guys have the terrain to hike uphill 3 miles for 1250', but not 1250' in 1 mile or less.

If everyone is doing box step ups, it's equal.

Either way, It's EXO's challenge, their rules, I'm good with it.

 

[fatlander]

I don't think I'd agree, but that's ok. Lots of guys have the terrain to hike uphill 3 miles for 1250', but not 1250' in 1 mile or less.

If everyone is doing box step ups, it's equal.

Either way, It's EXO's challenge, their rules, I'm good with it.

That’s a fair point. Only the person doing the work can ultimately decide what’s fitting their training needs better.

I hunt with a group of guys that are very dialed in on the physical side. We’re all doing the challenge, and we’ve all agreed that we’re further from what we consider September mountain shape at this point of the year because of the time we’ve spent doing the EXO challenge instead of our typical training regiment.

I see this challenge for what it is, designed to get guys that aren’t already experienced mountain backpack hunters ready enough for mountain hunting.


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[Truck24hr]

That’s a fair point. Only the person doing the work can ultimately decide what’s fitting their training needs better.

I hunt with a group of guys that are very dialed in on the physical side. We’re all doing the challenge, and we’ve all agreed that we’re further from what we consider September mountain shape at this point of the year because of the time we’ve spent doing the EXO challenge instead of our typical training regiment.

I see this challenge for what it is, designed to get guys that aren’t already experienced mountain backpack hunters ready enough for mountain hunting.


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With the step ups, I've been really focused on the step down, and trying to take 3 seconds down. Very slow, and very controlled.

Not fun, and I'm not cranking out 1k in 40 minutes, but I do think it's going to make a difference on the steep, heavy descents.

We'll see.

Good luck on the challenge and your training

 

[Big Sky Guy]

That’s a fair point. Only the person doing the work can ultimately decide what’s fitting their training needs better.

I hunt with a group of guys that are very dialed in on the physical side. We’re all doing the challenge, and we’ve all agreed that we’re further from what we consider September mountain shape at this point of the year because of the time we’ve spent doing the EXO challenge instead of our typical training regiment.

I see this challenge for what it is, designed to get guys that aren’t already experienced mountain backpack hunters ready enough for mountain hunting.


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Or guys like me that are experienced mountain hunters to take working out a bit more seriously. I’m 38 ectomorph and have just rolled the dice and gone with the flow for the last 10 years and done zero training for hiking with heavy stuff other than actually hiking with heavy stuff and just staying pretty active with activities. I tore my ACL and meniscus playing softball a couple years ago so this has been great and I’m really looking forward to seeing how much this helps my mountain excursions and hopefully makes the sucky parts of it suck a lil less lol.

Odd to me folks would feel behind in their training when the challenge is so very easily scalable. Step ups were required just one day a week, so 4 hours in May. Same for the strength training except with strength training you could easily scale those exercises up. Maybe if a guy is limited to two days a week training and those now replaced a better/more difficult workout but you still have 5 other days a week to do what you normally would so idk just seems odd.

Blows my mind that the target audience and those who signed up for the challenge are complaining about risk of injury for a task that was clearly stated as required from the beginning lol. I thought the EXO response to that question in the June challenge document was on . Since I tore my ACL I decided that playing softball isn’t worth the risk and takes away from time I could spend in the mountains, so guess what, I don’t sign up for it. If I did sign up for it I am well aware of the risks and wouldn’t go online stating that USSA needs to change the rules to make it safer lol!

I really hope @Mark at EXO keeps the challenge very similar or the same if they do it again and ignores all this noise. Yes, I’m sure they could improve things but for a nationwide challenge and for a lot of guys a CHANCE to win a sheep hunt (I’m only in for goat), 5k step ups over 10 days is more than worth the risk.

 

[fatlander]

Or guys like me that are experienced mountain hunters to take working out a bit more seriously. I’m 38 ectomorph and have just rolled the dice and gone with the flow for the last 10 years and done zero training for hiking with heavy stuff other than actually hiking with heavy stuff and just staying pretty active with activities. I tore my ACL and meniscus playing softball a couple years ago so this has been great and I’m really looking forward to seeing how much this helps my mountain excursions and hopefully makes the sucky parts of it suck a lil less lol.

Odd to me folks would feel behind in their training when the challenge is so very easily scalable. Step ups were required just one day a week, so 4 hours in May. Same for the strength training except with strength training you could easily scale those exercises up. Maybe if a guy is limited to two days a week training and those now replaced a better/more difficult workout but you still have 5 other days a week to do what you normally would so idk just seems odd.

Blows my mind that the target audience and those who signed up for the challenge are complaining about risk of injury for a task that was clearly stated as required from the beginning lol. I thought the EXO response to that question in the June challenge document was on . Since I tore my ACL I decided that playing softball isn’t worth the risk and takes away from time I could spend in the mountains, so guess what, I don’t sign up for it. If I did sign up for it I am well aware of the risks and wouldn’t go online stating that USSA needs to change the rules to make it safer lol!

I really hope @Mark at EXO keeps the challenge very similar or the same if they do it again and ignores all this noise. Yes, I’m sure they could improve things but for a nationwide challenge and for a lot of guys a CHANCE to win a sheep hunt (I’m only in for goat), 5k step ups over 10 days is more than worth the risk.

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Like I said, I get why they designed it the way they did. It’s easily done by anyone, anywhere.

Everyone only has so many hours in the day. There are better ways, in my experience, to train for hunting in the mountains than stepping down backwards under load on flat surfaces. Maybe I’m wrong, but I know this “challenge” has solidified in mind that the training approach I typically take is superior.

Personally, I know I would have rather spent 20 hours hiking up and down really steep stuff in April than rucking for an arbitrary number of miles. In the amount of time spent rucking on flat ground to get to 50 miles, I could’ve made a relatively short drive during each session and gotten 15k of gain and loss, under load. But I would have only had 15 miles hiked to show for it.

The same goes for spending an hour a week doing box step ups. That time could have been better served if there was actually an elevation gain equivalent. Box step ups or rucking on a road don’t work the small muscles in your feet and legs that get worked when you’re on steep and uneven terrain. You’re also not getting the feet conditioning aspect to your boots that you do if you’re actually hiking in steep terrain.

Like you’ve noted, if you were in a place before this challenge where your training regiment was lacking or non existent, I think there’s benefit. If you already had a training program that really focused on time spent under load in very steep terrain, you would get set back to check all the boxes.


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[Truck24hr]

Like I said, I get why they designed it the way they did. It’s easily done by anyone, anywhere.

Everyone only has so many hours in the day. There are better ways, in my experience, to train for hunting in the mountains than stepping down backwards under load on flat surfaces. Maybe I’m wrong, but I know this “challenge” has solidified in mind that the training approach I typically take is superior.

Personally, I know I would have rather spent 20 hours hiking up and down really steep stuff in April than rucking for an arbitrary number of miles. In the amount of time spent rucking on flat ground to get to 50 miles, I could’ve made a relatively short drive during each session and gotten 15k of gain and loss, under load. But I would have only had 15 miles hiked to show for it.

The same goes for spending an hour a week doing box step ups. That time could have been better served if there was actually an elevation gain equivalent. Box step ups or rucking on a road don’t work the small muscles in your feet and legs that get worked when you’re on steep and uneven terrain. You’re also not getting the feet conditioning aspect to your boots that you do if you’re actually hiking in steep terrain.

Like you’ve noted, if you were in a place before this challenge where your training regiment was lacking or non existent, I think there’s benefit. If you already had a training program that really focused on time spent under load in very steep terrain, you would get set back to check all the boxes.


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I remember hearing Mark or Steve talk about wearing your hunting boot during these step ups.

Maybe it's inconsequential, but instead, I'm wearing my ultra cushioned running shoes, and using my weight bench as my box, which is also cushioned.

Those two together definitely add quite some instability over a flat shoe, or hunting boot with ankle support, in turn using the small foot and leg stabilizing muscles.

 

[One300wsm]

I like the way Mountain Tough does there Sheep challenge, pay $150 show up complete the challenge, I have participated in both. I have better things to do with my time off than writing journals and making videos. This is the only social media I do mostly because of the classifieds. I’m not that tech savvy anyway, so for that reason I’m out. I still support EXO’s efforts to give some poor souls a sheep and goat hunt, but I don’t think that’s the case. Most participants in this challenge can afford ether, especially the ones that had most of the challenge completed in the first month. If you have that much time on your hands you can get a part time job and pay for a hunt. I will continue to do the challenge to support my wife as she doesn’t seem to mind the tech stuff.
Good luck your chances just got little better

 

[One300wsm]

I remember hearing Mark or Steve talk about wearing your hunting boot during these step ups.

Maybe it's inconsequential, but instead, I'm wearing my ultra cushioned running shoes, and using my weight bench as my box, which is also cushioned.

Those two together definitely add quite some instability over a flat shoe, or hunting boot with ankle support, in turn using the small foot and leg stabilizing muscles.

The best training is get in the mountains with your hunting boots and 60 lb pack gun strapped and hike. Nothing outside of that is going to prepare you for the real thing. You’re not twisting your ankles, knees and back doing step ups and so forth. Yea it builds muscle and helps little with cardio. My 48 year old wife does that shit all the time and my 61 year old ass has to wait on her in the mountains. Because she doesn’t like the ticks, spiders and snakes to train that way during the warmer months.
Just my two cents worth.
PS: And don’t think because you’re going on a horseback hunt it’s going to be easier. Horses in steep rough terrain will kick your ass. Unless you prepared by riding horses.

 

[Truck24hr]

The best training is get in the mountains with your hunting boots and 60 lb pack gun strapped and hike. Nothing outside of that is going to prepare you for the real thing. You’re not twisting your ankles, knees and back doing step ups and so forth. Yea it builds muscle and helps little with cardio. My 48 year old wife does that shit all the time and my 61 year old ass has to wait on her in the mountains. Because she doesn’t like the ticks, spiders and snakes to train that way during the warmer months.
Just my two cents worth.

I guess you missed my point. If you're doing step ups anyway, make the most out of it however you have to.

I'm not here to argue the best training methods

 

[abbrown]

That’s kind of the point I’m getting at. They hammered you, but for what end? How often do you step backwards, down hill, under load in the mountains while hunting? Burpees will hammer you too, but how often do you do a burpee on a backpack hunt?

I think an either or is the best way forward: either 1,250 feet of gain or 1k box step ups is a better solution.

There’s always a place for musculoskeletal training in anyone’s overall program, but there’s no substitute for application specific training. At least that’s been my experience, YMMV.


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couldn't agree more.

 

[abbrown]

Having said that, I'm all in for it with the chance to win a hunt. And I do think it serves what appears to be part of their purpose which is to put something in there that just sucks as a mental test/weed out factor.

To answer their proposed question of "Do you think that flying in supercubs, hiking mountains, riding out storms under a thin sheet of silnylon, carrying extremely heavy loads through unforgiving terrain, or being many miles and countless hours away from convenience and comfort is a 'good idea'?"
ABSOLUTELY - fun as hell! Especially as compared to endless stepups. Not sure that point made sense.

The weirdest part of the Challenge for me has been the sway into the mental and emotional mindset in the podcasts and suggested readings. Having family counselors and insta doctors on to tell us how mentally straining all this is kinda just feels like we're trying to self aggrandize our little weird niche. At the end of the day I do this stuff because it's fun and a break from real life for however long I can sneak away to do it. I wouldn't do it if it wasn't fun. Challenge is fun and that's part of it. But let's not overthink it.

 

[One300wsm]

I left out the most important part, mentality!!!!
You can be in extremely good shape and with a weak mentality you will fail miserably. The Rain, snow, 60 mph winds, hot, cold, walking for 10 days, no heat, not much sleep, no phone service, no Walmart, no Mickey D’s .
Nothing but brutal Mother Nature.
Pictures:
16 day brown bear hunt on the Peninsula
Trump plaza our tent and Texas Roadhouse the tipi.

 

[Snowhunter11]

I understand some of your frustrations—but this was their challenge, and they set the rules. If it’s not for you, that’s fine… you don’t have to participate. At the end of the day, this was a low-cost opportunity—next time, just buy raffle tickets instead.

Personally, I think there’s value here. The journaling and reporting are helping participants learn a ton, and that knowledge is being shared with less experienced backcountry hunters so they can improve. Being on Rokslide, I know a lot of you are highly experienced mountain hunters—so yeah, this challenge might not have brought much new to the table for you.

For me, I’ve only been seriously hunting mountains for about five years. Even with a lot of studying, I’m still picking up new things, and this challenge has helped fill in some gaps. Mark, Steve, and their guests have definitely shortened my learning curve and helped me feel more confident spending extended time in the backcountry.

Give them a little slack. And if you think you can do it better—go for it.

 

[One300wsm]

I understand some of your frustrations—but this was their challenge, and they set the rules. If it’s not for you, that’s fine… you don’t have to participate. At the end of the day, this was a low-cost opportunity—next time, just buy raffle tickets instead.

Personally, I think there’s value here. The journaling and reporting are helping participants learn a ton, and that knowledge is being shared with less experienced backcountry hunters so they can improve. Being on Rokslide, I know a lot of you are highly experienced mountain hunters—so yeah, this challenge might not have brought much new to the table for you.

For me, I’ve only been seriously hunting mountains for about five years. Even with a lot of studying, I’m still picking up new things, and this challenge has helped fill in some gaps. Mark, Steve, and their guests have definitely shortened my learning curve and helped me feel more confident spending extended time in the backcountry.

Give them a little slack. And if you think you can do it better—go for it.

Sir I’m not complaining about the physical aspect of this challenge and I think it’s a great opportunity for whom ever wins and for those that didn’t maybe learned a lot and got into better shape unless they short changed themselves and cheated. I don’t have the mentality to do all this tech stuff, but yet I’m setting here multi tasking writing this stuff go figure lol. The goat hunt will more than likely be over in 4 days tops. Hard steep pull going up and coming down, total miles 12 at the most. Pretty sure they said the Dall sheep hunt was in Alaska, it will be way more brutal and mentally exhausting for the sheep winner, but rewarding also if they tuff it out and tag a sheep.
I love EXO I run 2 of there packs K4 2200 and K4 7200 the wife runs the K4 EXS.

 

[Snowhunter11]

I will say... I pushed myself out of my comfort zone in a few ways for this challenge. I have never selfie video recorded myself . And I don't recall ever journaling my feelings. Hey, It is what it is

 

[fatlander]

I understand some of your frustrations—but this was their challenge, and they set the rules. If it’s not for you, that’s fine… you don’t have to participate. At the end of the day, this was a low-cost opportunity—next time, just buy raffle tickets instead.

Personally, I think there’s value here. The journaling and reporting are helping participants learn a ton, and that knowledge is being shared with less experienced backcountry hunters so they can improve. Being on Rokslide, I know a lot of you are highly experienced mountain hunters—so yeah, this challenge might not have brought much new to the table for you.

For me, I’ve only been seriously hunting mountains for about five years. Even with a lot of studying, I’m still picking up new things, and this challenge has helped fill in some gaps. Mark, Steve, and their guests have definitely shortened my learning curve and helped me feel more confident spending extended time in the backcountry.

Give them a little slack. And if you think you can do it better—go for it.

If you’ve followed along with the EXO guys and their journey as a company and personally, you’d know that they always seem open to improving whatever they’re doing.

The spirit of my criticism of the challenge is for improvement in the future.

There’s definitely value in what they’ve created, I said that many times in my critical posts. I just think there’s room for improvement in the future. I’m grateful for the opportunity they’re providing people. Heck, I’ve done it all for a t shirt. I’m going moose hunting in September, so I couldn’t commit to either of the other hunts, and hope to stay married, on the off chance I did win.

I think what you’re missing, as you’ve said you’re relatively new to backpack hunting and not completely comfortable in the mountains, is that there are guys in the challenge who are. They know what it takes to be fully prepared and feel comfortable.

I hope the people lucky enough to win these hunts enjoy every second of their hunt. Having legs, feet, boots, and gear that are dialed in at thriving in steep, uneven terrain makes hunts more enjoyable. Doing box step ups and rucking on flat ground is better than nothing, but it’s not the best way to prep, physically.


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[One300wsm]

If you’ve followed along with the EXO guys and their journey as a company and personally, you’d know that they always seem open to improving whatever they’re doing.

The spirit of my criticism of the challenge is for improvement in the future.

There’s definitely value in what they’ve created, I said that many times in my critical posts. I just think there’s room for improvement in the future. I’m grateful for the opportunity they’re providing people. Heck, I’ve done it all for a t shirt. I’m going moose hunting in September, so I couldn’t commit to either of the other hunts, and hope to stay married, on the off chance I did win.

I think what you’re missing, as you’ve said you’re relatively new to backpack hunting and not completely comfortable in the mountains, is that there are guys in the challenge who are. They know what it takes to be fully prepared and feel comfortable.

I hope the people lucky enough to win these hunts enjoy every second of their hunt. Having legs, feet, boots, and gear that are dialed in at thriving steep, uneven terrain makes hunts more enjoyable. Doing box step ups and rucking on flat ground is better than nothing, but it’s not the best way to prep, physically.


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You took the words right out of my brain and put them on paper, wish I could do that.

 

[awcopeland]

It blows my mind how much people complain about something they willingly entered into (or maybe you’re just on the sideline secretly jealous that some of us are willing to work for a incredibly gracious opportunity)

Also, how some of you think those of us who have chosen to participate have copious amounts of time on our hand. Yet, you sit here on RokSlide and are posting how busy your life is.

It’s really ironic. That is all.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

Does anyone know what the prize for the drawing will be for completing 5k step-ups within 24 hours? An Exo K4X prototype is about the only thing I can think of I'd consider wrecking myself that hard for and attempting that lol.

@Mark at EXO

 

[Falon]

Does anyone know what the prize for the drawing will be for completing 5k step-ups within 24 hours? An Exo K4X prototype is about the only thing I can think of I'd consider wrecking myself that hard for and attempting that lol.

@Mark at EXO

Its a custom yeti cooler and a swag package according to the video on the discord.