Uphill Athlete Podcast

In this episode, Steve and Alyssa talk with return guest, Chantelle Robitaille, on the base period of training for Mountaineering. They discuss the importance of the base period, the main principles behind base training as well as the strength component. They explore how to work around limited gym access as well as adaptations if athletes live in flat areas. Steve explains his own experience with...

In this episode, Steve House, Alyssa Clark and Physical Therapist Pete Dickinson dive into the foundations of physical performance from a pre-habilitation perspective. They examine when an athlete should begin heavier training loads, injury prevention, strength assessment, when to visit a Physical Therapist, common mistakes that lead to injury, and several other topics. Pete offers his top 3 favor...

In this episode, Steve House, Alyssa Clark and Alexa Hasman discuss the psychology of mountain sports particularly focusing on risk taking and fear. They dig into mental preparation, overcoming fear, dealing with doubt and the psychology behind risk taking. Steve shares personal anecdotes from his time as a professional climber at the sharp end of the sport, with Alyssa speaking about her experien...

In this episode, Steve House, Chantelle Robitaille and Alyssa Clark continue with the discussion of the fundamentals of Mountaineering with a focus on establishing training zones. They explore the different methods of aerobic threshold testing, assessing test results and cover how and why we set training zones. They also touch on common mistakes to avoid and how these fundamental components of tra...

Episode 2 of the Winter 22-23 Season This is the first in a multi-part series where we are kicking off a major seeason of educational material on the podcast. Our goal is to discuss the steps of training for a mountaineering objective and give you actionable items to take with you on your training. In this first episode, we will focus on Aerobic Training Fundamentals and how you can set yourself u...

We are back! In this episode, Steve House (Uphill Athlete Co-Founder) and Alyssa Clark (Uphill Athlete Coach) sit down to talk about the evolution of Uphill Athlete. From the continuation of sound training principles, to stories of the mountains, to the future of Uphill Athlete, we cover it all. Join us on climbing a new mountain with a team who are ready to take on the challenge and help you be y...

In this episode Scott Johnston welcomes his long-time friend and fellow sexagenarian climber Jim Nelson. Jim and Scott discuss Jim's latest guide book.  Classic Cascade Climbs.   Jim, with co authors Tom Sjolseth and David Whitelaw have just published a follow up to his 2 previous Selected Climbs books.  This one; Classic Cascade Climbs, published by The Mountaineers Books is s...

In this episode, Scott Johnston is joined by David Goettler. David is a member of the North Face Athlete Team, a professional mountain guide, and an accomplished alpinist. Fresh off of Everest after his successful summit without the use of supplemental oxygen, the duo discuss David's physical and mental preparation, embracing suffering, use of intermittent hypoxic training for preparation, and Dav...

In the episode, Scott Johnston talks with Damon Tedford who recently returned from successful climbs of both Mt Everest and Lhotse.  While Damon and Scott have been in sporadic communication over the past couple of years using our phone consultation service he has been completely self-coached, using first our book Training for the New Alpinism to create his own training plan for the first cou...

In this episode, Scott Johnston is once again joined by US Army Captain Vince Paikowski, winner (with Alastair Keys) of the 2021 Best Ranger competition.  Last year these two military athletes trained using the tried and test Uphill Athlete methods.  This year Vince either personally coached or supplied these same training methods to a number of different teams preparing for the 2022 Bes...

Nikki LaRochelle is joined by fellow Uphill Athlete coach Mike Foote in interviewing  ultra running phenom, Clare Gallagher, a major contender in the ultra running scene.

Scott Johnston discusses the evolution of the Uphill Athlete muscular endurance programming that has become a staple in the training of mountain athletes. Learn about the physiology, the intent, and the successful implementation of muscular endurance work in a variety of mountain pursuits. 

Our Chamonix Mountain Fit at home strength program has been immensely popular with everyone who has tried it. But what many do not realize is that we add more content to the program every year. In 2022 we added three new follow-along, physical-therapist-led workouts that we dubbed Chamonix Mountain Fit LITE. These workouts are shorter and great for athletes breaking back into strength training as...

By using the Uphill Athlete training philosophy of building a big aerobic base Vince broke with tradition and with his partner, Alastair Keys, won the US Army's Best Ranger competition in 2021 -- a multi-day ordeal that challenges the endurance, strength, and tactical abilities of the top athletes in the Army Rangers. Scott and Vince discuss how endurance base training was crucial for his success....

In this episode, Scott Johnston is joined by UA-coached athlete Brian Carlock. They discuss the background and evolution of Brian's athletic development and understanding of training, and his experience with coaching.

Uphill Athlete Coaches Carolyn Parker, Maya Seckinger, Nikki LaRochelle, and Karen Bockel take up the question of how to balance being the best at all the different things.  Join the community by joining this important conversation. 

In this installment of the Uphill Athlete Podcast co-founder Steve House talks to Yoga Instructor Bree Dillon about their new joint venture: A recovery-focused yoga practice for athletes. The heart of the series is four classes that build into one another and allow you to progress on your own schedule. Level 1 starts at 30-minutes and Level 4 is 45 minutes in duration. For athletes who need to wor...

Training will never produce the desired results if you don't allow sufficient recovery between training bouts for the desired adaptations to occur. Uphill Athlete coach Scott Johnston discusses how to understand the feedback your body is giving you on your recovery status.  With the proliferation of devises that can easily overwhelm us with data many athletes over-rely on these metrics. Do th...

Several years ago UA coach Scott Johnston helped Adrian Ballinger and his partner Cory Richards prepare for his successful ascent of Mt Everest's North Ridge without the use of supplemental bottled oxygen.  In this episode  the two of us discuss the training and preparation process for attempting big mountains, and having realistic expectations while on expedition.. Adrian is an IFMGA ce...

A fascinating chat with three of our Female Uphill Athlete coaches. This time they dive into considerations for training with their reproductive cycle. The panel consists of three female  coaches each in their 20’s, 30’s, or 50’s.

In the mountain environment women often feel they are the odd-ones out. Here coaches Carolyn Parker, Maya Seckinger, and Karen Bockel openly share their own drives to not only do everything the men can do, but to do it better. Years of competitive sport, coaching, mountain guiding have given this remarkable group of coaches some wonderful wisdom and insights which they share here. Well worth a&nbs...

David Goettler has been coached by Scott Johnston for more than 6 years.   Kilian Jornet  was the impetus for and co-authored with UA cofounders Steve House and Scott Johnston in the writing of Training for the Uphill Athlete.   David and Kilian recently returned from a failed attempt at an unassisted, oxygen-less speed ascent of Everest.  Scott Johnston unpacks their experienc...

For over a decade UA coach Scott Johnston was focused on the training of junior Cross Country skiers (with a side gig of advising Steve House on his training for alpinism).  During those years Scott had to tackle a myriad of issues from parents to high school distractions while learning to deal with the unique demands of coaching young athletes. In this episode, Scott is joined by fellow Uphi...

When Art first approached UA for coaching he was woefully unprepared for an attempt on Mt Everest.  He not only didn't have the fitness needed he greatly underestimated the undertaking.  Despite warnings from his coach that he was not ready to tackle this huge objective  Art went anyway.  What ensured on the mountain nearly cost him his life.  Chastened, he returned to coa...

In this episode, Scott Johnston and Sam Naney discuss the subject of speed, an often overlooked element in endurance sports.