Mountain Tactical Institute

Arete is my weekly collection of interesting articles, essays, and links I come across while reading about training, mountain culture, the tactical profession, and the wider world. — Rob Shaul, MTI

MILITARY / NATIONAL SECURITY

Email training questions to [email protected].

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1. A Long-Term Strength-and-Conditioning Blend for Overall Fitness

ATHLETE
I am currently 5 weeks post diet, lean, fairly strong and decent conditioning. My goal is to gain strength with primarily heavy compounds, some hyper trophy, and increase condition...

By Rob Shaul

Every year, my first few overnight backpacking trips kick my ass. This year was no different.

I got an early start this year spot and stalk black bear hunting with my bow. That, plus an easy Winter and weirdly warm Spring meant open trails and dry ridges allowing access much earlier than normal.

My first trip ...

By Emmett Shaul

BLUF

This 4 week Remote Mini Study produced two clear findings.

First, loaded step up intervals outperformed running for improving loaded step up performance. Group A completed loaded step up intervals and improved its 600x loaded step up assessment by 17.3%, dropping from 33:47 to...

By Emmett Shaul

BLUF

A loaded step mill effort closely matched a loaded , steep uphill hike in time and caloric burn when both efforts were completed at the same heart rate range, with the same pack weight, and over the same vertical gain.

Wearing a 25 pound backpack and holding a 160 to 165 beat...