MtnMeister

#214 Len Necefer | Fisher + Baker Jun 06, 2019

In today’s episode, we’ll cover the relationship between people, land, and how we use the land. My guest is Len Necefer, a Professor with appointments in American Indian Studies and the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy at the University of Arizona. Len’s newest film, "Welcome to Gwichyaa Zhee" explores the impact of opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development on the local Gwich’in people in Northern Alaska and Canada. Len is the founder of Natives Outdoors, an outdoor apparel company that supports indigenous people through cultural empowerment, and a board member of the Honnold Foundation, Alex Honnold’s foundation which supports solar energy initiatives to create a more equitable world.

Our Company Spotlight is with Fisher + Baker, a seven-person men’s apparel company based out of Minneapolis. Fisher + Baker uses technical fabrics in casual menswear designs where you wouldn’t expect to find technical fabrics. I’ll interview Alexa Stodola and Maggie Maloy about the company, then Roommate Max and I will see if Fisher and Baker is as timeless, purposeful, and functional as they claim to be.

Episode Sponsors

SAXX Underwear: Use the code "meister" at checkout for $5 off and free shipping! https://www.saxxunderwear.com/

The Nomadik: Use code: "meister" for 20% OFF your first purchase at https://www.thenomadik.com/meister

Episode Links

Welcome to Gwichyaa Zhee - https://www.gwichyaazhee.us/

About Len - https://ais.arizona.edu/users/len-necefer

Natives Outdoors - https://www.natives-outdoors.org/

Honnold Foundation - http://www.honnoldfoundation.org/

Fisher + Baker - https://fisherandbaker.com

#213 Scott Johnston, Uphill Athlete | Reggie May 09, 2019

Scott Johnston is the co-owner and head coach of Uphill Athlete, a specialized training platform that includes a couple of books, a website with a host of resources, training plans, stories, and articles, and personalized coaching for uphill athletes. On today’s show, we’ll talk about his newest book with Steve House and Kilian Jornet, Training for the New Alpinism: A Manual for Mountain Runners and Ski Mountaineers, where they set the record straight about what is known, unknown, and what works in endurance training. He’ll also provide some advice about how to get faster and go further.

Our Company Spotlight in this episode is with Reggie, a Canadian cycling apparel company that uses vibrant colors and designs in technical riding gear. I talk with Reggie's co-founders and siblings Laura and Jeff Wills about the company, then Hannah van Wetter and I review their Double Cross kit. Get 25% off at https://reggie.bike/ with the code "reggiemeister" at checkout.

Episode Sponsors

SAXX Underwear: Use the code "meister" at checkout for $5 off and free shipping! https://www.saxxunderwear.com/

The Nomadik: Use code: "meister" for 20% OFF your first purchase at https://www.thenomadik.com/meister

Episode Links

Uphill Athlete: https://www.uphillathlete.com/

Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Training-Uphill-Athlete-Mountain-Mountaineers/dp/1938340841

Training Peaks: https://www.trainingpeaks.com/

"Just Enough" Plan: https://bridgerridgerun.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/how-to-run-a-3-hour-marathon-a-just-enough-training-approach/

#212: Caroline Gleich | Onsight Equipment Dec 06, 2018

Caroline Gleich is a professional ski mountaineer, endurance athlete, and environmental activist. This past fall, she climbed and skied Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world. On today’s episode, we’ll talk about that adventure, where she faced a spell of high altitude pulmonary edema (hape) that threatened her chances at summitting. Later in our conversation, we’ll talk about the implicit and sometimes explicit bias that women face in adventure sports that are predominantly male.

In today’s Company Spotlight, we feature Onsight Equipment, an eco-friendly travel gear company based out of British Colombia. Onsight uses recycled materials to build travel storage solutions, including bicycle frame bags, messenger bags, and travel organizers. After my interview with their marketing and business development manager, Jens Ourom, I'll review some of the products with Roommate Max and Hannah Van Wetter. For 20%, use the code “mtnmeister25” at https://www.onsightequipment.com/

Episode Sponsor: SAXX Underwear. Use the code meister at checkout for $5 off and free shipping! https://www.saxxunderwear.com/ Episode Links: Caroline Gleich's website: https://carolinegleich.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinegleich/ Misogyny and Sexism: https://www.outsideonline.com/2313816/caroline-gleich-sexism

#211 Her Odyssey | Peak Design Nov 08, 2018

Bethany Hughes (Fidgit) and Lauren Reed (Neon) are in the midst of a daunting project: hiking (and occasionally paddling and cycling) from the southern tip of Argentina to the northern tip of Alaska. The 20,000 mile journey is expected to take 5 or 6 years, and in this interview, they join from Medellín, Colombia, about 2.5 years into their journey. Fidgit and Neon talk about their motivation, strategies to get along with adventure partners, and Her Odyssey: a mission to connect stories of the land and its inhabitants.

In today’s Company Spotlight, we feature Peak Design, a camera accessory, bag, and “carry” brand. First and foremost, though, Peak Design is a design company. They’ve launched numerous successful crowdfunding campaigns for products that use innovative design to accommodate specific uses while still fulfilling the many different ways that people may use them. For 10%, use the code “meister10” at https://www.peakdesign.com/. Episode Sponsor: SAXX Underwear. Use the code meister at checkout for $5 off and free shipping! https://www.saxxunderwear.com/

#210 Modern Huntsman, Brad Neathery & Tyler Sharp Oct 10, 2018

Modern Huntsman is bi-annual magazine that works to restore the perception of hunting in our modern society by curating stories, pictures, recipes, and more. On today’s episode, I talk with the CEO and Co-founder Brad Neathery and Editor in Chief Tyler Sharp about why hunting has gained a certain reputation - from the influences of hunting companies and media to the individual-level behavior. We’ll also hear an essay from Volume 1 called “And So I Hunt", narrated by Brad. Finally, we’ll talk about how we reduce the divide between hunters and non-hunters. Episode Sponsor: SAXX Underwear - Use the code meister at checkout for $5 off and free shipping! https://www.saxxunderwear.com/ Episode Links: Modern Huntsman - https://modernhuntsman.com/ Pre-Order Volume 2 - https://modernhuntsman.com/shop/volume-two @ModernHuntsman - https://www.instagram.com/modernhuntsman/

#209 Dr. Robb Gaffney | Coalatree Sep 10, 2018

Dr. Robb Gaffney is a psychiatrist, former extreme skier, and author of Squallywood: a guide to Squaw Valley’s most extreme lines. In this episode, we’ll talk about the brain and risk taking, social contagion, and ways to encourage the next generation to take more responsible risks. Robb is also part of a movement to Keep Squaw True, as unwanted real estate development is threatens the North Lake Tahoe area.

In today’s Company Spotlight, we feature Coalatree, an eco-friendly outdoor apparel brand founded by Charlie Bessey. Coalatree uses recycled materials like coffee grounds and plastic bottles to make sustainable, organic products for the mountains and the city. After my interview with Charlie, Hannah Van Wetter and I review the Trailhead Pants. For 20%, use the code “meister” at https://coalatree.com/.

Episode Sponsor: SAXX Underwear. Use the code meister at checkout for $5 off and free shipping! https://www.saxxunderwear.com/ Episode Links: Keep Squaw True: https://www.sierrawatch.org/keep-squaw-true/ Movie Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-premiere-the-movie-to-keep-squaw-true-tickets-48848643608 The Effect of Sexual Arousal on Sexual Decision Making: http://people.duke.edu/~dandan/webfiles/PapersPI/Sexual%20Arousal%20and%20Decision%20making.pdf Squallywood: http://squallywood.com/

#208 Chris Warner | DannyShane Aug 08, 2018

Chris Warner is a well established mountaineer who has been climbing and guiding for several decades, a leadership educator, and the founder of Earth Treks climbing gyms. Last year, Chris attempted to climb the third highest mountain in the world, Kangchenjunga, but the summit escaped him. This season, he decided to give it another go. This episode is slightly different from our others. In hosting conversations with adventure athletes on MtnMeister, I’ve noticed that we are almost always talking about the past. This makes some sense because we better understand the past; we can tell more cohesive stories because we already know the setting, the climax, and the resolution. But that isn’t reality, especially in adventure sports (there’s a good quote that goes, “Life is lived forward but remembered and understood backward.”) For today’s episode, the interview will have two parts which occurred at different times: I interviewed Chris a few days before he left for Kangchenjunga, and then again once he returned. In today’s Company Spotlight, we feature DannyShane, a cycling apparel brand founded by Shane Hunt. DannyShane uses bamboo white ash in their fabrics, and the designs feature tartan plaids and other classic designs and colors with Scottish and Irish influence. After the interview, Roommate Max and I review the products. For 20% off at their online store (until August 12th), use the code “meister20” at www.dannyshane.com. Episode Sponsor: SAXX Underwear. Use the code meister at checkout for $5 off and free shipping! https://www.saxxunderwear.com/ Episode Links https://chrisbwarner.com/ www.dannyshane.com/ https://www.earthtreksclimbing.com/ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2213661.The_Graveyard_Book https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Dog-Phil-Knight/dp/1508211809

#207 Pete Ripmaster Jul 11, 2018

Pete Ripmaster is the winner of the 2018 Iditarod Trail Invitational. You’ve probably heard of the Iditarod before, and you might think it’s bizarre to be pulled by a bunch of dogs in sub-zero temperatures in the Alaskan wilderness. But that’s not the Iditarod that Pete won. He did the same course - 1,000 miles and 50 degrees below zero - in the form of an ultramarathon. With no dogs to help him along the way, Pete's feet carried him an average of 38 miles a day over 26 days.

Go to SAXXunderwear.com and use the code “meister” at checkout for $5 off and free shipping on your first order.

Iditarod Trail invitational - http://www.iditarodtrailinvitational.com/

Pete Ripmaster's website - https://www.peteripmaster.com/

#206 Chris McNamara | Sufferfest Beer Co. Jun 13, 2018

Chris McNamera is the founder of Outdoor Gear Lab, Tech Gear Lab, and Supertopo. If you are a climber or gear head, there’s a chance you’ve heard of these. He’s also well respected climber, holds some serious big wall speed records and has climbed El Cap 80 plus times. In the early 2000s, Chris was one of the pioneers of wingsuit base jumping, but he eventually quit the sport because of it's risk. Today, he's reinventing South Lake Tahoe one of the best mountain towns in the US.

In today’s Company Spotlight, we feature Sufferfest Beer Co., and it’s founder, Caitlin Landesberg. Sufferfest is a beer built to reward you post-adventure – or maybe during your adventure, depending on what you’re in to! After the interview, Hannah Van Wetter and I review the beer and have a few drinks. For 20% off at their online store, use the code “meister” at www.sufferfestbeer.com. You can buy the beer online at Craft City - https://www.craftcity.com/all-beers/all-breweries/sufferfest

This summer I am reporting on Big City Mountaineers and their Summit for Someone trip on Longs Peak from September 7th to 9th. I have reported on these trips in the past, and this year, we’ll be promoting their Corporate Challenges program, where a company can host a trip of it’s own. I think it’d be a cool story about team-building and corporate social responsibility (plus your company will get some good PR out of the whole thing). Everyone who signs up gets a 70L pack, Mountainsmith trekking poles, a BCM t-shirt, and their voice on MtnMeister! If you or your company are interested in getting involved, shoot me an email at ben@mtnmeister.com.

Links

Outdoor Gear Lab - https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/

Tech Gear Lab - https://www.techgearlab.com/

Supertopo - http://www.supertopo.com/

South Lake Tahoe - https://tahoesouth.com/

Buy Sufferfest Beer - https://www.craftcity.com/all-beers/all-breweries/sufferfest

Chris McNamara on Enormocast - https://enormocast.com/episode-88-chris-mcnamara-living-the-ever-changing-dream/

#205 Dr. Jared Vagy "The Climbing Doctor" | Thunderbolt Sportswear May 02, 2018

Dr. Jared Vagy is a doctor of physical therapy and known as “The Climbing Doctor”. He’s a professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at USC, works with Olympic athletes on teams in both the US and China, and has treated and taught more than 1,000 climbers. He’s the author of Climb Injury Free, which includes injury advice from professional climbers and step by step rehabilitation instructions for climbing injuries. In this interview, we talk about common injuries among climbers, how to know when to push hard and when to back it off, and the difference between pain and injury.

In today's Company Spotlight, we feature a Portland, OR based company, Thunderbolt Sportswear, and it's co-owner, John Connor. Thunderbolt's signature item is a do-it-all pair of soft shell pants/jeans made with Schoeller Dryskin, and they've now expanded to shirts and outerwear. After the interview with John, Roommate Max and I review the products. For 25% off, use the code "mtnmeister" at https://www.thunderboltsportswear.com/

Episode Links:

The Climbing Doctor - https://theclimbingdoctor.com/

Stephen Curry strobe classes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6CHAmdkVDM

Clarifying the Role of Pain in Injuries - https://theclimbingdoctor.com/clarifying-the-role-of-pain-in-injuries/

Buy the Book - http://a.co/5PoHwQO

Climbing Doctor Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theclimbingdoctor/?hl=en

#204 Steve House | Ridge Merino Mar 08, 2018

Of all of the guest requests that I receive from listeners, Steve House is the name that comes up most. Steve is one of the most respected alpine climbers of this generation. In a time when establishing a quantity of summits has a certain superficial appeal, Steve stays committed to quality. He moves through the mountains in light and fast style, and through his programs like Alpine Mentors and Uphill Athlete, he teaches other climbers to do the same. In this interview, we’ll profile his introduction to climbing, the importance of mentors, and his approach to training. He’ll also talk about an accident in 2010 that left him stranded on the wall.

After Steve's interview, I’ll speak with Jeff and Susan Russell, the founders of Ridge Merino, in our Company Spotlight segment. Jeff Russell was heading up soft goods at Armada when he realized that all of the Armada athletes - when they weren’t at photoshoots - wore merino baselayers instead of the synthetic ones that Armada produced. Jeff and Susan set out to make youthful, cost effective merino base layers to fill the void. Get 20% off with the code "meister" at https://www.ridgemerino.com/

This episode is supported by Health IQ, an insurance company that uses science & data to secure lower rates on life insurance for health conscious people. healthiq.com/meister

Links:

Training for the New Alpinism - https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Mountain-Steve-House/dp/0980122775 Beyond the Mountain - https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Mountain-Steve-House/dp/0980122775 Uphill Athlete - https://www.uphillathlete.com/ Skyward Mountaineering - http://skywardmountaineering.com/ Alpine Mentors - https://www.alpinementors.org/

#203 Gear Giveaway at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2018 Feb 11, 2018

This is MtnMeister's semi-annual gear giveaway episode! If you’re a fan of the show, you’ve probably heard of it. If this is your first time listening, here’s how it works. A couple of weeks ago, I went to the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Denver where over 1,000 different outdoor brands exhibited their newest products. In exchange for being featured on today’s episode, each company agrees to give you gear. These are all real products that are either currently on the market or will be later this year - this is not “swag” or the branded cheap stuff that you end up throwing away. To win the free gear, all you have to do is listen to this episode, and when you hear a product you want, email me at ben@mtnmeister.com and tell me you want it. The first person to request it wins! You can only win one prize, and after you win it, you cannot exchange it. Winners must be in the USA. Finally, this time around, we had a grand prize of 2018 Salomon QST skis, which will be raffled off to one person who purchased information about the date or time of this episode’s release. I’ll announce that person at the end of this episode.

#202 Gear Giveaway at ORWM18 Preview Jan 23, 2018

HOW IT WORKS

In our Outdoor Retailer episodes of MtnMeister, we record short interviews with innovative and exciting outdoor brands. In exchange for being featured, they give you free gear! When you hear a product that you want, email ben@mtnmeister.com to request it. The first person who requests it wins! Last year we gave away over $5,000 in prizes.

THE CATCH

Easy, right? The only issue is that there’s a lot of competition from others who want the free gear. Last year, everything was claimed within about an hour of the episode’s release. This year, Outdoor Retailer will be from January 25 – 28, and the MtnMeister giveaway episode will be released at some point after that.

IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES

To gain a competitive advantage, we are giving you the option to buy valuable information:

$5 for the date - https://gumroad.com/l/yjSWi

$10 for the date and 3hr time window - https://gumroad.com/l/kzHsG

$20 for the date and exact time - https://gumroad.com/l/jGpz

BONUS PRIZE!

By purchasing one of the items above, you will be entered to win our GRAND PRIZE, a brand new pair of 2018 Salomon QST. The QST was the #1 selling freeride ski in North America in 2016/17, and the 2018/19 pair will be updated with basalt and C/FX 3 technology which now extends edge to edge. This is Solomon’s proprietary carbon/flax blend which gives the ski stability while maintaining its lightweight. The winner chooses a pair up to $850!

BOTTOM LINE

With this small purchase, you significantly increase your chances of winning gear worth a whole lot more! Last year there were 30+ winners and the average prize was worth $150.

Note: Winners must be in the USA because of shipping restrictions. Sorry!

#201 Chris Davenport | OROS Apparel Jan 10, 2018

Chris Davenport, at age 46, is one of the most accomplished big mountain skiers today. He was a pioneer in figuring out a way to make a career out of skiing and has inspired the generation of freeskiers that you see today. Recently he was inducted into the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame. Chris talks about the early days, his upcoming projects, gear, and MountainHub, an app that uses Crowdsourced information to assist you with your outdoors adventures. https://mountainhub.com/explore

After Chris's interview, we introduce a new segment to MtnMeister: the company spotlight. In our company spotlights, we feature short interviews with lesser-known outdoor brands and give them an opportunity to talk about their line of products. Then, Hannah Van Wetter and I review the product. Today's company spotlight is with OROS Apparel, who features a NASA technology used for space suit insulation in their outerwear and midlayers. Get 10% off with the code "meister" at checkout. https://www.orosapparel.com

This episode is supported by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps active and health-conscious people get lower rates on their life insurance. See if you qualify with a free quote at healthiq.com/meister

#200 Trip Report: Summit for Someone on Grand Teton Oct 04, 2017

This is MtnMeister's annual episode about Big City Mountaineers’ Summit for Someone program, where passionate climbers can ascend their dream peak and raise money for charity in the process. On these trips, I bring a portable recording device with me while I try to climb a mountain that’s outside of my comfort zone. Summit for Someone is the fundraising arm of Big City Mountaineers. Similar to how marathon or cycling fundraisers work, hiking and climbing enthusiasts can take on a big physical challenge and raise money for an organization that aligns itself with the challenge. In this case, outdoors enthusiasts are raising money to give underserved urban youth the opportunity to discover the outdoors and learn critical life skills along the way. This year was an especially exciting trip for MtnMeister. We invited invited listeners of the podcast to join the climb - all of them had to fundraise $4,000, physically train to climb the Grand, and be open to spending 4 days climbing with people they have never met before. We also had a professional photographer, Chris Shane, and a designer/illustrator, Adam Danielson join to visually document the trip. In this episode, you’ll learn more about Big City Mountaineers and hear from one of the program participants, Kim, about how BCM has had an impact on her. Then you’ll hear about our experience climbing the Grand Teton with Jackson Hole Mountain Guides. Finally, we’ll wrap things up with how you can do your own Summit for Someone climb. Special thanks to:

Osprey Packs for providing our climbers with the Variant 52L pack.

American Alpine Club for their support of MtnMeister.

Former host of MtnMeister Russell Wilcox. Save up to 50% on solar installation with Do-It-With at https://www.diwhome.com/ or email Russell at rwilcox@diwhome.com

Jackson Hole Mountain Guides for keeping us safe. We highly recommend our guides for your next adventure: Nate Opp, Michael Wachs, Jacob Schmitz

#199 Global Rescue with Dan Richards Jun 06, 2017

Today's guest is Dan Richards, the CEO of Global Rescue. Global Rescue provides travel and health risk management services, ranging from specialty care to evacuation. In this episode, we talk to Dan about Global Rescue's business model, how having a "backup" impacts decision-making, and whether Dan has ever had to use the services of his own company.

Gear up and support Big City Mountaineers’ Summit For Someone Grand Teton Climb sponsored by Osprey and MtnMeister. Save some cash – 20% - and make a donation to Big City Mountaineers all at once! Click through here to get your discount and make your donation! http://www.mountaingear.com/webstore/?voucherCode=20BCM5&cmp=emc-20BCM5 OR just type 20BCM5 at checkout in the Keycode box. Offer good from 6/7-6/9.

#198 Why We Climb with Chris Noble May 09, 2017

Today's guest is Chris Noble, author/photographer/climber. He’s the author of Women Who Dare: North America’s Most Inspiring Female Climbers, and his newest book, Why We Climb, which explores the various answers to that question - "Why do we climb?". The book includes interviews and stunning pictures of some the world’s elite climbers including Conrad Anker, Angie Payne, Alex Honnold, Raphael Slawinski, and many more.

Buy the book here - http://bit.ly/WhyWeClimbBook

#197 Connecting all 417 national parks with Mikah Meyer Apr 19, 2017

April 15-23 is National Park Week, and this coming weekend, April 22-23, you get free admission to every National Park in America. In this episode, I interview Mikah Meyer, who is on a mission to become the youngest person to experience all 417 units in America’s National Park System. He started around this time last year, and as of the release of this episode, he’s a little over a third of the way. In today’s episode you’ll hear about his motivation for the project, how he makes it work, and a change in lifestyle that makes it all worth it.

Follow along Mikah's journey on his website tbcmikah.com or follow him on Instagram @TBCmikah.

To sign up for our Grand Teton climb this summer to benefit Big City Mountaineers, visit mtnmeister.com/teton

#196 Come climb with MtnMeister! Mar 02, 2017

Over the past two summers, I’ve had the amazing the opportunity to climb two iconic peaks in the continental US: Mt Langley in 2015 and Mt. Hood in 2016. These are some of my fondest memories over the past few years. I have met incredible people and been forced outside of my comfort zone. These experiences have been part of the Summit for Someone program - charity climbs that raise money for Big City Mountaineers (BCM), a non-profit that takes underserved, inner-city youth on immersive, weeklong expeditions into the wilderness.

This summer, I figured that rather than telling you about what happens to me, I should invite you to experience it with me. Further, I should invite a past guest on this podcast to serve as our mountain guide. I'm happy to say that all of the pieces have come together, and you're invited to join us!

Where: Grand Teton

When: July 7-10

Guide: Brian Warren, Jackson Hole Mountain Guides

Photographer: Chris Shane, @chrismshane

More details and register here: http://www.bigcitymountaineers.org/summit-for-someone/2017-climbs/grand-teton/

#195 GEAR GIVEAWAY at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2017 Jan 18, 2017

It's our semi-annual GEAR GIVEAWAY episode! Twice a year, we attend the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Salt Lake City to cover new products, technologies, and companies in the outdoors industry.

If this is your first time listening to our gear giveaway episode, here’s how it works. In exchange for being featured on today’s episode, each company has agreed to give away free gear to our listeners. These are all real products that are either currently on the market or will be - they aren’t promotional. To win the free gear, all you have to do is email me at ben@mtnmeister.com. The first person who requests it, gets it. You can only win one prize, and after you win it, you cannot exchange it. Winners must be in the USA.

20 companies, $5,000+ in prizes, 30+ winners! For $5 off a MtnMeister t-shirt - gumroad.com/l/QiebU

#194 More Effective New Year's Resolutions and 2017 Goals Dec 30, 2016

In our annual New Year episode, we look back at what we accomplished in the previous year and set goals for the next one. Unfortunately, over the past two years my success rate hasn't been good - 33% to be exact. I’m not the only one with this problem. Goals are inherently hard and life can take us in different directions that move the finish line. Still, it’s obvious that we need help, so in today’s episode, we bring on a guest who knows a whole lot about goals and motivation.

Hengchen Dai, a researcher on goals, motivation, and self regulation. She holds a PhD from University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and she’s an assistant professor of Organizational Behavior at Washington University in St Louis’s Olin Business School.

We discuss strategies to increase your chances of achieving your goals in 2017.

A temporal landmark or "Fresh Start" will help motivate goal pursuit.
Reengage goals with a range.
Give yourself skin in the game.
Reduce cognitive load when choosing between a "should" and a "want"
Utilize temptation bundling
Plan B is not an option

To purchase information about MtnMeister's upcoming Gear Giveaway episode, go to mtnmeister.com/giveaway.

#193 Gear Giveaway at ORWM17 Preview Dec 23, 2016

For the fourth consecutive season, MtnMeister will be hosting its OR Giveaway episode. In this extra-popular episode, we record segments with companies about their latest and greatest gear, technologies, footwear, and apparel. All participating companies give away free prizes to our loyal listeners.

Here's how to win: After you listen to the episode, email ben@mtnmeister.com and say which specific prize you want. The first person who requests a prize, gets it! You can only win once and you can't trade for a different prize. Listening early is important, but the episode is released on mystery date, unless...

We are offering you the opportunity to purchase information about the episode’s release (the date, a time window, or the EXACT date and time). Last giveaway episode, there were over 30 prizes and 26 people purchased the “date and exact time” package. Those are damn good odds!

$4 for the date - https://gumroad.com/l/XFCZF

$8 for the date and 3-hour time window - https://gumroad.com/l/zpdGn

$12 for the date and exact time - https://gumroad.com/l/Ksxl

Note: these prices will double on January 1st, so ACT NOW!

#192 Advancing Nature as a Public Health Solution Dec 08, 2016

If you’re a fan of this show, you probably understand that time outside makes you feel better. In fact, you’ve probably built it into your schedule - a little time outside every day keeps the doctor away, right? Buy why does this work? Are there bigger implications than your own personal use? On today’s episode, we bring you three distinguished guests who are working on advancing nature as a public health solution. Episode Guests: Stacy Bare, Director of Sierra Club Outdoors and veteran of the United States Army Dr. Nooshin Razani, pediatrician and researcher at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Craig Anderson, post-doc researcher and fellow at the UCSF VA hospital and the Greater Good Science Center. Want to get involved? Shoot me an email at ben@mtnmeister.com. Buy a MtnMeister T here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

(R) #167 A behind-the-scenes look at outdoors athlete sponsorship Nov 30, 2016

This episode was originally recorded in February of 2016.

The “Did someone get paid to say that?” question runs through my mind a lot. Often, I have trouble finding the answer. For example, when a guest on MtnMeister gives a gear recommendation, does he/she get paid by that company? If he/she does, can we trust that the recommendation is authentic? How do these sponsorships work? What do the brands get from the athletes and what do the athletes get from the brands? How does this impact us as outdoors consumers?

In this episode, we hear from a couple of professional athletes, a large outdoors brand, and a talent manager. If you have questions or comments, leave them in the discussion forum on our website mtnmeister.com or send me an email (ben at mtnmeister.com).

(R) #166 Racing across America with Adam Kimble Nov 23, 2016

This episode was originally recorded in February of 2016.

In 2009, Adam Kimble ran his first 5k. In 2011 his first half, 2012 his first marathon, and 2014 his first ultra. Now, in 2016, he is attempting to become the fastest person to run across the USA. The time to beat is 46 days, 8 hours, 36 minutes, and to do it he will have to average 68 miles a day. On February 15th, he will leave Huntington Beach and head west to hopefully finish around March 30th in NYC. Follow Adam @thebeardedsole on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or his website.

To express interest in MtnMeister's Summit for Someone climb to benefit Big City Mountaineers, fill out this form - https://goo.gl/forms/k9xaPQB4jW3Ai31i1

Buy a MtnMeister t-shirt here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

#191 Inside of a Storm Chase with George Kourounis Nov 16, 2016

George Kourounis is a Canadian explorer and storm chaser. He’s been chasing storms for the past twenty years, from the powerful tornadoes of the midwest to giant hail, dust storms, hurricanes, and volcanoes in every corner of the globe. George is the host of a TV show called Angry Planet where he documents these incredible displays of Mother Nature. What’s so appealing about something so devastating? Listen to find out.

Pictures, videos, and more here - http://mtnmeister.com/meister/george-kourounis-storm-chaser

For 20% off Stio, use the code "meister" at checkout at http://www.stio.com/

For 5% off Bulls Bikes, use the code "bullseye5" at https://www.bullsbikesusa.com/

#190 The oldest person to paddle the Mississippi River with Dale Sanders Nov 09, 2016

At 80 years old, Dale Sanders is the oldest person to paddle the entire Mississippi River. "The grey beard adventurer" paddled 2,345 miles from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. Dale’s passion and enthusiasm are evident in our conversation, and I think you’ll find yourself smiling while you listen. Dale raised over $23,000 dollars to promote awareness and fight type 1 juvenile diabetes, a disease from which his 10 year-old grandniece, Anna, suffers.

For 20% off Stio, use the code "meister" at checkout at http://www.stio.com/

For 5% off Bulls Bikes, use the code "bullseye5" at https://www.bullsbikesusa.com/

If you are interested in joining MtnMeister for a Summit for Someone climb to benefit Big City Mountaineers, please fill out this form - https://goo.gl/forms/8Y0bgqw650RYA8qE2

#189 Trip Report: Summit for Someone on Mt. Hood, part 2 Nov 03, 2016

In June, I had the opportunity to join a Summit for Someone climb on Mt. Hood to benefit Big City Mountaineers. In this episode (part 2 of 2), you'll hear about our summit bid, how we reflect on the experience, and how you can do your own Summit for Someone climb.

BCM takes underserved urban youth on wilderness expeditions to help them learn critical life skills like leadership and teamwork. Summit for Someone is the fundraising arm where climbers pick their dream peak and raise money for the organization in the process. Joining me on this climb were Rob and Jasper, a father-son duo from Positive Tracks. Positive Tracks is a nonprofit that promotes the combination of philanthropy and athletics (or "sweat for good").

For 20% off our sponsor Stio, use the code "meister" at checkout at www.stio.com/

For 5% off our sponsor Bulls Bikes USA, use the code bullseye5 at checkout at www.bullsbikesusa.com/

#188 Trip Report: Summit for Someone on Mt. Hood, part 1 Oct 27, 2016

In June, I had the opportunity to join a Summit for Someone climb on Mt. Hood to benefit Big City Mountaineers. It didn't look like the month of June though - the weather was, quite simply, terrible. The rain, snow, and wind made everything less certain and a summit bid unlikely. In this episode, you'll hear about my introduction to mountaineering, battling the elements, and how social influence impacts our decision making.

BCM takes underserved urban youth on wilderness expeditions to help teach them critical life skills like leadership and teamwork. Summit for Someone is the fundraising arm where climbers pick their dream peak and raise money for the organization in the process. Joining me on this climb were Rob and Jasper, a father-son duo from Positive Tracks. Positive Tracks is a nonprofit that promotes the combination of philanthropy and athletics (or "sweat for good").

For 20% off our sponsor Stio, use the code "meister" at checkout at http://www.stio.com/

For 5% off our sponsor Bulls Bikes USA, use the code bullseye5 at checkout at https://www.bullsbikesusa.com/

#187 Decision making in the mountains and markets with Masha Gordon Oct 19, 2016

In June, Masha Gordon broke the speed records for the Seven Summits Challenge - climbing the highest peak on each continent - and the Explorer's Grand Slam - the Seven Summits plus reaching the North and South Poles. Contrary to what you might think, Masha isn't a lifetime climber. After 16 years in the finance industry (Goldman Sachs and PIMCO) she has switched her focus to mountaineering. Masha is the founder of GRIT&ROCK, a mission to get more young women interested in mountaineering.

In the first half of this episode, we talk about the parallels of decision making in the mountains and in the markets. How do confirmation bias, randomness, and our emotions impact how we evaluate situations? In the second half, Masha talks about how mountaineering has very little female participation and what needs to happen to fix it.

This episode is supported by Stio. Get 20% off with the code "meister" at checkout at http://www.stio.com/

To purchase a MtnMeister T, go here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

#186 Pokemon GO, augmented reality, and how it affects our lives outside with Kelly Davis Oct 12, 2016

Augmented reality is impacting the way we participate in the outdoors. Consider Pokemon GO, which gained worldwide appeal in a matter of days and encouraged millions of people to go outside. Yet, is this the best way to promote outdoor participation? While there have been significant innovations in headsets, Google Glass, and the smartphone, the technology is only in it's infancy. How will Pokemon GO and other forms of augmented reality change our outdoor experiences? Kelly Davis is optimistic. In this episode, we talk about the opportunities, business implications, and what’s worrisome about this rapidly evolving movement. Kelly Davis is the director of research at Snowsports Industries America, or SIA. SIA is the non-profit, North American member-owned trade association representing suppliers of consumer snow sports with constituents in the retailer, rep and resort communities.

#185 Ueli Steck's training and the 82 Summits Challenge Oct 05, 2016

Ueli Steck is well known for his speed ascents where he climbs routes in a few hours that take most climbers a few days. In his 82 Summits Challenge, the "Swiss Machine" climbed all 82 4,000 meter peaks in the Alps in two months. If that wasn't enough, he connected all of the peaks in a self-powered manner: hiking, biking, and running. I caught up with Ueli at MetroROCK, a climbing gym right outside of Boston while he was on a 2.5 week speaking tour presented by Alpina Watches and American Alpine Club

In the first 10 minutes of this episode you’ll hear my chat with Ueli at the gym. What makes him so good? What can we learn from the "Swiss Machine's" training plan that we can apply to our own version of an 82 Summits Challenge? After that, you’ll hear Ueli’s presentation at the Somerville Theatre in Boston. MtnMeister's sponsor, Stio, was founded to inspire connection with outdoors through beautiful, functional products infused with mountain soul. For 20% off, use the code "meister" at checkout at http://www.stio.com/ To purchase a MtnMeister t-shirt, go here - https://gumroad.com/products/QiebU/

#184 GEAR GIVEAWAY at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2016 Aug 15, 2016

It's our semi-annual GEAR GIVEAWAY episode!

Twice a year, we attend the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Salt Lake City to cover new products, technologies, and companies in the outdoors industry. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to make it to the show this year, but we sent Roommate Max to fill in.

If this is your first time listening to our gear giveaway episode, here’s how it works. In exchange for being featured on today’s episode, each company has agreed to give away free gear to our listeners. These are all real products that are either currently on the market or will be - they aren’t promotional. To win the free gear, all you have to do is email me at ben@mtnmeister.com. The first person who requests it, gets it. You can only win one prize, and after you win it, you cannot exchange it. Winners must be in the USA.

22 companies, $5,000+ in prizes, 30+ winners!

For 20% from our sponsor Big Agnes, use the code "meister" at checkout at bigagnes.com

To purchase a MtnMeister t-shirt - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

#183 Outdoor Retailer Gear Giveaway Preview Aug 04, 2016

Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2016 will be in Salt Lake City from August 3-6. MtnMeister is there to create our semi-annual gear giveaway episode, where we give thousands of dollars of free gear to our listeners.

Here's how the episode works: In exchange for telling you, the outdoors consumer, about their latest and greatest product or technology, companies agree to give away prizes. To win the gear, all you have to do is email ben@mtnmeister.com and say which specific piece of gear you want. You can only win one prize, and it cannot be replaced with a different prize after you win it.

Those who listen early have a significant advantage. We are offering you the opportunity to purchase information about the episode's release (the date, a time window, or the EXACT date and time).

Purchase the information here: http://mtnmeister.com/gear-giveaway-at-summer-or-outdoor-retailer-2016/

For 20% off from our sponsor, Big Agnes, use the code "meister" at checkout at bigagnes.com.

#182 Meister update: Legally blind ultrarunner Jason Romero runs across America Jul 29, 2016

On March 24th, legally blind ultrarunner Jason Romero set off on an audacious project: running across America. We originally spoke with Jason before he started the project (Vision Run USA) in episode #171, and in this episode, we follow up with him to hear how it went. In total, Jason traveled 3,063 miles or 51.5 miles a day for 60 days.

For 20% off from our sponsor, Big Agnes, use the code "meister" at checkout at https://www.bigagnes.com/

To purchase a MtnMeister t-shirt, go here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

Join the American Alpine Club and use the code "meister" for a special AAC gift - https://americanalpineclub.org/

(R) #164 The Real Hiking Viking with Tom "Jabba" Gathman Jul 20, 2016

Tom Gathman aka Jabba is @TheRealHikingViking. At the time of this recording, he was attempting a southbound winter thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. In 2013 he thru-hiked the AT with fellow combat veterans in the Warrior Hike and in 2014 the 3,100 mile Continental Divide trail. In this interview, we talk with Tom about his progress thus far, faulty headlines, and whether his beard has contributed to his success as The Real Hiking Viking.

#181 Latino Outdoors con José González Jul 13, 2016

In a little more than a month, America’s National Parks System will celebrate its 100th birthday. Outdoors enthusiasts have a lot to celebrate on the centennial: 376 protected areas covering over 83 million acres. But there's still room for improvement. When you look at the people who recreate in America’s national parks, the demographics don't match the diversity that is so prominent in the United States. José González is out to change that. He leads an organization called Latino Outdoors, whose mission is to "connect familias and youth with nature, engage and inspire Latino leadership, empower communities to explore and share their stories in defining the Latino Outdoors identity." More on Latino Outdoors - http://latinooutdoors.org/ 20% off at bigagnes.com with the promo-code "meister" at checkout. Purchase a MtnMeister t-shirt here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

(R) #156 Five star camping cuisine with Expedition Chef Mary Brent Galyean Jun 29, 2016

Mary Brent Galyean is an expedition chef. She cooks some of the tastiest dishes you'll ever eat in places that very few people have ever been. Chef MB does it all without electricity and running water, and I had the wonderful opportunity to taste this five star cuisine on the Gauley River in West Virginia. Courses included but were not limited to lamb sliders, salmon and acorn squash poached in spiced honey, and the crowd favorite sweet potato and red apple au gratin.

To purchase a MtnMeister t-shirt, go here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

To receive 20% off our sponsor, Big Agnes, use the code "meister" at checkout here - https://www.bigagnes.com/

#180 Taking flight with JT Holmes Jun 22, 2016

JT Holmes is an extreme athlete who has undertaken many different pursuits, some of which include skiing, BASE jumping, and speedriding (a hybrid of paragliding and skiing). In today's discussion, we’ll cover topics like risk, skill vs. luck, and how we tend to judge others for decisions that may not have any impact on us.

For pictures, videos, and other resources, go to JT's Meister Profile page here - http://mtnmeister.com/meister/JT-Holmes

To purchase a MtnMeister t-shirt, go here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

For 20% off Big Agnes, go to bigagnes.com and use the code "meister" at checkout.

2016 goals update and (R) #149 The deepest man on Earth with Herbert Nitsch Jun 15, 2016

The first few minutes of this episode includes an update on my BHAG (big, hairy, audacious goal) in 2016 which was to qualify for the 2017 Boston Marathon.

For 20% off from our sponsor, Big Agnes, use the code "meister" at bigagnes.com

To buy a MtnMeister t-shirt, go here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

What is the furthest you have gone under the water with a single breath? 15 feet? 20 feet? 30 feet? For our guest today, Herbert Nitsch, the answer is 830 feet. Herbert Nitsch is the current free diving world record holder and “the deepest man on earth". He holds 33 world records in all free diving disciplines - an unrivaled feat to date - which range from using weights and flotation to assist to no assistance at all.

#179 Connecting the dots with Arlette Laan Jun 08, 2016

Arlette Laan (trail name Apple Pie) took on an audacious project in the summer of 2014. The word diratissima in Italian means "most direct route", and in hiking it refers to the shortest route to connect multiple peaks. Apple Pie coordinated a White Mountain Diratissima where she linked all 48 of the 4,000-foot mountains. It took 258 miles to connect them all and she did it unsupported over the course of 11 days.

#178 Finding the forgotten with Derek Abbey Jun 01, 2016

Exploration and adventure allow us to discover certain things: we discover new places, what we’re capable of, and what we love. Derek Abbey discovers something else. He’s a member of the BentProp project, a team of volunteers, trained specialists, and professionals who are dedicated to locating and assisting with identifying American POWs and MIA soldiers from World War II. The effort is done through extensive research, recoveries, and exploration all while coordinating with appropriate national authorities.

#177 Peru Trip Report: Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu May 25, 2016

In mid-August of 2015, I received a text from some old high school friends. These are the kind of friends that you see a couple of times each year, maybe at a wedding or when you return home for the holidays. We already have the foundation of a solid friendship, so it's never awkward, but life takes you in different directions. Besides, with social media and technology you already know what's going on in their lives. Anyway, the text said that they wanted to go on a hike in Peru in the spring of 2016. They asked if I wanted to go. I said yes, and so did three other people. This episode of MtnMeister is a trip report about six dudes in their twenties who want to go on an adventure. They have limited time to take off of work, and they don’t have sponsors to pay for it. To put it simply, it’s real life. I know listening to professional athletes and extreme adventurers is fun, and yes, it definitely serves a purpose. But the meisters are outliers. They show us what is humanly possible, not humanly probable. Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Big Agnes. For 20% off, go to bigagnes.com and use the code "meister" at checkout.

#176 Back at it Agwin with Aaron Gwin May 18, 2016

Aaron Gwin is a professional downhill mountain biker who has quickly ascended the ranks to become the best in the world. He competed in his first race at age 20, and today, at age 28, he’s a 3-time World Cup Overall Champion. Gwin has put the USA back on top in sport that in recent years has been dominated by Europeans. In this interview, we’ll talk about what it means to have supportive parents, the difficulty of staying competitive and passionate at the same time, and what goes on behind the scenes in downhill mountain biking and other action sports.

Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Big Agnes. For 20% go to https://www.bigagnes.com/ and use the code "meister" at checkout.

Want a MtnMeister t-shirt? Check them out here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

#175 A changed identity with Eric McElvenny May 04, 2016

Eric McElvenny is an endurance athlete and a retired Marine Corps infantry officer. He deployed three times, and on his third and final tour in Afghanistan, an IED took away his right leg below the knee. Less than two years after stepping on the IED, he stepped up to the starting line at the Kona Ironman and completed the race in 11 hours and 54 minutes.

#174 Tuckerman Inferno Pentathlon with Andrew Drummond Apr 20, 2016

The Tuckerman Inferno Pentathlon is a race that covers many miles through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Participants can compete in individual legs as part of a larger team or show off prowess in various disciplines and compete as an individual. A few friends and I competed in the race as a team: I did the 8.3 mile running leg before my teammates took over for the kayak, bike, hike and ski legs. When I looked at the results, I saw that the winning individual did the running leg 4 minutes faster than I did my running leg. He then went on to finish the race in 3 hours, 53 minutes, 41 seconds, beating our team by about 30 minutes. That man is Andrew Drummond.

#173 Third time's a (c)harm with Alex Staniforth Apr 13, 2016

Alex Staniforth is 20 years old, and he has already accomplished what some would consider a lifetime of adventures. In 2014, his first Everest attempt was cut short by the avalanche in the Khumbu Icefall. He tried again in 2015 but was stuck at Camp 1 during the Nepal earthquake. Alex is the author of Icefall: The True Story of a Teenager on a Mission to the Top of the World.

Alex's Meister Profile page - http://mtnmeister.com/meister/alex-staniforth/

(R) #150 Climbing by the numbers with Billi Bierling Apr 06, 2016

Billi Bierling is a mountaineer, journalist, and assistant for Miss Elizabeth Hawley, the legendary chronicler of Himalayan expeditions. Billi is the first German woman to reach the tops of Lohtse and Manaslu, the latter of which she summited without oxygen in 2011.

Check out Billi's Meister profile page here - http://mtnmeister.com/meister/billi-bierling/

#172 Putting the “out” in outdoors with Elyse Rylander Mar 30, 2016

The outdoors has a diversity problem, not with the landscapes or the weather, but with the people who participate. Today's guest is changing that by getting people out, outside. Elyse Rylander is the executive director of OUT There Adventures, an organization that takes queer young people on outdoors adventures to help them develop positive identities and individual empowerment. In this episode, we chat about how the outdoors can serve as a safe space for queer youth and why it's important for everyone to care about the movement.

#171 All about adapting with Jason Romero Mar 23, 2016

Jason Romero is a legally blind ultra-runner who is attempting to run across the country. He will leave on March 24th, and he plans to run 50 miles a day from LA to Boston. Jason's previous accomplishments in ultra endurance include Leadville Trail 100, Badwater 135, and many more. In this interview, Jason talks about his upcoming project (Vision Run USA) and the challenges of adapting to a field of vision that is consistently narrowing.

Thanks to this episode's sponsor, Mountain House. For 20% off of your purchase, go to mountainhouse.com/meister.

#170 Adventure: Nature or Nurture? with Rickey Gates Mar 16, 2016

In addition to food, water, and shelter, it seems that Rickey Gates has two additional basic needs: running and traveling. At age 34, Rickey has been living a vagabond-ish lifestyle for nearly half of his life by running, writing, and taking pictures. In this episode, we discuss the "how and why" of Rickey's adventurous lifestyle.

Check out Rickey's Meister Profile - http://mtnmeister.com/meister/rickey-gates

Thanks to our sponsor for today's episode, Mountain House. For 20% off, visit www.mountainhouse.com/meister

#169 The first ascent of Mt. Vinson with the 1966 American Antarctic Mountaineering Expedition Mar 09, 2016

This time fifty years ago, each of the highest peaks on every continent had been summited. Except one. At 16,050 feet, Mt. Vinson is Antarctica’s tallest mountain, and in 1966, the American Antarctic Mountaineering Expedition was organized to make a first ascent. This year, the 50th anniversary of this iconic accomplishment, some of the members of the team reunited at the American Alpine Club’s Annual Benefit Dinner in Washington DC. In this episode, you'll hear them reflect on the historic expedition. This was recorded at the American Alpine Club's 2016 Annual Benefit Dinner presented by The North Face and REI. Special thanks National Geographic. Thanks to MtnMeister's sponsor for this episode, Mountain House. For 20% off, go to mountainhouse.com/meister

#168 Alex Honnold on the 100-year anniversary of America's National Parks Mar 02, 2016

On August 25th America will be celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the National Parks. In good spirit, the American Alpine Club hosted its Annual Benefit Dinner in Washington DC and invited world-renowned rock climber Alex Honnold to be the keynote speaker.

In this episode, I sit down with Alex to talk about his experiences in the National Parks and his opinions on protected lands. Sometimes a person who gets interviewed as much as Alex will resort to "canned answers". Not Alex. I really appreciated how he listened to each question and gave thoughtful, candid responses.

Following the interview is Alex's keynote. This was recorded at the American Alpine Club's 2016 Annual Benefit Dinner presented by The North Face and REI. Special thanks National Geographic. Also, thanks to MtnMeister's sponsor for this episode, Mountain House. For 20% off of your purchase go to http://www.mountainhouse.com/meister

#167 A behind-the-scenes look at outdoors athlete sponsorship Feb 24, 2016

The “Did someone get paid to say that?” question runs through my mind a lot. Often, I have trouble finding the answer. For example, when a guest on MtnMeister gives a gear recommendation, does he/she get paid by that company? If he/she does, can we trust that the recommendation is authentic? How do these sponsorships work? What do the brands get from the athletes and what do the athletes get from the brands? How does this impact us as outdoors consumers? In this episode, we hear from a couple of professional athletes, a large outdoors brand, and a talent manager. If you have questions or comments, leave them in the discussion forum on our website mtnmeister.com or send me an email (ben at mtnmeister.com).

(R) #144 Microadventures with Alastair Humphreys Feb 17, 2016

Alastair Humphreys is an adventurer, blogger, author, and motivational speaker. He has ridden a bike 46,000 miles around the entire world, rowed the Atlantic Ocean, and walked across India, but it’s the smaller adventures which have had the biggest impact. Alastair has created a concept called "microadventures", which encourages you to get outside, get outside of your comfort zone, and get to somewhere you have never been before.

#166 Racing across America with Adam Kimble aka The Bearded Sole Feb 10, 2016

In 2009, Adam Kimble ran his first 5k. In 2011 his first half, 2012 his first marathon, and 2014 his first ultra. Now, in 2016, he is attempting to become the fastest person to run across the USA. The time to beat is 46 days, 8 hours, 36 minutes, and to do it he will have to average 68 miles a day. On February 15th, he will leave Huntington Beach and head west to hopefully finish around March 30th in NYC. Follow Adam @thebeardedsole on FB, IG, Twitter, or AdamKimble.com. Links to everything we discuss in today's episode (including Summit for Someone info) on our website, mtnmeister.com.

#165 Breaking the PCT speed record with Joe "String Bean" McConaughy Feb 03, 2016

At 53 days, 6 hours, 37 minutes, Joe "String Bean" McConaughy holds the supported speed record on the Pacific Crest Trail. Joe covered around 50 miles a day in the summer of 2014, making his way northbound from Mexico to Canada. When you work that hard, you have to eat that much - Joe consumed around 8,000 calories a day. The project is called “Run for Colin”, named after Joe’s baby cousin who lost a battle with Neuroblastoma.

#164 The Real Hiking Viking with Tom "Jabba" Gathman Jan 27, 2016

Tom Gathman aka Jabba aka The Real Hiking Viking is currently attempting a southbound winter thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. In 2013 he thru-hiked the AT with fellow combat veterans in the Warrior Hike. In 2014 he thru-hiked the 3,100 mile Continental Divide trail. In this interview, we talk with Tom about his progress thus far, faulty headlines, and whether his beard has contributed to his success.

#163 The first lady with Kitty Calhoun Jan 21, 2016

Today's guest defies stereotypes. She’s a southern belle that has been guiding for over 30 years ago on the highest peaks in Peru, Alaska, Bolivia, and Nepal. She's a co-owner of Chicks with Picks, a company that runs ice climbing, rock climbing, and skiing clinics for women. Her name is Kitty Calhoun, but her accomplishments in alpine climbing would be personified by a mountain lion rather than a kitten.

#162 GEAR GIVEAWAY at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2016 Jan 12, 2016

Outdoor Retailer is a trade show where companies show off their latest and greatest outdoor products: gear, clothing, technology, and everything else you can think of. At this year's Winter Market show, there were 22,000 overall attendees and more than 1,000 exhibiting brands.

In this episode of MtnMeister, we record two-minute segments with companies about their products. In exchange for being featured, they give you free gear! To win a piece of gear, all you have to do is send an email to ben@mtnmeister.com saying what you want - the first person who requests it wins. Once you win a prize, you are locked into that prize and cannot win anything else or switch.

$5,473 in gear. 21 companies. 37 winners.

For pictures and links, visit this page on our website - http://mtnmeister.com/meister/gear-giveaway-outdoor-retailer-winter-market-2016/

#162 Outdoor Retailer preview & #MyOutdoorStory Jan 06, 2016

Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2016 will be in Salt Lake City from January 7-10. MtnMeister is there to create our semi-annual gear giveaway episode, where we give thousands of dollars of free gear to our listeners. To gain a competitive advantage, you can purchase the exact date and time of the episode's release here - http://mtnmeister.com/gear-giveaway-at-winter-or-outdoor-retailer/

#MyOutdoorStory from OIA: "Each of us has a story—unique in its particulars but ubiquitous in its theme—about how we fell in love with the outdoors. The first time you went camping, your first job at a local outdoor retail shop, the piece of gear that saved or changed your life, the ‘aha’ moment when you realized that you were an outdoorist." In this episode we hear from four industry professionals about their outdoorist beginnings.

#161 2016 Goals: Write it down, make it happen! Dec 31, 2015

Happy New Year! In our annual goals episode, we look back at what we accomplished in the previous year and look forward to 2016. You'll hear from MtnMeister listeners who reveal their 2016 goals and some familiar Meisters who provide tips on how to achieve them. The special format encourages making goals of varying difficulty:

Goal 1: Your pretty safe goal. You’re fairly sure that you can do it, although it’s still not a sure thing and you’re going to need to work at it.

Goal 2: You’re 50/50 whether you can do this. It’s a reach — something that you either have never done before or you haven’t done in a very, very long time, possibly in a previous life.

Goal 3: A BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) in the purest sense. You’ve never done it, and maybe nobody else has ever done it. You’re sincerely not even sure if you’re capable of it. All the stars will need to align to make it happen. Some luck might be involved. This is the goal that, as you write it down, you feel butterflies and nerves over even making it public.

What are your goals? Share them on the discussion forum here - http://mtnmeister.com/meister/2016-goals

(R) #141 Delusional optimism with Kelly Cordes Dec 23, 2015

Kelly Cordes is climber, writer, and margarita specialist. For climbing, he’s established first ascents in Alaska, Pakistan, and Peru. At one point in his life he was nicknamed "Sketchy Kelly" for his risky and perhaps reckless style of climbing. For writing, he’s been published many times in Alpinist and is the author of The Tower: A Chronicle of Climbing and Controversy on Cerro Torre. For margaritas, well, listen to find out.

For more info on submitting your 2016 goals - http://mtnmeister.com/2016-goals-get-featured-on-mtnmeister/

For more info on our Outdoor Retailer Gear Giveaway - http://mtnmeister.com/gear-giveaway-at-winter-or-outdoor-retailer/

(R) #136 Drugs and adventure: what's the difference? with Roman Dial Dec 16, 2015

Roman Dial is a legendary Alaskan adventurer, although he won't tell you he is. He has traversed the entire Brooks Range in Alaska by ski, packraft, and kayak. He has also done it on a bicycle. When he is not on an adventure, Roman is a professor at Alaska Pacific University.

To submit your 2016 goals and hear your voice on MtnMeister, http://mtnmeister.com/2016-goals-get-featured-on-mtnmeister/

To purchase the extra information related to the date and time of our Outdoor Retailer Gear Giveaway, http://mtnmeister.com/gear-giveaway-at-winter-or-outdoor-retailer/

#160 Partners in climb with Jack Tackle Dec 09, 2015

Jack Tackle is a renowned alpinist most known for his climbing in Alaska over the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s . He’s done over 35 major expeditions to Alaska and 17 first ascents. In 2001, Jack was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre, a rare condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves. In this episode, Jack talks about dealing with the syndrome, what he looks for in climbing partners, and mentorship. Jack is the former director of the American Alpine Club and a guide for Exum Mountain Guides in Jackson WY.

#159 From bubble boy to Colorado man with Luis Benitez Dec 02, 2015

Luis Benitez is a renowned mountain guide who has taken the lessons he's learned from climbing and applied them to business. He has summited the seven summits 32 times, with Everest being six of them. He was recently named the first director of the new Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, which is a $14B industry.

(R) #135 Levels of adventure with Peter Metcalf Nov 25, 2015

Peter Metcalf is the CEO of Black Diamond Equipment and a board member of the Outdoor Industry Association. He wasn’t always all business though. He has climbed audacious routes in Alaska, one of which is a first alpine ascent of the Central Rib on Mt. Hunter’s south face. Black Diamond was started when Chouinard Equipment filed for bankruptcy and Peter and some other passionate climbers scrounged up enough money to buy out the assets.

#158 Live Interview with Alex Honnold Nov 13, 2015

For his daring free solo ascents, Alex Honnold has received worldwide recognition both within and beyond the climbing community. Yet, the free solo tick list is only a fraction of his accomplishments. In his new book Alone on the Wall, Honnold recounts some of his more memorable climbs, and co-author David Roberts fills in with the meaning of those ascents. We sat down with Alex in NYC to talk about the book, free soloing, the media, and more. In the second half of the discussion, we take questions from the audience. This was supposed to be a live-streamed discussion, but unfortunately there was an issue. Apologies to those who tuned in and didn't see it!

#157 Rocked by the mountains with Barry Blanchard Nov 04, 2015

Barry Blanchard is a Canadian alpinist who in the 80's and 90's established highly technical routes in the Canadian Rockies and the Himalaya. Throughout his childhood, he faced challenges of poverty and growing up "a dark-skinned, brown-eyed, half-breed kid" in a predominantly white, affluent area. His transformation from a poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks to one of the most respected alpinists in the world is chronicled in his most recent book The Calling: A Life Rocked by the Mountains.

#156 Five star camping cuisine with Expedition Chef MB Galyean Oct 28, 2015

Mary Brent Galyean is an expedition chef. She cooks some of the tastiest dishes you’ll ever eat in places that very few people have ever been. MB does it all without electricity and running water, and I had the wonderful opportunity to taste this five star cuisine on the Gauley River in West Virginia. Courses included but were not limited to lamb sliders, salmon and acorn squash poached in spiced honey, and the crowd favorite sweet potato and red apple au gratin.

#155 Self-supported speed with Heather "Anish" Anderson Oct 21, 2015

On September 24th, 2015 Heather “Anish” Anderson broke the self-supported speed record of the Appalachian Trail. Without any assistance, she made her way nearly 2,200 miles starting in the north from Mt. Katadhin and finishing in the south on Mt. Springer. 54 days, 7 hours, 48 minutes.

#154 Living it up with Gavin McClurg Oct 14, 2015

Gavin McClurg is an adventurer of many disciplines. After briefly racing for the US Ski Team in the early 90s, he moved on to kayaking. A near death experience on a waterfall in Mexico caused him to trade the rivers for the sea, where he lived for 13 years and sailed around the world twice. Most recently paragliding is the activity of choice. He holds the North American record for longest foot launch, where he flew 240 miles in one go.

(R) #132 Going it alone with Mike Libecki Oct 07, 2015

Mike Libecki is climber, explorer, athlete, and father. He has completed over 60 major expeditions and 40 first ascents, many of them solo, in some of the most remote locations in the world. He has received a long list of grants and awards for both his climbing and also his fathering - he's even won Father of the Year at his daughter's school! Mike is based near Salt Lake City, Utah where he lives with his daughter, dogs, cats, parrot, pot-belly pigs, chickens, and rabbits.

#153 Make adventure, not war with Stacy Bare Sep 30, 2015

Stacy Bare is the director of Sierra Club Outdoors and co-founder of Veterans Expeditions, a nonprofit which empowers veterans to overcome challenges associated with military service through outdoor training and leadership. These challenges are not foreign to Stacy. After serving in Baghdad for the US Army, he faced post-traumatic stress and adjustment disorders. If it wasn’t for climbing and other experiences in the outdoors, he may not be here to talk to us about it.

#152 Keeping up with the Jones with Jeremy Jones Sep 23, 2015

Jeremy Jones is a professional snowboarder, founder of Jones Snowboards, and founder of Protect our Winters. With hundreds of first descents on some of the biggest, steepest terrain on planet earth, he is widely regarded as one of the best big mountain freeriders in the world He accesses this terrain in a human powered approach, which allows him to reach peaks that helicopters can’t.

#151 Without Os with Alexander Barber Sep 16, 2015

Alexander Barber is a high altitude mountaineer whose tick list is characterized by solo ascents, without sherpa support, and without supplemental oxygen. These include Cho Oyu, Manaslu, and most recently an attempt on Annapurna which was cut short by the Nepal Earthquake. Alex is member of the American Mountain Guides Association and formally a guide for Rainier Mountaineering.

#150 Climbing by the numbers with Billi Bierling Sep 09, 2015

Billi Bierling is a mountaineer, journalist, and assistant for Miss Elizabeth Hawley, the legendary chronicler of Himalayan expeditions. Billi is the first German woman to reach the tops of Lohtse and Manaslu, the latter of which she summited without oxygen in 2011.

#149 The deepest man on earth with Herbert Nitsch Sep 02, 2015

What is the furthest you have gone under the water with a single breath? 15 feet? 20 feet? 30 feet? For our guest today, Herbert Nitsch, the answer is 830 feet. Herbert Nitsche is the current free diving world record holder and “the deepest man on earth". He holds 33 world records in different free diving disciplines, which range from using weights and floatation to assist to no assistance at all.

#148 Summit for Someone on Mt. Langley, Part Three Aug 28, 2015

Summit for Someone runs charity climbs that benefit Big City Mountaineers, an organization whose mission is to transform the lives of under-resourced urban youth through wilderness mentoring expeditions. In this three part series, we talk about what it means to climb for a cause on the southernmost 14,000 foot peak in California. In part three in our three part series, we descend from the summit and ready you for your own Summit for Someone climb.

#147 Summit for Someone on Mt. Langley, Part Two Aug 27, 2015

From July 24th to 26th, we moved the MtnMeister studio to southern California and climbed Mt. Langley with Summit for Someone. Summit for Someone runs charity climbs that benefit Big City Mountaineers, an organization whose mission is to transform the lives of under-resourced urban youth through wilderness mentoring expeditions. We were guided by Sierra Mountaineering International (SMI), and we were joined by team Kiss The Sky who raises money for diabetes research. In this three part series, we talk about what it means to climb for a cause on the southernmost 14,000 foot peak in California.

#146 Summit for Someone on Mt. Langley, Part One Aug 26, 2015

From July 24th to 26th, we moved the MtnMeister studio to southern California and climbed Mt. Langley with Summit for Someone. Summit for Someone runs charity climbs that benefit Big City Mountaineers, whose mission is to transform the lives of under-resourced urban youth through wilderness mentoring expeditions. In this three part series, we talk about the experience of climbing for a cause on the southernmost 14,000 foot peak in California.

(R) #126 Facilitating Astonishment with Shelton Johnson Aug 19, 2015

Shelton Johnson is a ranger with the National Park Service and has worked for the National Parks for 28 years. After growing up in inner-city Detroit, he found his way to Yellowstone and now Yosemite, where he has been for the past 22 years. He is the author of Gloryland and has shaken hands with both Oprah Winfrey and President Barack Obama.

#145 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2015 Aug 12, 2015

From August 4th to 8th, over 1,600 companies in the outdoors industry showed off their latest and greatest products. MTNmeister was there covering 19 of them, which are featured in this segment. In order to be a part of it, these companies agreed to give MTNmeister listeners the chance to win free gear. In sum, $3,500 in gear is given away on this episode.

#145 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Preview Aug 05, 2015

The Outdoor Retailer trade show brings together the industry's most innovative gear makers, retailers, and media. From August 5th - 8th in Salt Lake City, over 1,500 companies will be showing off their latest and greatest products, and MTNmeister will be bringing those products to you. Keep an eye out for the next episode of MTNmeister, and listen early to have a chance to win!

#144 Microadventures with Alastair Humphreys Jul 29, 2015

Alastair Humphreys is an adventurer, blogger, author, and motivational speaker. He has ridden a bike 46,000 miles around the entire world, rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, and walked across India, but it’s the smaller adventures which have had the biggest impact. Alastair has created a concept called "microadventures" which encourages you to get outside, get outside of your comfort zone, and get to somewhere you have never been before.

#143 Finding the flow with Luc Mehl Jul 22, 2015

Luc Mehl is an Alaskan adventurer who utilizes just about every means of human-powered transportation: hiking, running, biking, skiing, swimming, pack rafting, backcountry ice skating. Luc has completed traverses across North America’s three highest peaks - Denali, Mt.. Logan, and Orizaba. He’s also competed in some brutal wilderness adventure races in Alaska.

In this episode, we talk about the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's theory on flow, where one reaches the ultimate combination of high skill and high challenge. This has applications in adventuring, academia, and everyday life.

#142 Life is unknown with Conrad Anker Jul 15, 2015

Conrad Anker is a world renowned mountaineer who has redefined what’s possible in climbing over the past three decades. His accomplishments span from climbing 8000m peaks without oxygen in the Himalaya, to first ascents in Antarctica, to big wall climbing in Patagonia. In 1999, he located George Mallory’s body on Mt Everest. Most recently, Meru, a documentary about the first ascent of the Shark’s Fin on Meru, won the Audience Choice award for documentaries at the Sundance Film Festival.

#141 Delusional optimism with Kelly Cordes Jul 08, 2015

Kelly Cordes is climber, writer, and margarita specialist. For climbing, he’s established first ascents in Alaska, Pakistan, and Peru. At one point in his life he was nicknamed "Sketchy Kelly" for his risky and perhaps reckless style of climbing. For writing, he’s been published many times in Alpinist and is the author of The Tower: A Chronicle of Climbing and Controversy on Cerro Torre. For margaritas, well, listen to find out!

#140 How climbing will get you the job (or not) with Angie Payne Jul 02, 2015

Angie Payne is a climber and boulderer who lives in Boulder, CO - she’s hardly the only one. She is however, the first woman to climb v13. Meister Mike Libecki describes Angie as "A pretty special woman, and she's done some really cool stuff. I've seen her break through some interesting walls, both literally and metaphorically." Apart from climbing, Angie has held jobs as a veterinary assistant and an endoscopy tech.

#139 Authentic exploration with Steve Swenson Jun 25, 2015

Steve Swenson is the former president of the American Alpine Club and a world renowned alpinist. According to fellow Meister Raphael Slawinski, “One of the things that I really admire about Steve, among many, is that he seems to be able to strike this balance between a demanding professional career, a wife and two kids, and climbing at the highest standards out there. He’s a recipient of the Piolet d’or and climbed Everest and K2 without oxygen. The other thing I really enjoy about Steve, although he’s 60, he’s one of the fittest people I know and more than anything he still enjoys climbing like a kid.

(R) #119 Couch to 100-mile ultramarathon with Jeffrey James Binney Jun 23, 2015

Jeffrey James Binney is currently training for the Leadville Trail 100 on Saturday, August 22. On MTNmeister, this is typically something that we’d expect to hear, but Jeffrey’s background is anything but typical. Jeffrey grew up on a pig farm in Missouri and is now a comedian based out of Los Angeles. A little more than three years ago, he lost his mom to obesity, and he himself weighed 340 lbs at his heaviest. He has lost over 100 lbs and is in the process of creating a hybrid comedy/documentary called Once Is Enough.

#138 Exploring the risk threshold with Lonnie Dupre Jun 18, 2015

Lonnie Dupre is an arctic explorer, a mountain climber, and the founder of One World Endeavors. He has a robust list of accomplishments, many of them firsts: the first Pacific to Atlantic traverse of the Northwest Passage by dogsled, the first human-powered circumnavigation of Greenland, and the first human-powered summer expedition to the North Pole. Most recently, this past January he became the first person to ever summit Denali solo in the winter.

In this episode, there are a few times where we credit Lonnie with the "first winter solo ascent". CORRECTION: This was the "first January solo ascent" with the first successful winter solo ascent belonging to Vern Tejas in March, 1988.

#137 Balance and potential with Raphael Slawinski Jun 16, 2015

Dr. Raphael Slawinski is a physics professor at Mt. Royal University in Canada. You might be wondering, What is he doing on MTNmeister? Great question. Supplemental to his physics professing is a climbing career that could stand on its own. He has completed first ascents in the Canadian Rockies and the Karakoram range in Pakistan. He was named a 2014 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year with a first ascent of K6.

#136 Drugs and adventure: what's the difference? with Roman Dial Jun 11, 2015

Roman Dial is a legendary Alaskan adventurer, although he won't tell you he is. He has traversed the entire Brooks Range in Alaska by ski, packraft, and kayak. He has also done it on a bicycle. When he is not on an adventure, Roman is a professor at Alaska Pacific University.

#135 Levels of adventure with Peter Metcalf Jun 09, 2015

Peter Metcalf is the CEO of Black Diamond Equipment and a board member of the Outdoor Industry Association. He wasn’t always all business though. He has climbed audacious routes in Alaska, one of which is a first alpine ascent of the Central Rib on Mt. Hunter’s south face. Black Diamond was started when Chouinard Equipment filed for bankruptcy and Peter and some other passionate climbers scrounged up enough money to buy out the assets.

#134 A different daily grind with Andrew Skurka Jun 04, 2015

The average person walks 110,000 miles in a lifetime. Andrew Skurka has probably covered that in a 10-year span. He is the only person in the world to have done the Great Western Loop, which is a series of trails that total 6,875 miles. He has also completed the 7,778-mile Sea to Sea Route, which connects the Atlantic to the Pacific through Canada and the northern part of the US. He is the author of The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide: Tools & Tips to Hit the Trail, a National Geographic adventurer of the year, and now, a MTNmeister.

#133 Environmentalism + Exploration with Parker Liautaud Jun 02, 2015

Parker Liautaud is an environmental campaigner and a polar explorer. At the ripe age of 15, he and his expedition partner Doug Stoup attempted to reach the North Pole but fell 15 miles short. The following year at 16 they made it, and again at 17. At the age of 19, Parker and Doug completed the fastest coast to south pole expedition of Antarctica - 350 miles in a little more than 18 days.

#132 Going it alone with Mike Libecki May 28, 2015

Mike Libecki is climber, explorer, athlete, and father. He has completed over 60 major expeditions and 40 first ascents, many of them solo, in some of the most remote locations in the world. Mike has received a long list of grants and awards for both his climbing and also his fathering - he's even won Father of the Year at his daughter's school! Mike is based near Salt Lake City, Utah where he lives with his daughter, dogs, cats, parrot, pot-belly pigs, chickens, and rabbits.

#131 It's all in the mind with Hazel Findlay May 26, 2015

Hazel Findlay is a professional rock climber who started at the ripe age of 7. She is a 6-time British junior champion indoors, and at 16, she shifted her focus to outdoors climbing. Starting first in the UK and now every other corner of the globe, Hazel has climbed in South East Asia, India, Australia, New Zealand, Morocco, and North America. She is currently recovering from shoulder surgery after an injury to her labrum.

#130 Chasing waterfalls with Rush Sturges and Tyler Bradt May 21, 2015

Rush Sturges and Tyler Bradt are both professional kayakers and have been paddling together for many years. Tyler holds the world record of the largest waterfall descent in a kayak of 189 feet at Palouse Falls in WA. Rush, in addition to kayaking, is well known for his film making with his company River Roots. He also raps from time to time under the stage name Adrenaline Rush.

(R) #114 Pushups on the summit with Major Rob Marshall May 19, 2015

Major Rob Marshall is a Reserve C-17 pilot in the Seattle area, co-founder of the USAF 7 Summits Challenge, and the director of the USAF 50 summits challenge. In the 7 Summits Challenge, Rob led the climb of Mt. Everest (and other mountains) in the process of fundraising for the families of fallen soldiers. On the summit of each mountain, Rob does pushups to honor his fellow veterans.

(R) #113 Herding the sheeple with Brian Warren May 14, 2015

Brian Warren is a year-round professional mountain guide based out of Jackson, WY. He guides in various parts of the world including Jackson Hole, the Pacific Northwest, and the European Alps. He has also climbed and guided in Alaska, Canada, South America and the Himalaya. Brian presently holds IFMGA and AMGA Aspirant status and an Avalanche level III certification.

(R) #111 Wake up with a smile with Kalen Thorien May 12, 2015

Kalen Thorien is a professional skier, adventurer, writer, and photographer based out of Salt Lake City, UT. She has been placed on the covers of Ski Magazine and Powder Magazine among many other publications. Until recently, to support her skiing, Kalen held jobs in construction, as a dock hand, and as a firefighter. Contrary to what some might think, Kalen didn't start seriously skiing until 16.

(R) #104 Mapmaker, make me a map with Casey Greene May 07, 2015

Casey Greene is based in the mountains of western Montana and is a long time cartographer of Adventure Cycling Association. He has been labeled a pioneer by Sierra Magazine for his numerous bikepacking trips and by BIKE magazine for his numerous packbiking trips. Casey's maps have also been featured in many publications including the New York Times. During his time at Adventure Cycling Association, he has spearheaded a diverse array of projects including the research, design, and mapping of the Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Route.

#129 Run, Daren, Run! with Daren Wendell May 05, 2015

Daren Wendell puts himself through extreme physical and mental hardship in order to save lives. On April 10th, he completed his most recent endeavor: running 100 marathons in 100 days across the entire united states to raise $140,000. The funds are enough to provide 3,500 people in Africa with clean drinking water for the rest of their lives.

#128 Bachelor of First Descents with Brad Ludden Apr 30, 2015

Brad Ludden is a professional kayaker who began traveling internationally at the ripe age of 12. He has completed over 100 first descents. "First Descents" is also the name of the non-profit he founded in 1999 to offer young adult cancer fighters a free outdoor experience to reclaim their lives and connect with others doing the same. Quite possibly his most prestigious accolade is Cosmopolitan Magazine’s hottest Bachelor in America in 2008.

#127 Nepal earthquake and unanswerable questions about giving with my mom and sister Apr 28, 2015

On Saturday, April 25th, a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Kathmandu and caused multiple avalanches on Mt. Everest. At the time of this recording, 22 climbers are reported dead and over 3500 people total. These numbers will almost certainly rise. In this time of crisis, donations are needed to help in the recovery effort. Coincidentally, we at MTNmeister were planning on launching a "support" page for the podcast's benefit that we had been planning for the last couple of months. Asking for listener donations seems wrong when we compare it to donations to Nepal. Should we still do it? How should we think about charitable giving? This episode addresses these difficult questions.

#126 Facilitating astonishment with Shelton Johnson Apr 23, 2015

Shelton Johnson is a ranger with the National Park Service and has worked for the National Parks for 28 years. After growing up in inner-city Detroit, he found his way to Yellowstone and now Yosemite, where he has been for the past 22 years. He is the author of Gloryland and has shaken hands with both Oprah Winfrey and President Barack Obama.

#125 Feeding the addiction with Andy Kirkpatrick Apr 22, 2015

Andy Kirkpatrick is a British mountaineer, author, speaker, and comedian at times. Some of his more notable climbs include the Reticent Wall on El Cap, the first winter ascent on the Troll Wall, and the South Ridge of Ultevanna in Antarctica. He is the author of Psychovertical and Cold Wars, which both won the Boardman Tasker award for climbing literature in 2008 and 2012 respectively.

#124 Thru hiking thru winter with Shawn Forry Apr 16, 2015

Shawn Forry may in fact be the most interesting man in the world. As an Outward Bound wilderness instructor, he takes both children and adults on backpacking and climbing expeditions. During the winter, he runs scenic interpretive tours with 10 dog sled teams. He’s also a hiker. This past winter he and Justin Lichter became the first people ever to thru hike the Pacific Crest Trail in the winter.

#123 Kickin' it Newschool with Doug Bishop Apr 14, 2015

Doug Bishop is the general manager of Newschoolers, an online community with some of the most passionate freeskiers out there. Doug was an aspiring professional skier for six years and joined Newschoolers in the early, early days. Some fellow Newschoolers contributors describe Doug as "Old. Nice. Nerdy. The face of NS" and say "Damn, I wish I could count as high as his Karma (NS forum point system)."

#122 The inner Sisyphus with Renan Ozturk Apr 09, 2015

Renan Ozturk does a lot of different things. He’s an artist, cinematographer, professional athlete, high altitude mountaineer, explorer, entrepreneur, and probably many other things. If he was a podcast host, he’d have it all. Renan is the co-founder of Camp4Collective, an adventure film and commercial production company. He is a 2013 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and a 2015 MTNmeister.

(R) #96 A free solo examination, part two with Faith Dickey Apr 07, 2015

Faith Dickey is a professional slackliner who specializes in highlining, longlining, and free soloing. She set the female world record for Highlining length at 345ft (105m) in Moab, Utah. She is also the first female to surpass the 100 meter mark in highlining. Her record for height was in the Swiss Alps at 4000ft (1200m) from the valley. Faith has more than 30 free solos (walking without a safety leash), the longest of which is 28m, also a female world record.

(R) #95 A free solo examination with Jason Haas Apr 02, 2015

Jason Haas is a math teacher, co-owner of Fixed Pin Publishing, and a rock climber (free solo climbing on occasion). He has done climbing in Alaska, Africa, Asia, South America and all over the continental US. Jason has completed over 550 first ascents, many of which are done to create guidebooks for Fixed Pin.

#121 Gimme five with Roy Tuscany Mar 31, 2015

Roy Tuscany is the founder of High Fives Foundation, which works to provide grants and recovery options to injured athletes from the action sports world. To date, they have helped raise funds, secure treatments, and aid in the recover of 70 athletes. In 2006, Roy was aspiring to be a professional skier but became paralyzed from the waist down after overshooting a jump. In less than two years after the accident, Roy was back on skis.

#120 Defining what's possible with Lynn Hill Mar 26, 2015

Lynn Hill is a legendary American rock climber. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, she was widely regarded as one of the best sport climbers in the world, and in 1993 she became the first person ever to free-climb The Nose on El Cap. The following year, she did it again in less than 24 hours. She is the author of Climbing Free: My Life in the Vertical World.

#119 Couch to 100-mile ultramarathon with Jeffrey James Binney Mar 24, 2015

Jeffrey James Binney is currently training for the Leadville 100 on Saturday, August 22, 2015. On MTNmeister, this is typically something that we’d expect to hear, but Jeffrey’s background is anything but typical. Jeffrey grew up on a pig farm in Missouri and is now a comedian based out of Los Angeles. A little more than three years ago, he lost his mom to obesity, and he himself weighed 340 lbs at his heaviest. He has lost over 100 lbs and is in the process of creating a hybrid comedy/documentary called Once Is Enough.

#118 Analyzing the Swiss Machine with Ueli Steck Mar 19, 2015

Ueli Steck is a Swiss mountaineer who is well known for his speed ascents in the alps and Himalaya. He climbs mountains that normally take skilled climbers days in a few hours, like the Eiger North Face, which he climbed in 2 hours and 47 minutes. "The Swiss Machine" has been awarded the Piolet d’Or, one of climbings highest honors, twice.

#117 A 2668-mile rite of passage with Colin Arisman Mar 17, 2015

Colin Arisman is a storyteller and a long distance hiker. Occasionally he kills those two birds with one stone, like the time when he hiked the entire Pacific Crest Trail: Mexico to Canada, 2668 miles, five months. He created a film to share the story called Only The Essential.

#116 Central Wasatch Proposed Blueprint by Mountain Accord Mar 12, 2015

Mountain Accord has a proposed blueprint for the future of the Central Wasatch Mountains. They are soliciting public feedback on this document from now until March 16. In this live debate, various stakeholders will provide an overview of the proposed blueprint.

In the first 30 minutes, the representatives discuss the project’s impact on four main systems: environment, recreation, transportation, and economy. In the second half, we run an audience Q&A. Questions can be submitted before or during the live discussion on the discussion forum below or by using #MountainAccord on social media.

#115 Paving the way with Garrett Madison Mar 05, 2015

Garrett Madison is a high altitude mountain guide and owner of Madison Mountaineering. He has personally lead 37 climbers to the summit of Everest over the last 7 years, more than any other American. In 2011 and 2013, Garrett was successful in guiding climbers to a combo-summit of Everest and Lhotse: reaching the summit of two 8000 meter peaks in less than 24 hours and becoming the first ever to do so. More recently, this past summer, he led the first ever successfully ‘guided’ ascent of K2.

#114 Pushups on the summit with Major Rob Marshall Mar 03, 2015

Major Rob Marshall is a Reserve C-17 pilot in the Seattle area, co-founder of the USAF 7 Summits Challenge, and the director of the USAF 50 summits challenge. In the 7 Summits Challenge, Rob led the climb of Mt. Everest among other mountains in the process of fundraising for the families of fallen soldiers. On the summit of each mountain, Rob does pushups to honor his fellow veterans.

#113 Herding the sheeple with Brian Warren Feb 26, 2015

Brian Warren is a year-round professional mountain guide based out of Jackson, WY. He guides in various parts of the world including Jackson Hole, the Pacific Northwest, and the European Alps. He has also climbed and guided in Alaska, Canada, South America and the Himalaya. Brian presently holds IFMGA and AMGA Aspirant status and an Avalanche level III certification.

#112 Learning resilience with Aaron Scheidies Feb 24, 2015

Aaron Scheidies has traveled around the globe competing in over 200 triathlons. Before all of this, at nine years old, Aaron was having trouble seeing the chalkboard. This eventually led to him being diagnosed with a condition called Stargardt’s disease, which is a common form of inherited juvenile macular degeneration. Aaron now has 10% of the vision of a fully sighted person, but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming an eight-time World Champ, an eight time-national champ, and a guest on the MTNmeister podcast.

#111 Wake up with a smile with Kalen Thorien Feb 19, 2015

Kalen Thorien is a professional skier, adventurer, writer, and photographer based out of Salt Lake City, UT. She has been placed on the covers of Ski Magazine and Powder Magazine among many other publications. Until recently, to support her skiing, Kalen held jobs in construction, as a dock hand, and as a firefighter. Contrary to what some might think, Kalen didn't start seriously skiing until 16.

#110 Setting the expectation with Jason Thompson Feb 17, 2015

Jason Thompson is a professional adventure photographer with industry leading media clients and brands including Patagonia, North Face, Alpinist, National Geographic, and NPR. Jason was also a mountain guide; from 2005-2013, he collected 100 + summits of Mount Rainier, four Denali expeditions, and more as a senior guide at Rainier Mountaineering and Pacific Alpine Guides.

#109 Hammer time with Hadley Hammer Feb 12, 2015

Hadley Hammer is a pro skier on the Freeride World Tour with a very appropriate last name. Growing up in Jackson, WY, Hadley was brought up in the mountains, spending all her time chasing her brothers around the Tetons. While a pro skiing career consumes much of her time, Hadley is also a sommelier and gourmet chef. She attended quite possibly the best school in this nation, University of New Hampshire (Ben's alma mater, hence the bias), and received a B.A. in hospitality and a minor in economics.

#108 Education through experience with Jamie O'Donnell Feb 10, 2015

Jamie O’Donnell has worked as an educator in numerous capacities since the early 90's: as an outdoor educator, a high school biology teacher, and university biology lab-instructor. He currently instructs field courses for NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School). He has a M.S. in Environmental Education and an M.A. in teaching. His passion for teaching, the outdoors, and wilderness medicine fuels his enthusiasm as a WMI instructor.

#107 Presentation by Sasha DiGiulian from 2015 AAC Benefit Dinner Feb 05, 2015

The 2015 Annual Benefit Dinner is the American Alpine Club's biggest and most anticipated event of the year. In this presentation, Sasha DiGiulian talks about the development of her climbing career. She also comments on her recent experience with ice climbing and the transition from indoor to outdoor climbing,

#106 Everest Panel Discussion from 2015 AAC Benefit Dinner Feb 05, 2015

The 2015 Annual Benefit Dinner is the American Alpine Club's biggest and most anticipated event of the year. Notable mountain guides and Sherpas discuss the current state of Mount Everest and how to solve some of issues seen of late. Panelists include Melissa Arnot, Garrett Madison, Dave Hahn, Greg Vernovage, Phunuru Sherpa, and Ngima Sherpa. The discussion is moderated by Alan Arnette.

#105 Legend vs. Legend with Sir Chris Bonington and Ueli Steck from 2015 AAC Benefit Dinner Feb 05, 2015

The 2015 Annual Benefit Dinner is the American Alpine Club's biggest and most anticipated event of the year. In this recorded interview, adventure journalist Jim Clash interviews mountaineering legends Sir Chris Bonington and Ueli Steck. Near the end, Reinhold Messner asks Ueli Steck about the reason that the fight broke out on Mt. Everest in 2013.

#104 Mapmaker, make me a map with Casey Greene Feb 03, 2015

Casey Greene is based in the mountains of western Montana and is a long time cartographer of Adventure Cycling Association. He has been labeled a pioneer by Sierra magazine for his numerous bikepacking trips and by BIKE magazine for his numerous packbiking trips. Casey's MAPS have also been featured in many publications including the New York Times. During his time at Adventure Cycling Association, he has spearheaded a diverse array of projects including the research, design, and mapping of the Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Route.

#103 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2015 Jan 29, 2015

From January 20th to 23rd, Ben was at the 2015 Outdoor Retailer trade show, where gear manufacturers show off their latest and greatest products, retailers will buy those products for the stores, and podcast hosts and other media cover everything else. With over 1000 companies at the trade show, it can get a little overwhelming. For this episode of MTNmeister, we focus on smaller companies who are doing something different or more innovative than the rest of the market. Perhaps more important, they had to be willing to give the meister fans free stuff. In this one-hour episode, we feature twelve different companies, and every single one is giving away gear. The combined value of all of the items being given away is over $2,000.

#102 It's all in the arms with Howie Sanborn Jan 22, 2015

Howie Sanborn served in the U.S. Army for 13 years as an Airborne Ranger. Two of those years were spent in Iraq helping with Operation Iraqi Freedom and five years as a Parachute Demonstrator on the U.S Army Parachute Team "The Golden Knights". On September 9th, 2012 he was hit by a distracted driver while cycling and training for a triathlon. This accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, but in typical Meister fashion, he is now still competing in triathlons and is training for the 2016 Paralympics.

Check out Howie's Meister Profile page!

#101 Friendship in the extremes with Tyler Fish Jan 20, 2015

Tyler Fish is a wilderness expedition leader and Associate program director for Voyager Outward Bound. Perhaps his most notable expedition was the one to the North pole in 2009, where he and John Huston, a fellow MTNmeister, were the first Americans to reach the North Pole unsupported.

Check out Tyler's Meister profile page!

#100 Skiing the Seven Summits with Kit DesLauriers Jan 15, 2015

Kit DesLauriers is the first person to climb and ski from the tops of the highest mountains on every continent. Her project took two years and she’s written a book about the entire thing called Higher Love: Skiing the Seven Summits. She was named a 2015 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, and perhaps more impressive, the 100th episode MTNmeister.

Check out Kit's Meister Profile page!

#99 Climbing with a purpose with Alan Arnette Jan 13, 2015

Alan Arnette is an alpinist, speaker, and Alzheimer's advocate. In 2011, he summited Mount Everest on his way to completing the 7 summits in less than 11 months to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimers research. Alan is also the oldest American to summit K2 which he did on his 58th birthday. Outside Magazine cited Alan as the "most respected voice on Everest", which is almost as impressive as being selected as a MTNmeister.

Click here to view Alan's Meister Profile

#98 EXCLUSIVE - 2015 Goals: Write it down, make it happen Jan 08, 2015

Research proves that writing down your goals and making them public significantly increases your chances of achieving them. In this episode of MTNmeister, we give some Meisters (Garett Graubins, Adrian Ballinger, Emily Harrington, and Trevor Thomas) the opportunity to share their goals with the world.

Now it’s your turn. Share your goals with the Meister community and help others stay accountable to their goals - http://mtnmeister.com/2015-goals/

(R) #77 The ultrarunning metaphor with Darcy Piceu Dec 30, 2014

Darcy Piceu is one of the best female ultrarunners in the world. She has placed first three times in a row at the Hardrock 100, a 100 mile race through the Colorado San Juan mountains. It covers the vertical climb of more than the elevation of Mount Everest – over 33k feet. In addition to competing, Darcy coaches other runners and is a mother.

Free audiobook!

(R) #82 Snow Report 2014/15 - Find the powder with Joel Gratz Dec 25, 2014

Joel Gratz is the founder of Opensnow.com: the future of weather, brought to you with added flair. Most weather information is sensationalistic and overwhelming, but not here. In a fun and witty style so often lacking in weather reporting, OpenSnow helps snow lovers smile and find their perfect mountain experience. Their industry-leading features include handcrafted and personable forecasts, LiveSnow reports direct from the hill, custom snow alerts, and the first “Ask a Weatherman” service available to the public. Plus authenticity is baked in, as the site is run by skiing meteorologists who keep track of their accuracy.

(R) #79 The only way to look is forward with Ronnie Dickson Dec 23, 2014

Ronnie Dickson is a prosthetist by day and a professional boulderer by night. In 2005 at the age of 17, Ronnie lost his leg above the knee because of a congenital disorder called Trevor’s disease. After his amputation, he found the sport of climbing and never looked back. Since then Ronnie has been at the forefront of the disabled rock climbing movement in competitions around the world, and he is aspiring to be the first above the knee amputee to boulder the V10 difficulty grade.

#97 When (not) to jump with Steph Davis Dec 18, 2014

Steph Davis is a professional rock climber, base jumper, wing suit flier, and a passionate chef. She has an impressive list of accomplishments which include many first ascents some of which are free solo. She also owns and runs MOAB Base adventures which provides classes, guiding, and stunt and production work for climbing and base jumping.

http://mtnmeister.com/meister/steph-davis

#96 A free solo examination, part two with Faith Dickey Dec 16, 2014

Faith Dickey is a professional slackliner who specializes in highlining, longlining, and free soloing. She set the female world record for Highlining length at 345ft (105m) in Moab, Utah. She is also the first female to surpass the 100 meter mark in highlining. Her record for height was in the Swiss Alps at 4000ft (1200m) from the valley. Faith has more than 30 free solos (walking without a safety leash), the longest of which is 28m, also a female world record.

#95 A free solo examination with Jason Haas Dec 11, 2014

Jason Haas is a math teacher, co-owner of Fixed Pin Publishing, and a rock climber (free solo climbing on occasion). He has done climbing in Alaska, Africa, Asia, South America and all over the continental US. Jason has completed over 550 first ascents, many of which are done to create guidebooks for Fixed Pin.

#94 It's all in the family with Daniel and David Chancellor Dec 09, 2014

David Chancellor and Daniel Chancellor are the owners of So iLL Inc, which is in the business of manufacturing climbing holds and more recently offering a premier climbing gym called Climb So iLL in the Saint Louis area. When asked to describe each other's appearance, Dan describes Dave as a "white Bob Marley, and Dave describes Dan as "maybe a comic book character or a terrorist".

#93 This Meister Life with Mark Kogelmann and Meredith Eades Dec 04, 2014

There are many different ways to describe who a Meister is. Perhaps a good phrase would be "good at what he/she does." Yet, no matter how much someone has mastered something, or "Meistered" something, risk remains. Mark Kogelmann and Meredith Eades first met in Chile at Nevados de Chillan, a ski resort about six hours south of Santiago. Mark, a Meister from episode #4, ran into some trouble at Nevados de Chillan, and he might not be around today if it wasn't for his new friend Meredith.

#92 The kayaking power couple with Nick Troutman and Emily Jackson Dec 02, 2014

Nick Troutman and Emily Jackson are both professional white water kayakers. In 2009, they decided to join forces through the bond of marriage to create what can only be called a kayaking power couple. In 2013, Nick and Emily had a baby who, unless the gene skips a beat, will be a paddling prodigy.

(R) #73 A different kind of battlefield with Tim Medvetz Nov 27, 2014

Tim Medvetz is the founder of The Heroes Project, a non-profit organization that works with veterans, soldiers, marines, and military families and communities on all levels. They have taken disabled veterans to the tops of mountains all over the world, they are currently in the process of training an injured marine who lost his leg in Afghanistan, Charlie Linville, to the top of Mt Everest. Tim also has an amazing story of his own. An ex-Hell’s Angel, Tim was in a serious motorcycle accident where he broke countless bones and nearly had his foot amputated. If that wasn’t enough, he awoke from his accident on September 11th, 2001. A year after his accident, he set out to climb Mount Everest.

(R) #68 Close your eyes with Trevor Thomas Nov 25, 2014

Trevor has hiked some of the most legendary and difficult treks in the US including an unassisted, solo, end-to-end, thru hike of the Appalachian Trail (2,175 miles in 2008). In 2009, he completed the 2,654 mile Pacific Crest Trail. What makes these treks even more impressive is that Trevor is blind. In 2005, Trevor became blind in only a few months’ time, abd after a period of mourning, he set out to regain the skills he needed to function in society (and much, much more).

#91 Couples therapy: climbers edition with Mark and Janelle Smiley Nov 20, 2014

For the past five years, Mark and Janelle Smiley have been working on a demanding project: completing the 50 classic climbs in North America. If they complete it Mark and Janelle will be the first people to have done all of the climbs. The climbs are based off of a legendary book called Fifty Classic Climbs of North America written by Allen Steck and Steve Roper.

#90 Running to the record books with Ann Trason Nov 18, 2014

Ann Trason is a legendary ultrarunner and was one of the best in the world in the 80’s and 90’s. She has broken 20 world records, many of which remain today. She won the Western States 100 14 times, and her time of 18:06:24 at the Leadville Trail 100 is woman's world record. This was written about extensively in Christopher McDougall's Born To Run.

#89 Tending the pumpkin patch with Sasha DiGiulian Nov 13, 2014

Sasha DiGiulian is a professional climber and a full time student at Columbia University in New York City. She is a 3 time US national champion, a female overall world champ, and has completed numerous iconic first female ascents all over the world. In addition to climbing and school, she is an active athlete ambassador for many organizations.

#88 A picture is worth a thousand words with Fredrik Marmsater Nov 11, 2014

Fredrik Marmsater is a professional adventure photographer doing work in both commercial and editorial environments. His photographs have been featured in just about every major outdoors publications, most recently with magazine covers on Alpinist and Backcountry.

#87 Case Study: Ben runs a marathon Nov 07, 2014

In this episode of MTNmeister, Ben Schenck reflects on how the Meisters helped him in the 2014 NYC Marathon. Highlights of episodes featuring Dean Karnazes, Rebecca Rusch, Dave Hahn, and more are included.

#86 The Explorer's Grand Slam with Vanessa O'Brien Nov 05, 2014

Vanessa O’Brien is a mountain climber, explorer, public speaker and former business executive. She has climbed the highest mountain peak on each continent and has also skied the last degree to the South Pole in Antarctica and the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean. Vanessa is the fastest woman to climb the 7 summits (10 months) and the fastest woman to complete the Explorer’s Grand Slam (just under 11 months). O'Brien is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of The Explorers Club.

#85 Row row row your boat across the Atlantic Ocean with Debra Searle Oct 30, 2014

Debra Searle is a British professional adventure, author, BBC Sportscaster, Gender Equality Ambassador, a wife and mom. Most notably in 2002, she rowed across the entire Atalntic Ocean solo after her then husband and rowing partner had to be rescued. Debra is also a motivational speaker and works with companies world wide to help them achieve greater gender balance at senior level.

#84 Half a percent to the moon with Dave Hahn Oct 28, 2014

Dave Hahn is one of the world's most accomplished mountain guides, with an impressive list of summits. These include but are not limited to 275+ summits of Mount Rainier, 20 summits of Mount McKinley, 33 summits of Antarctica's Vinson, and 15 summits of Mount Everest.

#83 We all have a choice with "MarathonManUK" Rob Young Oct 23, 2014

Robert Young, or “MarathonManUK” is in the process of running at least 367 marathons in 365 days. He wakes up no later than 3am every morning to run a marathon before heading to work for the day. Rob is running to raise awareness for charities which support disadvantaged children who have suffered from child abuse and illness – NSPCC, GOSH and Dreams Come True (links at the bottom of this page). This topic is near and dear to Rob’s heart, as he was brutally abused as a child.

#82 Snow Report 2014/15 - Find the powder with Joel Gratz Oct 21, 2014

Joel Gratz is the co-founder opensnow.com, a website hosting weather forecasts and information with an added flair. They include personable forecasts, LiveSnow reports direct from the hill, custom snow alerts, and many other services to help you find the powder.

#81 Doctor, doctor, give me the news with Eric Meyer Oct 16, 2014

Dr. Eric Meyer is an anesthesiologist and a high altitude mountaineer based out of Steamboat Springs, CO. During the 2008 K2 tragedy where 11 climbers died near the summit, Meyer chose not to proceed into that dangerous territory. With Sherpa Chhiring Dorje, Meyer has also explored who summited Everest first. Officially, Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first, but there is evidence to suggest that Mallory may have done it almost 30 years earlier.

#80 It's a risky business with Adrian Ballinger Oct 14, 2014

Adrian Ballinger is the founder of Alpenglow Expeditions, a guiding service dedicated to getting clients to the summit…fast. While a typical Everest expedition takes 2.5 months, Alpenglow averages around one month. Alpenglow has guided over 100 clients to the summit of Everest and other mountains around the world. Adrian has both AMGA/IFMGA certifications, has summited Everest six times, and skied two 8,000 meter peaks.

#79 The only way to look is forward with Ronnie Dickson Oct 09, 2014

Ronnie Dickson is a prosthetist by day and a professional boulderer by night. In 2005 at the age of 17, Ronnie lost his leg above the knee because of a congenital disorder called Trevor’s disease. After his amputation, he found the sport of climbing and never looked back. Since then Ronnie has been at the forefront of the disabled climbing movement in competitions around the world, and he is aspiring to be the first above the knee amputee to boulder the V10 difficulty grade.

#78 What can adventure do for you? with Steve Casimiro Oct 07, 2014

Steve Casimiro spent 11 years at Powder Magazine, most of those as editor; launched Bike Magazine as founding editor; and contributed to National Geographic Adventure for 11 years, most of those as West Coast Editor. He is the founder of the ever so popular Adventure Journal where he writes essays, posts other interesting pieces of writing, talks about gear, posts videos, and just about everything else you’ll need, except for a podcast.

(R) #48 1500 miles, 100 days, 1 walrus with Erik Boomer Oct 02, 2014

What does it take to be a MTNmeister? Erik is a professional photographer and whitewater kayaker that has been featured in numerous adventure films. In 2011, he and his adventure partner Jon Turk became the first to ever circumnavigate Canada’s Ellesmere Island – a 1500 mile journey that took 104 days. Erik was selected as one of the 2012 National Geographic Adventurers of the year.

(R) #60 Plugged with Rachael Burks Sep 30, 2014

Rachael is a professional big mountain skier based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. She has been featured in films for Teton Gravity Research and has spent time in the competition circuit, winning the Red Bull Cold Rush in 2012. In 2013, she started FemaleWolfPack, a website serves as a platform for inspiration and a way for female athletes to get eyes on their videos. Rachel’s story has been featured in ESPN, Powder Magazine, and other publications.

#77 The ultrarunning metaphor with Darcy Piceu Sep 25, 2014

Darcy Piceu is one of the best female ultrarunners in the world. She has placed first three times in a row at the Hardrock 100: a 100 mile race through the Colorado San Juan mountains. It covers the vertical climb of more than the elevation of Mount Everest - Over 33k feet. In addition to competing, Darcy coaches other runners and is a mother.

#76 It's a good life with Melissa Stockwell Sep 23, 2014

Melissa Stockwell is an American paratriathlete and former Paralympic swimmer and U.S. Army officer. A first lieutenant, she was the first female soldier to lose a limb in the Iraq War. She lost her left leg when a roadside bomb exploded when she was leading a convoy in Baghdad. For her service in Iraq she was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. She works as a prosthetist and is the co-founder of Dare2Tri, a Chicago-based paratriathlon club.

#75 Honey, olive oil, and beer: fuel up with Bernd Heinrich Sep 18, 2014

Burnd Heinrich is a professor, author, and long-distance runner. Burnd has made major contributions to the study of insect physiology and behavior, and has written 18 books, the majority of which examine the physiological and behavioral adaptations of animals to their physical environment. Some of his other writings pertain more to Burnd’s running career, including Why We Run, which was formally known as Racing the Antelope. Burnd has set numerous records in American ultra-running including a 24 hour run where he covered 156 miles and a 100 mile run that he covered in 12 hours and 27 minutes.

#74 Exploring mountain and mind with Melissa Arnot Sep 16, 2014

Melissa has made her life about exploring the beautiful mountains of the world. Melissa has summited Mt. Rainer over 100 times and she has summited Mt. Everest not once, not twice, not three or four times but 5 times – the most out of any non-sherpa female in this universe. She is passionate about climbing and pushing her own limits, but her ultimate joy comes from taking that journey with others, helping them push their limits and get to their own summit.

#73 A different kind of battlefield with Tim Medvetz Sep 11, 2014

Tim Medvetz is the founder of The Heroes Project, a non-profit organization that works with veterans, soldiers, marines, and military families and communities on all levels. They have taken disabled veterans to the tops of mountains all over the world, they are currently in the process of training an injured marine who lost his leg in Afghanistan, Charlie Linville, to the top of Mt Everest. Tim also has an amazing story of his own. An ex-Hell's Angel, Tim was in a serious motorcycle accident where he broke countless bones and nearly had his foot amputated. If that wasn't enough, he awoke from his accident on September 11th, 2001. A year after his accident, he set out to climb Mount Everest.

#72 Running 1000 KM in the world's harshest conditions with Jennifer Steinman Sep 09, 2014

Jennifer Steinman is a Film Director, Producer and Editor with over 18 years of experience in television and filmmaking. Her work has aired nationally on ABC, PBS, Discovery, Nat Geo, and a bunch of different festivals like SXSW and Sundance. Jennifer’s most recent documentary film project, DESERT RUNNERS was selected "Best of the Fest" at the 2013 Edinburgh Film Festival. It won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at both the Vancouver International and The Hamptons International Film Festivals, and was named by the Huffington Post as one of "The Top 10 Documentaries of 2013."

#71 When too much tequila changes your life with ultramarathonman Dean Karnazes Sep 04, 2014

Ultramarathonman Dean Karnazes has accomplished some of the most daunting feats in long-distance running. These include but are definitely not limited to: 50 marathons in 50 different states over 50 days, 350 continuous miles without sleeping for three nights. Ultramarathons in Death Valley at temperatures up to 130 degrees and a marathon in the South pole in negative 40 degrees. Dean was named as one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. He’s been featured on 60 minutes, Howard Stern, ESPN, and, quite possibly his most prized media appearance, MTNmeister podcast.

#70 The slightest margin with Jamie Greubel and Steve Langton Sep 02, 2014

Jamie Greubel and Steve Langton are both American bobsledders who earned bronze medals in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Jamie competed in two-women bobsled and Steve in two-man and four-man. After successful track careers in college, both Jamie and Steve transitioned to bobsled full time.

#69 No shoes, no problem with Barefoot Ted Aug 28, 2014

Ted McDonald, most often referred to as Barefoot Ted, received this nickname when he began running barefoot and eventually achieved a Barefoot marathon. Barefoot Ted has also run a bunch of ultra-marathons, including the Leadville 100 which is one of the most miserable things that any human can decide to do to him or herself. Ted is the founder of Luna sandals, which double as both minimalist running sandals and also everyday footwear.

#68 Close your eyes with Trevor Thomas Aug 26, 2014

Trevor has hiked some of the most legendary and difficult treks in the US including an unassisted, solo, end-to-end, thru hike of the Appalachian Trail (2,175 miles in 2008). In 2009, he completed the 2,654 mile Pacific Crest Trail. Trevor is blind. In 2005, Trevor became blind in only a few months' time. After a period of mourning, he set out to regain the skills he needed to function in society, and much, much more.

#67 Decision making with intuition with Majka Burhardt Aug 21, 2014

Majka Burhardt has a passion for creating unusual connections. As an author, professional climber, filmmaker, and entrepreneur, Majka has spent two decades exploring the globe—usually by hand and foot—and her stories of challenge, humanity, and the fine line between extreme and acceptable risk continue to inspire audiences around the world. As a keynote speaker and writer Majka champions “Additive Adventure” — when adventure goes beyond exploration to cultural and environmental connections that create a larger conversation of singular and collective human meaning. Her work has been featured in The Economist, Outside Magazine, The Weather Channel, NPR and she’s had articles in Men’s Health, Skiing Magazine, Backpacker, and numerous other publications.

#66 Miss Independent with Megan McJames Aug 19, 2014

Megan McJames grew up in Park City, UT doing many outdoor sports: soccer, tennis, mountain biking, hiking, but most notably, ski racing. Megan has had over 50 world cup starts and won numerous NorAm championships, After many years on the US Ski Team, Megan failed to meet the criteria to make the team again. After putting together a team of her own, paying her own expenses, and finding her own training, Megan made the US Olympic team and finished in the top 30 at Sochi. Megan has secured world cup spots for the future, and will continue as an independent ski racer.

#65 Discovering the American dream with Brendan Leonard Aug 14, 2014

Brendan Leonard is the creator of Semi-Rad.com and a contributing editor at Climbing Magazine, The Adventure Journal, and other outdoors publications. In August of 2011, after a break-up and economic downturn, Brendan hit the road in the search for answers. He lived out of a van and worked out of coffee shops all around the country three years and now lives in Denver, CO. His book, The New American Road-trip MixTape, is about this journey.

#64 Sleeping on the summits with Jon Kedrowski Aug 12, 2014

Dr. Jon Kedrowski is an author, speaker, ski-mountaineer and geographer. In 2011, Jon became the first person to camp and spend the night on the top Colorado’s 55 Official 14ers: peaks over 14,000′. He achieved the feat from June 23 to September 28 2011, a stretch of only 95 days from start to finish. In May 2012, Kedrowski successfully climbed Mount Everest while witnessing and surviving the one of the worst tragedies on Everest, where seven deaths occurred that night. More recently Jon just completed a project skied the 20 highest cascade volcanoes and slept on the ones where weather permitted.

(R) #46 It's cool to be cold with Eric Larsen Aug 07, 2014

What does it take to be a MTNmeister? Eric Larsen is a polar explorer, expedition guide, dog musher, and educator. The list of Eric’s accomplishments in exploration is extensive. In 2006, he and his partner Lonnie Dupre completed the first ever summer expedition to the North Pole where they paddled modified canoes through 550 miles of the ocean and ice. In 2009, he completed a 750-mile ski traverse to the south pole. Eric was the first person in history to reach the world’s three poles (the third being Everest) within a 365-day period.

(R) #39 Quitting lasts forever with Rebecca Rusch Aug 05, 2014

What does it take to be a MTNmeister? Rebecca’s national and world titles in whitewater rafting, adventure racing, orienteering, and cross-country skiing certainly impress, but they only set the stage. It’s the two-wheeled victories that really lengthen her resume. National wins across multiple off-road formats top the list, as well as record-setting victories at storied ultra-endurance races like the Leadville Trail 100, Dirty Kanza 200, and 24 Hour Mountain Bike World Championships. Rebecca has also created her own event, Rebecca’s Private Idaho, in her hometown of Ketchum, where she’s a firefighter and EMT with the Ketchum Fire Department.

(R) #25 Coming home alive with Chris Klinke Jul 31, 2014

What does it take to be a MTNmeister? Join us as Chris shares his perspective on the 2008 K2 disaster, along with his expertise in high altitude mountaineering. Chris has been a part of or a leader of countless Himalayan expeditions over the past decade. Chris is also an accomplished photographer with credits in Men’s Journal, Outside, GQ, Rock and Ice, Alpinist, and several newspapers around the world.

Check out Chris's Meister Profile - http://www.mtnmeister.com/chris-klinke/

Ben is doing WHAT?! and (R) #32 100 miles, 24 hours, 0 toenails with Garett Graubins Jul 29, 2014

Ben has been inspired to run the NYC Marathon for Challenged Athletes Foundation. Find out more here.

Garett is a contributing editor of Trail Runner Magazine and an avid ultra marathoner who lives in Lafayette, CO. He has completed 13 trail races of 100-miles in length, including the Leadville Trail 100 and HardRock 100, which takes place mostly at altitudes above 11,000 feet in Colorado’s rugged San Juan Mountains. He is the Director of Marketing for Boa Technology, the maker of the Boa Closure System which can be found on athletic footwear and equipment in golf, cycling, snowboarding and other categories.

(R) #10 Livin' the slack life with Jon Fait Jul 24, 2014

What does it take to be a MTNmeister? Join us as Jon shares what it’s like to walk on a one inch wide line hundreds of feet off the ground. Jon has been slacklining for 7 1/2 years. He helped establish several new highlines in the Southern California area over the last four years. Jon was selected to walk a highline on the Mandalay bay hotel during Andy Lewis’s urban highline world record event last year. He has been traveling and working with Gibbon Slacklines helping to run their competition circuits, and he is always living for the next adventure. Check out Jon's Meister profile - http://www.mtnmeister.com/jon-fait/

(R) #9 Not just surviving, surthriving with Muffy Davis Jul 22, 2014

What does it take to be a MTNmeister? Join us as Muffy shares her inspiring journey from a tragic ski accident to three gold medals. She is a seven-time Paralympic medalist in both alpine skiing and handcycling. She has four overall World Cup Titles, four World Championships and over 30 World Cup titles in both sports. She is an inductee in the US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and the US Disabled Ski Hall of Fame.

#63 A marathon a day keeps the doctor away with Anton Krupicka Jul 21, 2014

Anton is an American ultra-runner. He has won the Leadville 100 twice, the Rocky Raccoon 100 Miler, the Miwok 100K, and many other races. Anton is known for his long hair and beard and his minimalist approach, where he often runs with no shirt, short shorts, and with very lightweight running shoes. He ran his first marathon when he was twelve years old, and during college and his early 20s, he often ran upwards of 200 miles a week.

#62 First to jump with Sarah Hendrickson Jul 18, 2014

Sarah is an American ski jumper, 2013 World Champion, and a member of the Visa Team. Sarah was born in Salt Lake City, UT and at her current age of 19, she has 13 World Cup wins in total. On January 22, 2014, she was named one of three women to make the U.S. Olympic ski jumping team that would compete at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Sarah Hendrickson was the first woman ever to jump in the women's ski jumping event in the Olympics.

Check out Sarah's meister profile: mtnmeister.com/sarah-hendrickson

#61 Inside the Dirtbag Diaries with Fitz Cahall Jul 17, 2014

Fitz has just about the coolest job anyone could ever want. He is a podcast host and the creator of The Dirtbag Diaries, one of the most popular outdoor podcasts. Fitz has worked in digital media and film since he made the leap from print in 2006. He owns Duct Tape Then Beer productions with his partner and wife Becca Cahall and has been an avid climber for 17 years.

Check out Fitz's meister profile: mtnmeister.com/fitz-cahall

#60 Plugged with Rachael Burks Jul 16, 2014

Rachael is a professional big mountain skier based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. She has been featured in films for Teton Gravity Research and has spent time in the competition circuit, winning the Red Bull Cold Rush in 2012. In 2013, she started FemaleWolfPack, a website serves as a platform for inspiration and a way for female athletes to get eyes on their videos.

Check out Rachael's meister profile: mtnmeister.com/rachael-burks

#59 Hitchhiking in Iceland with Cam Doane Jul 15, 2014

Cam is happy when he’s moving. He has traveled to Kenya where he successfully completed a first ascent, Iceland to teach wilderness medicine, and many other places all around the world. For Cam, life is about grasping opportunities which are presented, and he’ll be damned if anything slows him down.

Check out Cam's meister profile: mtnmeister.com/cam-doane

#58 The pregnant paddler with Emily Jackson Jul 14, 2014

Emily is a professional kayaker, a wife, a mother and a kayaking nomad. She grew up in an RV traveling to kayaking events to watch her world champion father, Eric Jackson compete. At 12 years old, she got tired of sitting on the sidelines and started competing as a junior on the pro circuit. She is now a two time World Champion, a Silver Medalist in the 2011 World Championships, 8x Teva Mountain Game Winner, and a slalom paddler. Another notable victory was at the Payette river games, where Emily competed at nine months pregnant. Check out Emily's Meister profile - http://www.mtnmeister.com/emily-jackson/

#57 The American Alpine Club with Phil Powers Jul 11, 2014

Phil joined the American Alpine Club as executive director in May of 2005. Phil has led dozens of expeditions to South America, Alaska and Pakistan's Karakoram Range, including ascents of K2 and Gasherbrum II without supplemental oxygen. He continues to be an active climber and skier. He lives with his wife and children in Denver, Colorado.

#56 What is luck? with Emily Harrington Jul 10, 2014

Emily Harrington is professional rock climber, ice climber, mix climber, and basically all other types of climber. She became a member of the USA Junior Climbing Team in 1998 and transitioned to the USA Climbing team from 2004 - 2010. She’s a five-time National Champion, a two-time North American Champion, and has placed podium in World Cups. Recently, she has taken her talents to outdoor climbing. She summited Everest in 2012 and has rock, ice, and mix climbed all over the world.

#55 50-plus Rainier summits with Lindsay Mann Jul 09, 2014

Lindsay is a senior guide for Rainier Mountaineering Inc. (RMI) and Pacific Alpine guides. She guides mountaineering on Mt. Rainier, McKinley, and is an Avalanche instructor. Lindsay has a geology degree from Dartmouth College and in 2007 was a part of the NCAA Championship Ski Team. When she is not guiding Lindsay lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where she coaches alpine ski racing and enjoys backcountry skiing.

#54 The first ascent of Saser Kangri II with Mark Richey Jul 08, 2014

Mark is the former president of the American Alpine Club, and in 2011, he, along with Freddie Wilkinson and Steve Swenson (at that time current pres of AAC) made the first ascent of Saser Kangri II, the second-highest unclimbed mountain in the world at 24,665 ft. An expert at all forms of climbing, he has made over 40 expeditions to the greater mountain ranges throughout the world with a focus towards technical alpine style ascents, exploratory climbing, and adventurous travel. Check out Mark's Meister Profile - http://www.mtnmeister.com/mark-richey/

#53 The science behind acclimatization with Dr. Roanne Houck Jul 07, 2014

Dr. Roanne Houck is a licensed naturopathic physician specializing in optimal health and preventative medicine. In addition to owning her own practice, Roanne is the founder and creator of Acli-Mate, an all-natural sport beverage which helps promote optimal physical performance at elevation. Roanne currently lives in Gunnison where she enjoys being active in the outdoors with her husband and two children, ages 6 and 9.

#52 Finding a Paassion with Jackie Paaso Jul 04, 2014

Jackie grew up skiing on the East coast where she was a part of the freestyle ski team at Sunday River. After many years as a competitive mogul skier, with one title as Jr. World Combined Champion she took a break from competitive skiing. A friend suggested that Jackie try big mountain skiing, and the rest is history. Jackie has become one of the best big mountain freeskiers in the world, and she was named one of the top 50 female athletes in action sports by XGames.

#51 Pioneering pain with Mike Pigg Jul 03, 2014

What does it take to be a MTNmeister? Mike Pigg was a pioneer triathlete that dominated the sport through the much of the 80’s and 90’s. Known specifically for the Olympic distance and off-road triathlons, Mike has competed in over 150 races and won almost half of them. Mike still competes but now has another job and a family that takes up more of his time. Check out Mike's Meister profile - http://www.mtnmeister.com/mike-pigg/

#50 A taste of our own medicine with Russell & Ben Jul 02, 2014

Russell and Ben relive some of the best MTNmeister moments by asking each other some of the tough questions that they’ve asked the MTNmeisters. Russell and Ben share adventures that they’ve had in their lives along with a reflection on the podcast journey thus far.

#49 Crunching numbers with Kelly Davis Jul 01, 2014

Kelly has been Director of Research at SnowSports Industries America since 2007. With 20 years of experience in research and intelligence gathering, her career has taken her from evaluating Arizona universities’ learning and alternative education programs, to the National Institute of Standards and Technology where she built economic models used by the manufacturing industry. Kelly is most likely to be outside when she isn’t having fun crunching numbers. She is an avid trail runner, surfer, cyclist, and skier. Check out Kelly's Meister profile - http://www.mtnmeister.com/kelly-davis/

#48 1500 miles, 100 days, 1 walrus with Erik Boomer Jun 30, 2014

Erik is a professional photographer and whitewater kayaker that has been featured in numerous adventure films. In 2011, he and his adventure partner Jon Turk became the first to ever circumnavigate Canada’s Ellesmere Island – a 1500 mile journey that took 104 days. Erik was selected as one of the 2012 National Geographic Adventurers of the year.

Check out Erik's Meister Profile: http://www.mtnmeister.com/erik-boomer/

#47 Photographers who dare with Chris Noble Jun 27, 2014

Chris Noble is a writer and one of the world’s leading adventure photographers. His works have appeared in hundreds of publications worldwide, including Life, National Geographic, Newsweek, Orion, Outside, Rolling Stone, and Sports Illustrated. Check out Chris's Meister Profile - http://www.mtnmeister.com/chris-noble/

#46 It's cool to be cold with Eric Larsen Jun 26, 2014

Eric Larsen is a polar explorer, expedition guide, dog musher, and educator. The list of Eric’s accomplishments in exploration is extensive including both winter and summer expeditions to the North Pole. Check out Eric's Meister Profile - http://www.mtnmeister.com/eric-larsen

#45 Sticking your neck out with Nikki Stone Jun 25, 2014

At the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, Nikki Stone became America’s first-ever Olympic Champion in the sport of inverted aerial skiing. What made this accomplishment even more impressive is that less than two years earlier, a chronic back injury prevented her from standing, let along walking or skiing. Check out Nikki's Meister Profile - http://www.mtnmeister.com/nikki-stone/

#44 No tire, no problem with Jay Henry Jun 24, 2014

Jay is a professional cross country mountain bike racer. Over the course of his career, he has accumulated 14 NORBA (National Off Road Bicycle Association) National podiums.

#43 Emmys in the outdoors with Lisa Ballard Jun 23, 2014

Lisa is a writer, photographer, TV producer and host, filmmaker, product consultant, and professional skier. A former member of the U.S. Ski Team, she was just named U.S. Alpine Masters Skier of the Year for the 5th time. Her "Your Turn" women's ski events is a national program which has helped over 6,000 women ski better over the last 20 years.

Check out Lisa's meister profile: http://www.mtnmeister.com/lisa-ballard/

#42 Celebrating live music, film and snow with Tate Chamberlin Jun 20, 2014

Tate is pushing the envelope in social, educational, and musical events by continually reintegrating an arsenal of new concepts and human connections. We will be highlighting one of those events called Avalaunch, an event which combines the festival atmosphere with avalanche awareness.

Check out Tate's meister profile: http://www.mtnmeister.com/tate-chamberlin

#41 Bobsled champ creates classroom champs with Steve Mesler Jun 19, 2014

Steve is a 3-time Olympian, World Champion, World Cup Overall Champions, and Olympic Gold Medalist in 4-man Bobsled. He was named one of Sports Illustrated’s renowned “Athletes Who Care” and was a 2011 Nominee for the International Champion for Peace Award.

Check out Steve's meister profile: http://www.mtnmeister.com/steve-mesler

#40 Climbing corporate ladders and mountains with Skip Yowell Jun 18, 2014

Skip is one of the founders of JanSport, the largest backpack maker in the world. He is the author of “The Hippie Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder and Other Mountains”, and travels around the country to share his passion with youth.

Check out Skip's meister profile: http://www.mtnmeister.com/skip-yowell

#39 Quitting lasts forever with Rebecca Rusch Jun 17, 2014

Rebecca’s national wins across multiple off-road formats top the list, as well as record-setting victories at storied ultra-endurance races like the Leadville Trail 100, Dirty Kanza 200, and 24 Hour Mountain Bike World Championships.

Check out Rebecca's meister profile: http://www.mtnmeister.com/rebecca-rusch

#38 Ski Resort from scratch with Derek Lennon Jun 16, 2014

Derek lives, works, and vacations in mountains around the world. In the northern hemispheres summer, Derek is the lead guide at South America’s premier backcountry snow cat operation, Ski Arpa.

Check out Derek's meister profile: http://www.mtnmeister.com/derek-lennon

#37 Why not win with Mike Kloser Jun 13, 2014

Mike was the captain of Team Nike Adventure Racing where his results include but are definitely not limited to four World Championships, Three Eco-Challenge titles, and five Primal Quest Championships.

Check out Mike's meister profile: www.mtnmeister.com/mike-kloser

#36 Surviving the night...and day with Jay Prentiss Jun 12, 2014

Jay spends as much time as possible in the mountains skiing, climbing, biking, hiking, mountaineering and kayaking. This has gotten him into some sticky life or death situations. Jay is also a sponsored ski tester, photographer, and writer.

Check out Jay's meister profile: www.mtnmeister.com/jay-prentiss

#35 Not your average slide with Jayson Terdiman Jun 11, 2014

Jayson is a professional luger and member of the United States Luge Team. Among numerous accomplishments including world cup silver and bronze medals, Jayson placed 6th in the team relay and 11th in doubles in the Sochi Olympics this past February.

Check out Jayson's meister profile: www.mtnmeister.com/jayson-terdiman

#34 Skiing for the story with Brody Leven Jun 10, 2014

Brody Leven is a professional skier, photographer, author, and all around outdoorsman. He was recently named Solomon’s first four-season athlete, and is committed to completing his ascents and descents in a human-powered approach.

Check out Brody's meister profile: www.mtnmeister.com/brody-leven

#33 There's something about Squaw with Miles Clark Jun 09, 2014

After graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in Molecular Cell Biology and taking the MCATs, Miles Clark decided to not pursue medical school. He moved to Tahoe to start “ski bumming” and has yet to look back. Miles is the founder of snowbrains.com.

Check out Miles's meister profile: www.mtnmeister.com/miles-clark

#32 100 miles, 24 hours, 0 toenails with Garett Graubins Jun 06, 2014

Garett is a contributing editor of Trail Runner Magazine and an avid ultra marathoner who lives in Lafayette, CO.

Check out Garett's meister profile: www.mtnmeister.com/garett-graubins

#31 There’s more to snowboarding than big air with Graham Banks Jun 05, 2014

Graham Banks is a professional snowboarder specializing in both the backcountry and terrain park.

Check out Graham's meister profile: www.mtnmeister.com/graham-banks

#30 Is 682 ft jumping or flying? with Nick Fairall Jun 04, 2014

Nick Fairall is a professional ski jumper and a member of the 2014 United States Olympic team that went to Sochi.

Check out Nick's meister profile: www.mtnmeister.com/nick-fairall

#29 How it’s made with Nick Knecht Jun 03, 2014

Nick manufactures skis for Moment, one of the fastest growing craft ski companies in the industry.

Check out Nick's meister profile: www.mtnmeister.com/nick-knecht

#28 Fisherman, farmer, snowboarder? with Ian Wood Jun 02, 2014

Ian is a professional backcountry snowboarder, Alaskan Fisherman, and medical marijuana farmer from Maltby, a small town at the foot hills of The Cascades in Washington state.

Check out Ian's meister profile: www.mtnmeister.com/ian-wood

#27 On the snow to on the rocks with Sylvan Ellefson May 30, 2014

Sylvan Ellefson joins Russell and Ben to talk about the highest stages of Nordic ski racing. After narrowly missing the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Sylvan is now switching gears and pursuing an entrepreneurial opportunity in helping start up a craft distillery in Vail, Colorado called the 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co.

#26 Exploring the pain cave with Cait Snow May 29, 2014

Did you ever wonder what it takes to run an Ironman? Cait is a professional triathlete who has run 15 Ironmans, with six of them being world championships.

#25 Coming home alive with Chris Klinke May 28, 2014

Join us as Chris shares his perspective on the 2008 K2 disaster, along with his expertise in high altitude mountaineering.

#24 Skiing off of 200-foot cliffs… comfortably with Julian Carr May 27, 2014

Julian Carr is a professional backcountry skier and founder of Discrete headwear. Join us as Julian talks about the feeling of skiing off of a 200 foot cliff and what makes him a successful entrepreneur in the outdoors industry.

#23 Snowboarding prodigy to cancer survivor with Todd Franzen May 26, 2014

A national champion in slalom and halfpipe for his age group, Todd Franzen was a snowboarding prodigy at 15 years old. After missing the Olympics in 1998 and dropped sponsorships, Todd lost interest in competetive snowboarding. When diagnosed with cancer later in life, Todd rediscovered snowboarding for his escape.

#22 82 mph on a sit ski with Chris Devlin-Young May 23, 2014

Chris Devlin-Young is a 4-time Paralympic medalist and 10-time US National Champion in para-alpine skiing. Join us as Chris shares the difficult, but rewarding comeback from a tragic plane crash to dominating his sport.

#21 Free the heel, fix the problem with Andy Parisod May 22, 2014

Andy Parisod is a professional telemark skier and member of the WORST Crew, a telemark skiing club. Learn about the sport of telemark skiing and how Andy supports himself to sustain this lifestyle.

#20 Crushing lines and limbs with KC Deane May 21, 2014

KC Deane is a professional skier featured in many movies including Poor Boyz productions. Learn about the rewarding and painful (literally) parts of being a professional athlete.

#19 Educating thousands with a tent and a Subaru with Roland Mott May 20, 2014

Roland is a traveling trainer with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Join us as Roland talks about what it takes to live out of a tent and a Subaru for over 200 days a year.

#18 Skiing the highest mountain in North America with Matt Paul May 19, 2014

Matt Paul is a passionate backcountry skier and ski guide. Matt summitted and descended Denali, the highest mountain in North America. Listen to his entertaining journey of scares and surprises.

#17 Introducing inner city kids to the mountains with Jeff Weidman May 16, 2014

Jeff Weidman is a board member of Big City Mountaineers, an organization which gives inner city youth the opportunity to explore the mountains. Join us as Jeff shares his inspiring journey in the outdoor industry.

#16 An Olympic pursuit halted by injury with Alexi Micinski May 15, 2014

Alexi Micinski is a professional slopestyle skier. In her pursuit of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, a knee injury ended her season and crushed her Olympic mission. Learn about physical and psychological toll that injury can cause in an athlete's career.

#15 Guiding passionate skiers to the perfect powder with Matt Appleford May 14, 2014

Matt Appleford owns The Adventure Project, a company which takes passionate skiers to the most remote locations in the world. Find out where you can find some of the best snow in the world.

#14 Putting USA back on the bouldering map with Alex Johnson May 13, 2014

Alex Johnson is a professional rock climber specializing in bouldering. Learn about her sport and what it takes to succeed on the largest stages of climbing.

#13 The dangers of avalanches and a lost friend with Josh Wolf May 12, 2014

Josh Wolf is a passionate backcountry snowboarder. In April of 2013, Josh and friend Mark McCarron were caught in an avalanche that tore through Vail Pass, CO. Tragically, Mark did not make it out alive. Join us as Josh shares the experience.

#12 Big mountains, tiny feet with Hailey Schiff May 09, 2014

Hailey is a professional big mountain freestyle skier from Salt Lake City, UT. Learn what it takes to balance the pursuit of a college degree with skiing professionally and keeping sponsors satisfied.

#11 Finding the North Pole…fast with John Huston May 08, 2014

In 2009, John and his expedition partner became the first and only Americans to reach the North Pole unsupported - a self-sufficient and self-powered journey of 55 days and over 475 miles. John works as a motivational speaker, safety and logistics consultant, and guide.

#10 Livin' the slack life with Jon Fait May 07, 2014

Join us as Jon shares what it's like to walk on a one inch wide line hundreds of feet off the ground. Always living for the next adventure, Jon travels and works with Gibbon Slacklines to run their competition circuits.

#9 Not just surviving, surthriving with Muffy Davis May 06, 2014

Join us as Muffy shares her inspiring journey from a tragic ski accident to seven Paralympic medals in both alpine skiing and handcycling. Muffy is an inductee in the US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and the US Disabled Ski Hall of Fame.

#8 Explaining avalanches with analogies with Bruce Tremper May 05, 2014

Bruce has been the Director of the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center since 1986. His previous work includes avalanche control and forecasting at various ski areas in Alaska. Bruce also holds a Master's Degree in Geology, where he studied avalanches. Listen as Bruce explains how to avoid avalanches and keep your friends safe!

#7 Climbing Everest before the crowds with Rick Wilcox May 02, 2014

Rick's career has been focused on serious climbing and guiding in the highest mountains. Most noteworthy is Rick's leadership of the successful New England Everest Expedition in the spring of 1991.

#6 Over 100 consecutive months of splitboarding the Cascades with Kyle Miller May 01, 2014

Kyle is a pioneering splitboarder who has quietly ticked off an impressive list of ups and downs in his home Cascadian range. Kyle was the first to successfully splitboard the top 25 Northwest volcanoes.

#5 How to escape a military coup with Jessica Pociask Apr 30, 2014

Adventure traveler and guide Jessica Pociask describes what it's like to lead a group of American travelers through an unexpected military coup in the capital of Mali.

#4 Producing incredible films in incredible places with Mark Kogelmann Apr 29, 2014

Backcountry skiing film producer Mark Kogelmann shares his experiences skiing and filming in northern India, where the snow monkeys roam and the powder is deep.

#3 Free falling 100 feet and living to climb again with Craig DeMartino Apr 28, 2014

Disabled rock climber Craig DeMartino tells the chilling story of his climbing accident and his improbable return to the sport.

#2 Pushing the limits of human endurance with Doug Stoup Apr 28, 2014

World record polar explorer Doug Stoup joins Russell and Ben to talk about his ventures from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole. Find out what it takes to drag a 230 pound sled for hundreds of miles in sub-zero temperatures.

#1 Welcome to MTNmeister Apr 28, 2014

Your hosts, Russell and Ben, welcome you to The MTNmeister podcast.

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