My Hunting Philosophy? Be Hard to Kill
Uncharted Supply Co. founder & CEO Christian Schauf dives deep into his survival-centered hunting philosophy.
Whether it’s CrossFit, Jiu Jitsu, triathlons, rucking, or a million other derivatives, fitness has become more than a part of life, it’s become an identity. And the outdoor space isn’t excluded; membership-based training plans and programs are everywhere, promising the key to closing the distance on that trophy of a lifetime.
While there’s benefits to all, I personally find rigid training plans difficult to adhere to with a busy and varied life like my own. And while all of these plans provide value, I think they all miss the mark on the most important aspects of true durability and endurance in wild places.
Over the years, I’ve hunted, hiked, and competed with a wide variety of guides, friends, and strangers. I’ve had a front row seat to what differentiates the successful and unsuccessful, those enjoying their time and those struggling. Here are some golden rules I think are easy to follow and key to being the person you want to be in the mountains, or as we like to say at Uncharted Supply Co. — "Be hard to kill".
Diversity of Environment
Most of us, myself included, have gym memberships. We probably show up at the same time each day, take our pre-workout, grab a fresh towel, and head over to some clean equipment in a temperature-controlled environment with our favorite podcast or playlist in our ears. When we’re done, we go to the steam room, spray a little eucalyptus in the air, and finish with a nice shower.
It’s nice, but it’s not helpful.
The wild, and the animals that live there, are hardly ever predictable. Go time will likely come at a less-than-ideal moment. Chances are the weather sucks, or maybe you just ate 1,200 calories of Mountain House Chicken Teriyaki and were ready for a mid-day nap when an unexpected bugle snapped you into game time.
So why not train to perform during the unexpected? Raining? Good. Go run and have more experience with footing and the shoes or boots you’d wear. Hungover? Get out there and push yourself to work through brain fog and a headache. Throw sandbags around instead of solid weights to better simulate that elk hind quarter you hope to carry back to your truck in the fall. Do it freezing. Do it when it’s blazing hot. Confuse your body so the unexpected becomes expected. And get familiar with your gear, so you’re ready to perform no matter the conditions.
Diversity in Training
