Creatine has gained a load of attention in the last couple of years for it’s reported ability to enhance athletic performance, increase muscle size, and improve brain function.

With accolades like that, it’s no wonder that people are starting to ask “is there a use and benefit for taking creatine in the backcountry to enhance performance while in the mountains?”

We’re here to answer that question today by evaluating:

• What is creatine exactly?

• Should we care- why or why not?

• What’s the deal- does it actually work?

• Is it dehydrating- a common question that comes up in the conversation?

• Should I avoid or take it into the mountains?

• Should I avoid or take it in preparation and training for the mountains?

Let’s dive in…

My guest this week is Dustin Diefendurfer. Dustin runs MTNTOUGH- a program and app that has become synonymous with training the dedicated. This includes folks in the military, backcountry hunters, thru-hikers, wildland firefighters, ultra-runners, and just about everything in between.

Having had the chance to get to know Dustin and the entire crew over at MTNTOUGH through work we’ve done together in the last year has been nothing short of a great experience and learn from the exception attitudes, work ethic, and thinking they operate from everyday. I wanted you all to get to experience that.

So, we cover the origins of MTNTOUGH and it’s grown over the years. What’s been good- and difficult- about that. How the most impactful things rarely start out as trying to create any kind impact at all. We talk about making decisions and when to take leaps and at what point are decisions just plain stupidity….and so much more.

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Check out more from MTNTOUGH here.

Resources on nutrition? Check out Valley to Peak here.

Science is ever-evolving.

The science of nutrition is not immune to this.

The worst thing someone who studies nutrition can do is plant their feet so firmly on an idea that they're unwilling to hear how it might've changed over the years. I'm not immune to that.

Mark and I cover three things that we've both changed our minds on over the last five years when it comes to the topic of nutrition.

We delivered on the recipes for the backcountry bars. You can find them linked here!

More from Exo Mtn Gear.

More from Valley to Peak.

This week I’m joined by Brian Barney.

You'll hear one theme come up time and again in this podcast: operating optimally on nothing more than the bare minimums. Minimum time, minimum intel, minimum resources, yet still making it work. I couldn’t think of a better person to invite on the podcast and learn from…plus he’s one of the genuinely best dudes on the planet.

Topics we look at:

• Hearing how he’s approached his nutrition in the field- especially when water sources are scarce in the earlier parts of the season.
• How to find water on maps.
• And, how to fit in time for training amidst working a full-time job, hosting his own podcast, raising a family, and being a husband.

You heard us reference a course he puts on, videos he’s done, and other resources he’s had his hand in, in the past. We’re going to link those in the show notes so if you want ot check those out, you can below:

• Brian's social media channel
• Brian's podcast
• Hunting course
• Brian's high country films

We appreciate you joining us this week- and every week! If you have any questions you want us to sort through in our Q&A segments, questions, or topics- let us know. You can email us at info@v2pnutrition.com.

Words like processed foods, inflammation, and seed oils are thrown around daily in articles and social media. But, what do they really mean? Are they as big of a concern as is suggested in the 30-second reels we see each day? We cover more topics this week as we look at:

• processed food
• seed oils
• saturated fat
• inflammation
• antioxidant

Questions? Email us at info@v2pnutrition.com.

Interested in free resources? Check out all of the offerings at v2pnutrition.com.

Words like GMO, organic, additives, and preservatives are thrown around daily about the topic of nutrition. Most of us make our purchasing decisions based off of them, but do we really know what they mean? This is a two part series to break these down and look at definitions and separate fact from fiction.

We’re joined by Neil Bangs of the BSU Human Performance lab to talk about what tests are actually worth getting, what to do with the information it gives, and how approachable they really can be. (Includes coneration about the basics behind VO2 Max tests, DEXA, Lactate, etc.).

BSU Human Performance Lab

Valley to Peak Resources

Physical demands in the mountains can be quite extreme. Factors like a heavy pack, varying terrain type, heat, weather, smoke, and elevation can wear anyone out. What's the best way to be resistant to exhaustion in these conditions? You train for it...

Dr. Brent Ruby joins us again in part two to cover this very topic.

Dr. Ruby's first episode.

Wildland fire nutrition article.

Learn more about Foundations Plus (starts July 2).