TRAINING FOR THE PACK-OUT: The Brutal Workout That Shows You What You’re Made Of

Written by Clint Kingston

If you read the last article Slayer published on my transformation, you know I don’t train just to stay fit — I train to be ready when the bull dies in the worst spot possible.

The kind of places elk take you aren’t gentle. Steep, slick, high elevation, no easy way out. That’s why I don’t believe in “hope you’re ready” conditioning. I believe in simulating the pain now — so I don’t fall apart when it’s real.

One of the most effective ways to do that? A workout called The Simulator, developed by the team at MTNTOUGH. It mimics what it’s like to pack into elk country, kill an animal, and pack it back out solo. It’s as close to mountain suffering as you can get in a gym.

I just ran through it again as part of MTNTOUGH’s Preseason 2.0 program. Below is my slightly modified version — tailored to the way I train and built to help other hunters prepare for what’s coming this fall.

THE SIMULATOR (MTNTOUGH Workout Program)

Purpose: Build real-world toughness — legs, lungs, and mental grit — for elk hunting and heavy solo pack-outs. This no-fluff workout simulates the demands of backcountry success. Try The Simulator for free and explore MTNTOUGH’s full lineup of elite training programs built for serious hunters.

WARM-UP – 2 Rounds

• 20 Jumping Jacks
• 3/3 Dyno Kicks
• 10 Jump Squats
• 3/3 Dynamic Pigeons
• 10/10 Side Plank Hip Dips

BLOCK 1 – PACK IN (3 Rounds)

Put your weighted pack on (see weight guide below)

• Treadmill Incline Walk @ 15% x 2 min (2.5–3.0 mph)
• Lateral Step-Ups x 10/10
• Treadmill Lateral Walk @ 15% x 1 min each side (1.5–2.0 mph)
• Forward Step-Ups x 10/10
• Treadmill Asymmetrical Farmer Carry x 1 min each side (heavy KB, 2.3–2.6 mph)
• Lateral Lunges x 10/10

Tip: Control your posture and breath. Move like you would under a real pack-out load.

BLOCK 2 – FIELD WORK (4 Rounds)

Remove pack

• KB Choppers x 5/5 (35–45 lbs)
• KB High Pull Squats x 10
• Chin-Ups x 5 (use band assist if needed)

This simulates the work you’d do at the kill site — lifting, stabilizing, hauling quarters.

BLOCK 3 – PACK OUT (5 Rounds)

Increase pack weight (see guide)

• Walking Lunges x 20/20
• Sled Push x 10 yds
• Sled Pull x 10 yds (load = your bodyweight)
• This round breaks people. Keep the pack on. Rest between rounds, not during.

COOL DOWN – 2 Rounds

• 1 min Rag Doll
• 30 sec/side Figure 4 Stretch
• 30 sec/side Hip Flexor Stretch

PACK WEIGHT GUIDE

Use a training pack or frame system. Keep weight tight to your center mass.

WHY THIS MATTERS

MTNTOUGH built this workout for mountain hunters, and it delivers. It’s not flashy — it’s functional. There’s no playlist, no hype crew. Just you, weight, and the question: Can you keep going when it sucks?

If your answer isn’t a confident “yes,” this is where you find your gaps — and fill them.

Want to see how it plays out in real time? I filmed my full run-through and posted the reel on Instagram. It’s a raw, honest look at what this workout demands. You can find it at @clintkingston1.

Elk season’s coming. And the terrain doesn’t care how strong your bugle is — only how strong your legs are when it’s time to haul meat.

About the Author

Clint Kingston is a Slayer Calls Pro Staffer, backcountry bowhunter, and fitness coach based in Idaho. After dropping 70 pounds and transforming his approach to elk hunting, Clint now trains year-round to stay mentally and physically ready for the pack-out.

Follow him at @clintkingston1 for workouts, discipline-based training, and no-excuse mountain prep.