About this episode
I sit down with yet another Jeff, but this one took things to a different level. Over the course of October and November, he completed 122 laps of the Manitou Incline, nearly a mile and over 2,000 feet of gain per lap, turning one of the most brutal stair climbs in the country into a month-long experiment in mental resilience. What started as training for a future unsupported FKT evolved into something much bigger. A Navy veteran with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, he shares how his nervous system adapted to years in combat and why returning to everyday civilian life felt overwhelming. Loud environments, crowds, and constant inputs became difficult, while long, repetitive movement in nature helped turn the volume back down. We talk about why hiking and rucking can work where therapy and medication do not for some veterans, how mundane suffering and repetition create space for processing trauma, and why unsupported FKTs and long efforts with weight may be a wide-open niche for athletes with military backgrounds. He explains how the incline project became a fundraiser and awareness campaign for Warrior Expeditions, a veteran-led nonprofit that helps veterans heal through long-distance hiking. This conversation dives into combat stress, family life, fatherhood, endurance, mental health, and the simple power of left foot, right foot. It is a powerful reminder that the outdoors offers different things to different people, and sometimes the hardest, most boring path is the one that helps us heal the most. Check out Warrier Expeditions: https://warriorexpeditions.org/ Follow Jeff Snyder: https://www.instagram.com/jsnydersoloadventures/ Chapters 00:00 The Manitou Incline Challenge 05:10 Mental Resilience Through Hiking 07:41 The Impact of Combat on Mental Health 10:07 Nature as a Healing Tool 13:01 The Role of Community in Recovery 15:36 Fundraising for Warrior Expeditions 17:58 Accidental Discoveries in Nature 20:35 Transitioning from Rucking to Hiking 23:15 The Importance of Mindset in Outdoor Challenges 25:23 Unexpected Changes in Combat Situations 28:01 Daily Life and the Incline Challenge 30:31 Supporting Veterans Through Outdoor Activities Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside