What’s My Secret? Beef-letics

As I am an old trapper, people often ask how I manage to stay so fit. Friends, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't at least partly due to being blessed with tremendous genetics. My great-grandfather once wrestled a grizzly bear for possession of a fishing hole; the bear gave up and fled to a different mountain. I’ve got a fine athletic pedigree on my side. But good genes only take a trapper so far.

Beyond my natural advantages, I've made something of a personal commitment to staying active through sports and other outdoor activities. You know, typical stuff like tree branch presses, professional football, and big game hunting. It's certainly done the trick for me. And if you're going to live that kind of life, you're going to need plenty of beef.

Adventure Plus Beef Jerky. It’s That Simple

I’m not the sort of person who enjoys just “hanging out,” as the kids say. Even when I was a young trapper, I was always looking for something to do. If I wasn't hiking through the wilderness, I was chopping wood. If I wasn't chopping wood, I was climbing something I probably shouldn't have been climbing. If I wasn't climbing, I was running from something that looked hungry.

One thing that always makes me chuckle is when people ask what workout routine I follow. Friends, I don't know if I'd call it a routine. Most days it starts with rolling out of my tent and seeing where the day takes me.

I like to shoot baskets. There's something satisfying about watching a perfect shot sail through the air and drop cleanly through the net. Of course, I once made a shot from nearly half a mile away, but that's a story for another time. During the winter, I enjoy skiing down snowy slopes and gliding across frozen ponds with all the grace of a woodland gazelle. A very rugged woodland gazelle. And naturally, I love exploring the outdoors. Every now and then, a trapper needs to throw a tomahawk. You know. For recreation.

Sometimes variety is the best strategy. I don’t like to feel boxed-in to any one particular thing. One day I’ll gladly set off down a trail I've walked a hundred times before with a bag of my Traditional Double Eagle Jerky in my pack, but other days I’ll find myself craving the novelty of new sights and a pack of jalapeno beef sticks. The long and short of it is, I've always believed that staying active is easier when you're having fun. If your exercise (or your snacking regimen) feels like a punishment, there's a good chance you're doing something wrong. So make sure you’re bringing a beef snack that will deliver the flavor and protein you need to keep on trucking.

Beef Up Your Fitness

Now we're getting to the important part. As I’m sure you’re well aware, adventure has a funny way of making a person hungry. So no matter where I'm headed, I rarely leave home without my trusty beef jerky.

Sure, you can start the day with a big breakfast and hit the trails feeling satisfied. Then you hike a few miles, climb a hill, cross a stream, outrun a particularly judgmental squirrel, and suddenly if you don’t have a protein-packed snack in the next five minutes your hanger will give a grizzly a run for its money. Cue the beef jerky.

Long before there were fitness influencers, activity trackers, and apps that remind you to drink water, there were hardworking folks spending long days outdoors. Ranchers. Explorers. Loggers. Hunters. Farmers. Trappers. They understood the value of bringing dependable food along for the journey. When you've got a busy day ahead of you, you need something dependable in your pack.

Never Too Old for Adventure

Another question I hear from folks is whether there's an age when it's time to slow down. Now, I'm not saying everyone needs to start rock climbing, ice skating, or the aforementioned tomahawk throwing (though I do have to say, the last one is especially enjoyable).

What I am saying is that curiosity doesn't have an expiration date. You're never too old to learn to try something new, whether it’s a never-before-summitted mountain peak or a pickup game for frisbee golf. Some of my favorite adventures have happened because I decided to do exactly that.

That's one of the things I love about an active lifestyle. There's always another trail to explore, another skill to learn, or another story waiting to happen. And trust me, the stories are half the fun. Just don't ask me about the time I attempted to ski across a frozen lake while carrying a canoe on my back. Some tales are better left untold.

Keep Moving, Keep Exploring, Keep Eating Beef Jerky

After all these years, I've discovered there isn't much mystery to staying active. Get outside whenever you can. Move your body. Try new things. Spend time with people you enjoy. Say yes to adventure whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Most importantly, don't take yourself too seriously. You're going to stumble from time to time. You're going to miss a few basketball shots, take a turn down the wrong trail, and yes, tragically, you may even forget to pack your beef. It’s all part of the experience, friend. The important thing is that you keep going.

As for me, I'll continue hiking mountains, exploring trails, shooting hoops, skiing snowy slopes, and tackling whatever adventure happens to come my way. And you can be sure I'll bring some beef along for the ride. Of course, not just any beef will do. When adventure calls, I heartily recommend you reach for my Old Trapper Beef Jerky. From lean beef and signature seasonings to the magic of my authentic smoking techniques, it’s the number one fuel you need to stay fit, strong, and ready for the next grizzly wrestling match.