From Ultra-Running to Elk Hunting: Building Grit with Chad Lubinski

EP 671: Chad Lubinski  Hey folks, Cody Rich here from The Rich Outdoors podcast. Man, what a killer episode this one turned out to be! I sat down with my buddy Chad Lubinski, who’s gone from Midwest whitetail hunting to crushing it out West with backpack hunts, ultra-running, mountaineering, and now dialing in on elk and antelope in Wyoming. We dive deep into his wild journey – think getting whooped by Hell’s Canyon on his first archery tag, building insane mental toughness through 100-mile hikes and jiu-jitsu, and how all that endurance grit translates straight to the hunt. Chad shares epic fails like turning around 0.2 miles from a 14er summit, dialing back risk after losing a friend in the mountains, and strategies for packing out solo without losing your mind. We geek out on elk psychology, turning boredom into big plays during midday lulls, and why stacking hard experiences is the real key to unlocking confidence in the backcountry. If you’re chasing that next level in hunting or just love stories of pushing limits, this one’s gonna fire you up. Let’s get after it! Sponsored by OnX Hunt Today’s episode is brought to you by OnX Hunt, and I wanna tell you about a really cool feature that I use a lot – sharing waypoints and hunt plans with your buddies. My good friend Jaden and I were dialed in this year; drop all your glassing spots, tracks, and routes into a folder, share it, and boom – you’re both on the same page. If you didn’t know, now you know! Upgrade to Elite with code TRO and level up your game. Check it out at onxmaps.com. Sponsored by Stone Glacier This episode is also brought to you by Stone Glacier. I’ve been hauling with their packs for years, and this season I’m running the new Archer 6400 – big enough for a 10-day backcountry grind but streamlined for day hunts too. Love the minimalist, lightweight design; I pack enough gear without the bag adding extra weight. From day packs to expedition beasts, they’ve got you covered. Head over to stoneglacier.com and gear up. Show Notes 0:00 – Intro and Sponsors Kicking things off with shoutouts to OnX Hunt and Stone Glacier, plus a quick teaser on the episode’s vibe. 3:15 – Chad’s Backstory and Move West Chad shares his Midwest roots, early whitetail days, and why he headed to Oregon for backpack hunting – only to get humbled hard by Hell’s Canyon. 10:45 – Shift to Mountaineering and Endurance Diving into how Chad pivoted to through-hiking, ultra-running, and peak bagging after hunting felt too tough, and how it built his wilderness confidence. 18:30 – Mental Toughness from Hard Activities Discussing resilience from 100-milers, turn-back moments, and applying an endurance mindset to hunting – plus Cliff Gray’s tips on prime-time glassing. 27:00 – Building Evidence Through Challenges Chad’s advice on stair-stepping hard things: start with a 100-mile hike, add altitude like the John Muir Trail, try ultras, and mix in jiu-jitsu for persistence. 35:15 – Lessons from Failure and Integrity Chad’s story of turning around on Snowmass Mountain just shy of the summit, then crushing it on a day-hike redo – emphasizing integrity over shortcuts. 42:50 – Evolving Risk Tolerance How losing a friend on Mt. St. Helens and dodging rockfall lowered Chad’s risk appetite, plus quotes from Krakauer on ambition vs. survival. 50:20 – Pushing Limits and New Skills Chad on transitioning from ultras to bike-packing and hunting, stacking outdoor skills, and dreaming of primitive hunts or splitboard elk harvests. 57:40 – Solo Pack-Out Strategies Swapping epic pack-out tales, including Cody’s 60+ mile solo bull shuttle and tips for breaking it into manageable chunks. 1:04:10 – Elk Behavior and Hunting Psychology Deep dive on manipulating elk temperament, midday boredom hacks, and turning low-probability scenarios into kills by playing the long game. 1:10:45 – Wrapping Up and Future Plans Chad’s upcoming 14ers, Teton Crest Trail, and hunts; where to follow him; final thoughts on appreciating the landscape through hunting. Key Takeaways Build Mental Toughness Through Progressive Challenges: Start small with hikes or ultras to stack “evidence” of what you can handle – it translates directly to persevering through tough hunts when nothing’s happening. Focus on Strategy Over Brute Force: Whether packing out solo or glassing elk, break big tasks into manageable chunks and play percentages – like guarding mornings/evenings while using midday for recovery or scouting. Embrace Failure and Adjust Risk Wisely: Turning back from a peak or dialing down ambition after close calls builds integrity and longevity in the outdoors, reminding us that survival is mandatory while summits (or kills) are optional.