IBEX Journal

Frozen Resolve: Following Captain Robert Falcon Scott Into The Ice

The Antarctic plateau stretches to the ends of the earth, a world stripped of color and sound. White above, white below, white on every horizon. The wind never relents. It claws at the skin, fills every breath with biting cold,...

Dial in Your Hunting Rifle: Learn How to Build an Accurate DOPE

In this journal entry, MTNTOUGH President Lyle Hebel shares the exact process he uses to create a reliable, field-ready DOPE (Data On Previous Engagement) card for hunting. The process includes chronograph-verified velocity, solver tuning with live environmental synchronization, field verification...

Five Tips to Improve Your Backpack Game

When you’re miles away from the trailhead with a heavy load on your back, the last thing you want is a pack that feels like it’s working against you. A properly fitted pack can make the difference between a tiring...

MAJOR PRODUCT UPDATE 09.28.25: PDFs In Dailies, Weekly Drops, Yoga/Mobility Updates

Weekly Drops For Daily Workout Programs: We’re thrilled to announce two exciting updates to our Minimal Gear Daily and Gym Daily programs, designed with your feedback in mind. Starting October 6, 2025, we will release all five weekly workout videos at...

Leadership · mental toughness

Carrying the Weight: Shackleton’s Lessons in Leadership

In 1914, Ernest Shackleton led the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition with the goal of crossing the continent, but his ship, Endurance, became trapped and crushed by pack ice. For nearly two years Shackleton and his men drifted on the floes, rowed...

Leadership · mental toughness

Ernest Shackleton's Enduring Leadership and Grit at the End of The World

1914, Ernest Shackleton embarked on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, aiming to traverse the Antarctic continent. His ship, Endurance, was ensnared and destroyed by pack ice. For almost two years, Shackleton and his crew endured, drifting on ice floes, navigating icy...

Leadership · mental toughness

Into the Fire: Leading through Crisis - Pulaski vs Dodge

Fire has always been one of nature’s most merciless forces. It can change direction in an instant, leap into the treetops without warning, and outrun even the fastest men on foot. For those tasked with fighting it, fire is not...

Book Reviews · Leadership · mental toughness

MTNTOUGH Book Review - Leaders Eat Last

Leaders Eat Last Author: Simon Sinek Review by Ibex Journal Staff Buy a copy for yourself at Amazon In the world of leadership books, few titles have the staying power of Simon Sinek’s Leaders Eat Last. The phrase itself...

military · stories

Swift, Silent, and Deadly: The Story of Marine Corps Reconnaissance

Source Into the Surf: Okinawa, 1945 The paddles rose and fell in silence. A team of Reconnaissance Marines hunched low in the rubber boat, their shoulders burning as they inched through the black Pacific night. No one spoke. Salt spray...

Leadership · mental toughness

Fighting Fire With Fire: The Story of Wagner Dodge and The Cost of Panic

The Mann Gulch Fire became one of the most studied tragedies in the history of American wildland firefighting. Thirteen young men perished on that slope, and their loss reshaped how fire crews are trained to face the unexpected. Wagner Dodge’s...

Leadership · mental toughness

Into the Inferno: Surviving the 1910 Big Burn

The Big Burn of 1910 remains one of the largest and most destructive wildfires in American history. The fire consumed over two million acres of northern Idaho and western Montana in just a few days, fueled by drought, high temperatures,...

mental toughness · military

The Ground Was Ours: Remembering the Battle of Shewan

We write this story in honor of our friend, MTNTOUGH staff writer and military subject matter expert Colonel Byron Owen, who led his Marines with unwavering resolve and was awarded the Silver Star for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in...

advocacy · military

MTNTOUGH Announces Partnership with The Marine Recon Foundation

Earned in Blood: Inside the Recon Brotherhood and the Partnership Fueling Their Future There’s a moment every Reconnaissance Marine knows. It comes when the noise fades, the drop zone stretches below, and the only thing between you and the ground...

mental toughness · military

Becoming a Ranger: Earning the Scroll, Living the Creed

-By Byron Owen Introduction: No Easy Day Starts Here It usually starts in a recruiting office. Fluorescent lights, a handful of flags, and a desk with a laminated calendar of ship dates. There’s a young man sitting across from...

Book Reviews · mental toughness · military

MTNTOUGH Book Review: Black Hawk Down – A Modern Epic of Grit, Chaos, and Brotherhood

Author: Mark BowdenReview by Ibex Journal Staff: Byron Owen Buy a copy for yourself at Amazon Black Hawk Down is more than a war story. It is a case study in small-unit leadership, mental toughness, and what happens when everything...

mental toughness · military · stories

Always Out Front: The Story of the U.S. Army Rangers

An Impossible Climb, and the Birth of the Modern Ranger -By Byron OwenThe surf crashed hard against the Normandy coast as the landing craft pitched in the dark. Rain mixed with salt spray. A few soldiers heaved over the rails,...

Stay Mountain-Ready All Year with MTNTOUGH’s Daily Fintess Programs

The special aspect of the daily workouts is they are posted every weekday and removed after 24 hours. This creates a sense of urgency to get your workout in and helps you stay more consistent. If there’s one thing we’ve learned...

Kyrgyzstan Ibex Hunt: Film, Gear List, Training Programs

Our adventure began with a cascade of travel mishaps that would have daunted even the most seasoned traveler. Imagine spending over 60 hours on the move—with missed connections, lost luggage, and unexpected flight changes due to weapon restrictions. There were...

MTNTOUGH Launches Daily Yoga: A Game-Changing Power Yoga Program for Mountain Athletes and Hunters

If there’s one thing we’ve learned at MTNTOUGH, it’s that strength alone isn’t enough for conquering the backcountry or thriving in the mountains. True mountain athletes need a combination of power, mobility, flexibility, and a rock-solid mindset to stay at...

MTNTOUGH Celebrates the Success of the 2025 TOUGH SHEEP Workout

MTNTOUGH is proud to announce the resounding success of the 2025 TOUGH SHEEP workout held at Sheep Show, hosted by The Wild Sheep Foundation in Reno, NV. This landmark event brought together 500 dedicated participants to raise $50,000 for the...

Protectors: The Bullfighter | A MTNTOUGH Original

Bullfighters are the unsung heroes of the rodeo world. Like a firefighter running into a burning building, they put their life on the line to protect others. This short film follows Montana's Koby Ruff as he chases his dream of...

hunting

The Best Deer Shot Placement from Any Angle

Every hunter knows the crunch-time decision of where to aim carries a ton of weight, especially when a deer doesn't line up just right. Mastering deer anatomy and shot placement from any angle carries weight too, reflecting both your skill and reverence for the sport.

How to Improve Your Dumbbell Snatch Form

For raw power and athletic performance, the dumbbell snatch is your ticket.

backcountry knowledge · hunting · nutrition

Backcountry Trip Food Planning Calorie Calculator

MTNTOUGH Teamed up with our Nutrition Coach Kyle Kamp and Remi Warren to bring you a new Free Backcountry Food Calculator to help you estimate your caloric burn and what food types to pack depending on exertion and difficulty levels. The calculator is...

hunting · mental toughness · nutrition

Dustin Visits the GOHUNT HQ To Discuss Backcountry Readiness

While on his trip to UFC 300 Dustin jumped onto the BIG HUNT GUYS PODCAST hosted by our good buddies at GOHUNT. They discuss the vital role of physical and mental fitness in both everyday life and hunting. The conversation covers the founding of MTNTOUGH, the direction...

fatherhood · fitness · mental toughness · podcast

Andy Stumpf Interviews MTNTOUGH Founder on the Cleared Hot Podcast

Dustin was guest on the Cleared Hot Podcast with Host Andy Stumpf: Navy SEAL, World Record Holder, and Inspirational Speaker, and Podcast Host. We hosted Andy on the MTNTOUGH Podcast and if you enjoyed the podcast above we bet you'll enjoy this...

hunting · mental toughness · military · podcast

Mike Glover Interviews Dustin Diefenderfer on the Mike Force Podcast

Watch MTNTOUGH CEO and Founder Dustin Diefenderfer's guest appearance on the Mike Force Podcast with Host Mike Glover CEO of Field Craft Survival and former Green Beret and U.S. government contractor. Mike was recently on the MTNTOUGH Podcast and if you enjoyed the podcast above...

military

MTNTOUGH Visits The 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Moore

Join us on an incredibly exciting and absolutely unforgettable journey as we take you along to visit the prestigious 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Moore. Dustin and Nate traveled to Fort Moore to connect, workout, discuss and learn from the...

mental toughness

6 Strategies for Mental Stamina in the Backcountry

Learn how to keep your mental stamina as topped off as possible when you're out in the backcountry. This guide drills into the heart of mental toughness in the toughest conditions.

fitness · hunting

Mountain-Ready at Any Age: Over 40 Hunting Fitness Guide

As years add up, keeping fit is a necessity to staying injury free on the hunt. For anyone over 40, learn how training can keep you hunting this season and many more to come.

IBEX Journal RSS

Frozen Resolve: Following Captain Robert Falcon Scott Into The Ice

Dial in Your Hunting Rifle: Learn How to Build an Accurate DOPE

Five Tips to Improve Your Backpack Game

MAJOR PRODUCT UPDATE 09.28.25: PDFs In Dailies, Weekly Drops, Yoga/Mobility Updates

Carrying the Weight: Shackleton’s Lessons in Leadership

Ernest Shackleton's Enduring Leadership and Grit at the End of The World

Into the Fire: Leading through Crisis - Pulaski vs Dodge

MTNTOUGH Book Review - Leaders Eat Last

Swift, Silent, and Deadly: The Story of Marine Corps Reconnaissance

Fighting Fire With Fire: The Story of Wagner Dodge and The Cost of Panic

Into the Inferno: Surviving the 1910 Big Burn

The Ground Was Ours: Remembering the Battle of Shewan

MTNTOUGH Announces Partnership with The Marine Recon Foundation

Becoming a Ranger: Earning the Scroll, Living the Creed

MTNTOUGH Book Review: Black Hawk Down – A Modern Epic of Grit, Chaos, and Brotherhood

Always Out Front: The Story of the U.S. Army Rangers

Stay Mountain-Ready All Year with MTNTOUGH’s Daily Fintess Programs

Kyrgyzstan Ibex Hunt: Film, Gear List, Training Programs

MTNTOUGH Launches Daily Yoga: A Game-Changing Power Yoga Program for Mountain Athletes and Hunters

MTNTOUGH Celebrates the Success of the 2025 TOUGH SHEEP Workout

Protectors: The Bullfighter | A MTNTOUGH Original

The Best Deer Shot Placement from Any Angle

How to Improve Your Dumbbell Snatch Form

Backcountry Trip Food Planning Calorie Calculator

Dustin Visits the GOHUNT HQ To Discuss Backcountry Readiness

Andy Stumpf Interviews MTNTOUGH Founder on the Cleared Hot Podcast

Mike Glover Interviews Dustin Diefenderfer on the Mike Force Podcast

MTNTOUGH Visits The 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Moore

6 Strategies for Mental Stamina in the Backcountry

Mountain-Ready at Any Age: Over 40 Hunting Fitness Guide