When Hilary and her daughter Alexis signed up to climb Mount Kilimanjaro , they each trained on their own schedule but stayed connected through shared goals, encouragement, and a deep commitment to see the journey through together. In this first half of their story, Hilary shares how her customized training plan—and especially the lunge progression— transformed the knee she’d struggled with since ACL surgery , leaving it stronger and more stable than it had felt in years. Alexis talks about something different but equally powerful: the gift of disconnection . High on the mountain, without her phone or constant notifications, she found a deeper presence and appreciation for the moment. You’ll hear: What inspired them to take on Kilimanjaro together How they balanced life, graduation, and training from different cities The physical and mental breakthroughs that came from structured hiking prep Why stepping away from screens can reconnect us to ourselves and each other This episode is part inspiration, part practical guide—and a reminder that when families train for something big together, the results go far beyond the mountain. Ask Me How To Get Fit For Your Next Hike, Trek or Backpacking Trip: https://fitfortrips.com/consultation/ Get Your 3 Free 12-Week Hiking Training Plans: https://fitfortrips.com/free-hiking-training-plan/ LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for new videos: https://www.youtube.com/@HikeStrongPodcast Check out the audio podcast version on all platforms: https://fitfortrips.com/hikestrongpodcast
