Hotshot Fitness Program Overview

Welcome to the Hotshot Fitness Program Overview. If you’re new to the site, I hope this will serve as a guidepost to get you headed off in the right direction.

The Basics

So, what is the Hotshot Fitness Program exactly? Consider it a training guide to get you ready for the rigors of wildland firefighting. Almost a decade ago, I built this site because there was an absence of information out there to help rookies and veterans alike physically prepare for the fire season.

The program itself is sixteen weeks, and consists of a mixture of running, hiking, and body weight exercises. The duration and intensity of your training is designed to mimic the physical training that hotshot firefighters engage in. If you can handle the Hotshot Fitness program, you *should* be able to make it as a hotshot. 😉

Even if your physical training goals do not include landing a job on a hotshot crew, the Hotshot Fitness Program can still be a useful training tool. The conditioning that you will develop will fit the needs for many other disciplines, such as:

• General Wildland Firefighting
• Search and Rescue / Mountain Rescue Teams
• Hiking / Backpacking
• Trail Running

 

Over the years, the program has been very well received, and many hotshot crews have voiced their support for our training methods, and even recommend this site for aspiring hotshots.

Ok, I’m Interested. How Do I Start?

Great! As the famous Chinese Philosopher Lao Tzu noted, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” And now you have taken the first step in your journey towards becoming #FireReady!

Step 1: Goal Setting

Step 2: Baseline Testing

Step 3: The Hotshot Fitness Program