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Mountain to Desert

An Invitation to Your Greatest Adventure

Mountain to Desert Coaching + Training

Discovering what is Beyond Your Limits

M2D is a high-performance adventure and endurance coaching practice that helps people become stronger, more adaptable, and more resilient—both physically and mentally. With decades of experience in coaching, teaching, ultra-running, strength training, and mountain travel, Mountain to Desert blends science-based training with deep mindset work to prepare people for real-world challenges in the mountains, desert, and everyday life.  Our approach uses seven core pillars—strength, endurance, balance, mindset, nutrition, recovery, and adaptability—to create meaningful transformation and unlock each client’s fullest potential.


We don’t just access new terrain in the outer world.
We access entirely new territory within ourselves.

Meet Your Coach

Anne Shepherd will help you prepare for a lifestyle of adventure through sport, strength, and endurance. When we learn to grow the body, strengthen it, and make it more adaptable, something profound happens, we not only have to ability and confidence to access new terrain in the outer world, we also increase our capacity to explore new territory within ourselves. Simply put, training becomes a metaphor and a grounding foundation for all aspects of our lives.

Whether you are training for your first race, returning to your athletic identity after years of setbacks, or stepping toward a challenge greater than anything you have attempted before—your physical journey becomes the gateway to internal expansion. Moving your body through adventure become a pathway for continuous growth, resilience, courage, and becoming someone you are proud to be!

Coaching Options

Individual Coaching

Hourly, Monthly, or Annual Rates

Virtual or In-Person

Work one-to-one with Anne to master the Seven Pillars and learn how to apply them directly to your personal goals and objectives. This coaching blends core concepts with evidence-based research to inform and refine your individualized training and development plan—physically, mentally, and strategically.

What’s included:

  • Personalized coaching aligned with your goals and lifestyle
  • Education on the core concepts and research that guide your plan
  • Ongoing support and accountability
  • Regular phone, text, and email correspondence
     

This is a high-touch, deeply personalized coaching relationship designed for meaningful progress and lasting results. Monthly coaching rates with a three-month minimum commitment.

Group Coaching

Seasonal Group Coaching & Training

Looking for community, connection, and a strong network of support? Join one of the Mountain to Desert (M2D) training groups and grow alongside others who are committed to showing up and getting stronger—together.

M2D groups blend:

  • Monthly virtual workshops focused on the 7 Pillars
  • Optional in-person training outings to build camaraderie, accountability, and momentum
  • A supportive group environment that makes the work more engaging—and more fun

Ideal for those who value shared experience, structure, and the energy that comes from moving forward with others.

Adventure Retreast

Seasonal Multi-Day Adventures

Looking for a deep, immersive experience? Join one of the Mountain to Desert (M2D) Adventure Retreats and step fully into your training—away from daily distractions.

These retreats carve out 2–4 dedicated days in inspiring settings, often at a cabin or remote retreat location, designed to help you focus on your strategy.

What to expect:

  • Interactive workshops
  • Practical training tips and skill development
  • The latest insights from exercise science and research
  • Fully supported training sessions
  • Time and space to reset, reflect, and reconnect with your goals

You’ll leave with a renewed sense of commitment, greater confidence, and clear know-how to carry your training forward long after the retreat ends.

The Foundation to Success

The Seven Pillars Framework

The Seven Pillars form the foundation of my coaching philosophy — a comprehensive, integrated approach to building a stronger, more capable human being. These pillars prepare you not only for the physical demands of adventure but also for the inner landscapes you will encounter along the way. Whether you’re training for a winter traverse, pushing through a long climb, rebuilding your strength, or seeking deeper self-trust, these elements work together to expand your capacity in every direction.

Each pillar supports the next. Strength and nutrition fuel endurance. Mindset shapes adaptability. Recovery deepens resilience. Balance ties it all together. When practiced with intention, they create a powerful upward spiral of growth — physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The Seven Pillars aren’t just training concepts. They are a roadmap for navigating challenge, embracing discomfort, and unlocking your next level of potential — both in the mountains and in everyday life.

Upcoming 2026 Programs