Endure

Endure Plot Summary

Introduction

In the rugged wilderness of Oregon's Eagle Cap, a lone figure moves silently through the dawn light. Bow in hand, muscles honed from thousands of miles of running, Cameron Hanes is in his element. He is not just a hunter; he is the embodiment of human potential pushed to extraordinary limits. From humble beginnings in a small logging town to becoming one of the most influential figures in the world of bowhunting and endurance athletics, Hanes has redefined what it means to pursue a passion with unwavering dedication. What makes Cameron Hanes remarkable isn't natural talent or privileged beginnings. It's his relentless commitment to self-improvement and his philosophy of "keep hammering" that has inspired millions. Through his journey, we witness the transformative power of obsession, the value of embracing discomfort, and the profound impact of pursuing excellence without compromise. Hanes demonstrates that the limitations we perceive are often self-imposed, and that with enough determination, ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things. His story isn't just about hunting or athletic achievement—it's about discovering purpose and pushing beyond perceived boundaries to become the ultimate version of oneself.

Chapter 1: From Broken Home to Finding Purpose

Cameron Hanes grew up in Marcola, a small logging community in Oregon, where life was anything but idyllic. His parents divorced when he was young, creating a fractured childhood that left him bouncing between homes and struggling to find stability. "I never felt happy," Hanes recalls of those early years. The absence of his father, Bob Hanes—a talented athlete who had earned college scholarships for both gymnastics and track—created a void that young Cameron felt deeply. The turbulence at home was compounded by a difficult relationship with his stepfather. Their confrontations sometimes turned physical, creating an environment where Cameron never felt truly at peace. One particularly painful memory involves being forced by teenage babysitters to fight his younger brother Pete for their entertainment. These traumatic experiences, rather than breaking him, began to forge the mental toughness that would later define him. "I hurt because I would never get to be around my dad," Hanes remembers, describing how he would often cry thinking about his brother while delivering newspapers in the pre-dawn hours on his paper route. Despite these challenges, Hanes found moments of refuge. He would bike twenty miles to his grandmother Heloise's house, where he could read Stephen King novels while she played classical music. His grandfather Bob, a horse trainer, taught him about hard work and toughness during summers spent working at his ranch. These influences, along with the natural surroundings of Oregon, began to shape his character and resilience. Athletics offered another outlet, though Hanes quickly realized he wasn't naturally gifted like his father. "I wasn't a natural athlete," he admits. "Nothing ever came easy." This realization planted an important seed: if he couldn't rely on natural talent, he would have to outwork everyone else. This mindset began to take shape during his high school years at Mohawk High, where despite not being the most talented, he earned a starting position in football through sheer determination. The turning point came when Roy Roth, a slightly older classmate known for his outdoor skills, made a simple suggestion: "Dude, you need to bowhunt." This casual invitation would become the catalyst for Hanes' life purpose. At nineteen, working a warehouse job for $4.72 an hour and attending community college without direction, Hanes found himself drawn to the challenge of bowhunting. The difficulty of getting within bow range of wild animals and making a clean kill awakened something in him—a desire to master a skill that demanded complete dedication, physical prowess, and mental fortitude.

Chapter 2: The Birth of an Obsession with Bowhunting

In 1988, at the age of twenty, Cameron purchased his first bow—a $200 Golden Eagle Super Hawk Turbo Cam that he spray-painted himself using ferns for the pattern. This humble beginning marked the start of what would become a lifelong obsession. On his first bowhunting expedition in 1989, Hanes experienced both the thrill and frustration that would characterize the sport. Face-to-face with a massive bull elk, his arrow missed completely, flying seven feet off target. Despite this inauspicious start, he persisted, hunting for eighteen straight days until he finally killed his first spike bull. "I had never had any real ambitions or goals for myself," Hanes reflects. "But something changed." That first successful hunt ignited a passion that would transform his life. The challenge of bowhunting—requiring stealth, precision, patience, and physical endurance—provided exactly the purpose he had been missing. The 10% success rate that deters many only fueled his determination to master the craft. Bowhunting became more than a hobby; it became an identity and a proving ground. In his second season, Hanes killed a Pope & Young three-by-three blacktail, a raghorn five-by-five bull, and a bear with his modest equipment. These successes, achieved through persistence rather than privilege, gave him a confidence he had never before experienced. For a young man from a broken home with no clear direction, the woods offered both sanctuary and challenge. The sport also connected Hanes with mentors who shaped his approach. Wayne Endicott, owner of the Bow Rack pro shop, invited him on a hunt to Oregon's Steens Mountain in 1991. This backcountry experience resulted in Hanes taking his biggest buck to date—a pivotal moment that further cemented his commitment. The Dunson family, with their record-setting Roosevelt elk kills, provided both inspiration and practical knowledge about pursuing trophy animals. As his skills developed, so did his reputation. Hanes began writing about his experiences, publishing his first hunting article "Bulls, Bugles and Botches" in Western Bowhunter magazine in 1990. Though his early writing lacked polish, his passion was evident. This combination of bowhunting success and storytelling ability began to open doors, eventually leading to magazine covers and equipment advertisements. Perhaps most significantly, bowhunting gave Hanes a path to redemption from the destructive behaviors that had begun to define his early adulthood. After a drunk driving accident that could have killed him, and with the birth of his first son Tanner in 1993, Hanes found the motivation to change his life. "Being a loser isn't cool," he realized. "But you know what's worse than that? Being a loser dad." Bowhunting provided not just excitement and challenge, but a framework for becoming the man he wanted to be—disciplined, focused, and worthy of respect.

Chapter 3: Training Beyond Limits: The Ultra-Athlete Mindset

Cameron Hanes' approach to bowhunting diverged dramatically from convention when he began incorporating serious athletic training into his preparation. While most hunters focused solely on shooting practice, Hanes developed a revolutionary philosophy: to be the ultimate predator in the wilderness, one must train like an elite athlete. "I want to do what no one else wants to do, what no one else finds value in doing," Hanes explains. "That's the only edge I have." His training regimen evolved gradually but relentlessly. What began as casual running to improve his endurance in the mountains transformed into an obsession with pushing physical limits. In 2003, Hanes ran his first marathon and finished third overall. This taste of endurance competition sparked a realization: the mental and physical toughness required for ultramarathons directly translated to success in the backcountry. "The better shape I was in," he observed, "the easier success came." Hanes' commitment to fitness reached extraordinary levels. He progressed from marathons to ultramarathons, culminating in his first 100-mile race—the Bighorn 100 in Wyoming's rugged mountains. The experience was brutal, testing him beyond anything he had previously endured. "I decided that I wasn't nearly as tough as I thought I was," he admits about hitting the wall at mile twenty with eighty miles still to go. Yet he persevered through pain, dehydration, and mental fatigue to finish in 29 hours and 20 minutes. This "Train Hard, Hunt Easy" philosophy extended beyond running. Hanes incorporated weight training, developing what he calls his "Lift, Run, Shoot" lifestyle. One memorable demonstration of his unconventional approach involved carrying a 130-pound rock up Mount Pisgah near Eugene, Oregon—a feat that caught the attention of Joe Rogan and launched their friendship. While critics questioned the relevance of such extreme training to hunting success, Hanes remained convinced that physical preparation translated directly to mental fortitude in the field. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Hanes' training is its consistency. "There are no rest days," he insists. "As irrational as it may seem, in my mind, I'm not good enough to take a day off. And I never will be." This mindset has led him to run twenty miles daily, lift weights to failure multiple times per day, and shoot his bow every single day of the year—all while maintaining a full-time job at the Springfield Utility Board, where he has worked for over 25 years without ever calling in sick. The pinnacle of Hanes' athletic achievements came in the Western States 100, the most prestigious ultramarathon in the world. Finishing in 22 hours and 41 minutes to earn the coveted silver buckle, he proved that his training philosophy could produce extraordinary results. Yet even this accomplishment was bittersweet, coming just days before his father's death from cancer. The race became a metaphor for life itself—a test of endurance through pain and loss, requiring the mental fortitude to keep moving forward despite overwhelming adversity.

Chapter 4: Mountains Never Lie: Lessons from the Wilderness

"The mountains never lie," Hanes often says. This simple phrase encapsulates a profound truth he discovered through decades of wilderness experience. Unlike the civilized world where status, wealth, and connections create advantages, the mountains are the great equalizer. In rugged backcountry, only preparation, mental fortitude, and physical capability determine success. "If I'm better than my competition in the mountains," Hanes explains, "then all of a sudden I'm the guy calling the shots." His wilderness education began in earnest when he and his hunting partner Roy Roth ventured into Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness in the early 1990s. This 1,800-square-mile expanse of granite crags and bottomless canyons became their testing ground. With limited funds—Roy sold a collector's rifle just to afford gas money—they pushed deeper into the wilderness than most hunters dared go. A chance encounter with a dentist who had hunted with the legendary Billy Cruise led them to especially remote terrain where "no one ever goes. It is too rough for horses, and too steep to hike." This first wilderness expedition taught Hanes that success in such demanding environments required more than just hunting skills—it demanded a willingness to endure discomfort and isolation that few possessed. After Roy moved to Alaska, Hanes continued solo backcountry hunts, often hiking twenty-one miles from the nearest road. These solitary adventures forced him to confront not just physical challenges but also mental barriers. "The backcountry can defeat guys who aren't more than physically fit because mentally, after a couple of days on their own, without any distractions of normal life, they become wrecks." The mountains also taught Hanes about mortality and risk. During a Dall sheep hunt on Alaska's Pioneer Peak, he witnessed firsthand how quickly conditions could turn deadly when he had to grab a wounded ram before it fell off a cliff. This same mountain would later claim the life of his best friend Roy in 2015. The wilderness, while beautiful and rewarding, demands respect and exacts a price for carelessness or bad luck. Perhaps the most profound lesson from the mountains was about authenticity. In the wilderness, pretense falls away. "The mountain will always have the upper hand," Hanes acknowledges. This humbling reality creates a clarity about one's capabilities and character that can't be found elsewhere. When faced with extreme physical challenges—packing out a 1,200-pound elk quarter by quarter over miles of rugged terrain, for example—a person discovers their true nature. The mountains also reinforced Hanes' belief in preparation. His approach to hunting differs dramatically from the casual weekend warrior. He views success in the backcountry as directly proportional to the work invested beforehand. "Those who work the hardest are successful, period," he states. This philosophy has led to his remarkable consistency—killing a bull elk every year for decades when the average success rate hovers around 10%. The wilderness doesn't reward shortcuts or half-measures; it rewards those who have put in the time and sacrifice to be ready for its challenges.

Chapter 5: Building Brotherhood and Facing Loss

The bond between Cameron Hanes and Roy Roth transcended ordinary friendship. From the moment Roy told him, "Dude, you need to bowhunt," their connection was forged through shared adventures in the most challenging wilderness environments. Roy, whom Hanes described as "the toughest human I'd ever met," became not just a hunting partner but a brother in spirit. Their relationship was built on mutual respect, unwavering confidence in each other's abilities, and a shared willingness to endure discomfort that others would find intolerable. Their adventures spanned decades and territories—from their first out-of-state hunt for wild boar in California to numerous expeditions in Alaska pursuing moose, caribou, bear, and Dall sheep. Roy's toughness became legendary to Hanes, exemplified by incidents like continuing a backcountry trip despite severe burns from a cooking accident. "That was Roy," Hanes recalls. "We both loved bowhunting because it came with more adventure." Unlike typical friendships centered around social activities, theirs was formed exclusively through challenging hunts that tested their limits. The depth of their brotherhood was evident in how they approached the wilderness. When others questioned whether a particular feat was possible, their response was simple: "Has a man ever done it?" If the answer was yes, they believed they could do it too. This shared confidence allowed them to venture where others wouldn't, pushing deeper into remote areas to find undisturbed animals. Their motto became "It's us against everyone else," though they eventually realized the true competition was against the mountain itself. While their approaches to life differed in some ways—Roy was a devout Christian who never cursed or drank, while Hanes had struggled with alcohol in his youth—their core values aligned perfectly. Roy's faith provided him with a steadiness that Hanes admired, even as he wrestled with his own spiritual questions. "Roy was the only other person I've ever hunted with who truly had no limits," Hanes reflects. "If I wanted to go farther, so did he." The brotherhood extended beyond just the two men. As they started families, they brought their children into the wilderness tradition. Photos show young Tanner Hanes and Taylor Roth, both seven years old, on an Alaskan bear hunt—experiences that helped prepare these boys for life's challenges. The legacy they were building seemed destined to continue for decades more. Then came the devastating news in October 2015. While hunting Dall sheep on Pioneer Peak—the same mountain where Hanes had killed his ram years earlier—Roy fell 700 feet to his death. The loss shattered Hanes, who had just completed a successful moose hunt with Roy weeks before. "Life is never going to be the same," he realized. The man he had considered invincible in the mountains was gone, leaving a void that could never be filled. Speaking at Roy's funeral proved to be one of the hardest moments of Hanes' life. His raw emotion revealed the depth of their connection: "I sure loved that man. I think he loved me, too." The experience forced him to confront questions about faith and mortality that he continues to wrestle with. "Some days I believe I'm going to see him again, but there are other days when I just don't know," he admitted.

Chapter 6: Turning Criticism into Fuel

Throughout his journey, Cameron Hanes has faced a constant barrage of criticism and skepticism. From the early days when local hunters claimed he "shot it with a crossbow or a rifle" after his successful hunts, to social media trolls who attack his training methods, hunting ethics, and even threaten his life, Hanes has encountered resistance at every turn. Rather than being deterred, he has developed a remarkable ability to transform this negativity into motivation. "I got that shit memorized," Hanes says about the criticism he receives. While he appreciates supportive comments, it's often the negative ones that stick with him and fuel his drive to prove doubters wrong. When industry insiders told him, "No one cares about your running," or "The average person doesn't need to be inspired or motivated," he used these dismissals as challenges to overcome rather than reasons to conform. Perhaps the most persistent criticism has centered on his training philosophy. For decades, Hanes has heard the refrain: "You don't need to run marathons to kill an elk." His response has remained consistent: "I don't care what you do." He never prescribes his extreme regimen as necessary for everyone, but he refuses to apologize for his own approach or downplay its effectiveness in his success. The results speak for themselves—his consistent achievement in the wilderness year after year while others struggle. The hunting community itself has sometimes been his harshest critic. When he began emphasizing physical training for hunting in the early 2000s, it was considered radical. Traditional hunters questioned why anyone would run ultramarathons or lift weights to prepare for bow season. Even today, with fitness becoming more accepted in hunting culture, Hanes' extreme dedication stands apart. "If you're not the hardest-working person you know," he maintains, "you're not working hard enough." Social media has amplified both his reach and the criticism he faces. Anti-hunting activists regularly leave hateful comments on his posts, sometimes threatening violence. Rather than engaging in arguments, Hanes typically blocks such individuals and continues sharing his authentic experiences. "I'm never going to make everybody happy," he acknowledges. "If I did, that would mean I stood for nothing, and what's the point in that?" Perhaps most telling is how Hanes responds to success. When he ran alongside Lance Armstrong in the 2008 Boston Marathon and finished ahead of him, or when he completed grueling ultramarathons like the Bighorn 100 and Western States 100, he never rested on these accomplishments. Instead, he analyzed his performance, identified weaknesses, and immediately focused on improving. Even after decades of consistent success in bowhunting, he approaches each new season with the same hunger and humility. This resilience in the face of criticism extends beyond athletics to his professional life. When a coworker mocked him for being described as a "warehouse supervisor" in a hunting article when he was technically only a "lead," Hanes didn't argue. He simply continued working hard, eventually becoming superintendent at the utility company where he still works today. As he puts it: "Still laughing, Tim?"

Chapter 7: Legacy of Relentless Pursuit

Cameron Hanes' enduring legacy isn't measured merely in animals harvested or races completed, but in the philosophy of relentless pursuit he has embodied and shared with millions. "Keep Hammering"—the phrase that has become his signature—encapsulates a mindset that transcends bowhunting and applies to any worthwhile endeavor. Like the stonecutter who hammers at a rock hundreds of times without seeing results until the final blow splits it in two, Hanes believes success comes not from singular moments of brilliance but from consistent, unyielding effort. This philosophy has influenced countless individuals across diverse fields. From elite athletes like UFC fighters Michael Chandler and Colby Covington, who train with Hanes to tap into his mindset, to everyday people who credit him with transforming their lives, his impact extends far beyond the hunting community. One particularly moving example came from a young man battling cancer who wrote: "After my 6th round of chemo I was able to take my first coues deer with a bow and right after my 11th round I was able to take my first elk with a bow... I'm still shocked that I was able to thank him in person for helping me out!" As a father, Hanes has passed this legacy of hard work and resilience to his children—Tanner, Truett, and Taryn. Though he sometimes questioned his demanding parenting style, the results speak volumes. Tanner became an Army Ranger, Truett broke David Goggins' 24-hour pull-up record by completing 4,100 repetitions and finished a 100-mile ultramarathon, and Taryn excels academically. "I don't care if you're THE best," he told them, "just give it YOUR best." This principle, applied consistently, has shaped not just their achievements but their characters. In the hunting world, Hanes has revolutionized how people approach preparation. What was once considered extreme—running, weight training, and year-round practice—has become increasingly mainstream as hunters recognize the advantages of physical fitness in the field. More importantly, he has elevated the conversation around hunting ethics, emphasizing respect for the animals and the responsibility that comes with taking a life. His mantra of "Train. Hunt. Provide. Honor." reflects a holistic approach that honors both the tradition of hunting and its place in the modern world. Perhaps most remarkable is how Hanes has maintained his core identity despite his growing influence. He still works his day job at the Springfield Utility Board, still trains with the same intensity, and still approaches each hunt with humility and gratitude. When asked why he doesn't quit his job given his success in the hunting industry, his answer reveals his character: "I don't quit things. And I'm not going to start now." At fifty-three, Hanes continues to push boundaries, seeking new challenges and refusing to accept limitations. His journey from a troubled childhood in a small logging town to inspiring millions demonstrates the transformative power of finding one's passion and pursuing it without compromise. As he puts it: "Whatever path you choose, own it, be the best you can be, and don't apologize. Just keep hammering!"

Summary

Cameron Hanes' life embodies a profound truth: ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things through relentless dedication and the willingness to embrace discomfort. His journey from a broken home in rural Oregon to becoming an influential figure in bowhunting and endurance athletics wasn't fueled by natural talent or privilege, but by an unwavering commitment to self-improvement and the courage to defy conventional limitations. The "Keep Hammering" philosophy he lives by offers a powerful framework applicable to any pursuit—success comes not from sporadic brilliance but from consistent effort, day after day, regardless of obstacles or criticism. The most valuable lesson from Hanes' story is that finding your passion—your "tunnel-visioned driven purpose"—can transform not just your achievements but your entire life. Whether it's bowhunting, running, writing, parenting, or any other endeavor, the willingness to work harder than others, to sacrifice comfort for growth, and to persist through failure creates separation over time. For those seeking to push beyond their perceived limitations or to discover their own potential, Hanes provides both inspiration and a practical roadmap: identify what you love, commit to it completely, embrace the struggle rather than avoiding it, and remember that the journey itself—not just the destination—is where true transformation occurs.

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David Goggins

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