Welcome to the John Muir Trail Podcast Series - I'm taking a little summer break from the podcast while I head off on some new adventures (and guide some epic client trips too!). But I didn’t want to leave you hanging—so I’m sharing something special: a never-before-released Trail Series from our John Muir Trail thru-hike.

These short, behind-the-scenes episodes take you day by day through our journey on the JMT, including all the real, raw moments along the way. Enjoy!

We’re kicking off the JMT Trail Series with Day 0—aka, all the chaos before we even hit the trail. In this episode, Michael and I talk through our final prep day before starting our 2020 John Muir Trail thru-hike, including our alternate route decision, permit challenges, and the emotional rollercoaster of dealing with massive California wildfires.

If you’ve ever planned a big backpacking trip and felt overwhelmed by logistics, weather, or “what-ifs,” this one’s for you.

In this episode:

• Why we started south of Whitney instead of at the portal
• Our original 22-day hiking plan
• How wildfire smoke nearly canceled the trip
• The backup route we almost took (Shepherd Pass!)
• Last-minute changes and mindset shifts to stay safe and flexible

• The Stress-Free Guide to John Muir Trail Permits
• The Ultimate John Muir Trail Planning Guide
• 15 Reasons I’m Excited to Hike the John Muir Trail

• She Dreams of Alpine Blog
• Instagram @shedreamsofalpine

🥾 BACKPACKING COURSE WAITLIST: This is our signature program where we teach you how to become a safe, confident, and self-sufficient backpacker. It's an online course, coaching program, and community to support you in your journey to becoming a confident backpacker and step into your adventurous identity.