Episode 39
Ep 039. John Muir Trail Day 3 (Trail Series). Summiting Mount Whitney, Blister Battles, and a Cheesecake Fail
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.
Today was a huge milestone on the trail—we summited Mount Whitney! It’s the official start point for northbound JMT hikers, and the 3,000 ft sunrise climb from Guitar Lake made for an epic morning.
We soaked in summit views, shared a snack break with strangers (some naked, some not 😅), and reflected on how it felt to officially begin our long walk north.
Back at camp, we dealt with emerging blister issues, talked about our feet (a lot), and closed the day with a wildly disappointing attempt at backcountry cheesecake.
In this episode:
- Climbing Mount Whitney at sunrise (Michael’s first time, Allison’s second)
- Unexpected summit entertainment 🙈
- First real blister drama of the trip
- The magic of Guitar Lake… when you have it to yourself
- Polar plunges, trout attempts, and a cheesecake recipe gone wrong
🎧 Tune in and walk with us—this trail is just getting started.
JMT Resources on the Blog:
- 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
Where to learn more about Allison:
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