Episode 21

Ep 021. What the Royal Arch Loop Revealed About Who I’ve Become (Trail Series Finale)

The Royal Arch Loop Trail Series has been a brutal, beautiful, and transformative journey—and in this final episode, I’m reflecting on what this toughest backpacking trip yet revealed about who I’ve become as an adventurer.

After four days of extreme heat, high-consequence terrain, and deep exhaustion, I realized something powerful: I’ve changed.

In this episode, I’m sharing what this adventure taught me about growth, mindset, and resilience—and why learning to navigate challenges on the trail translates to every other part of life.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

  • The biggest lessons I took away from the Royal Arch Loop
  • How I’ve evolved as an adventurer over the past 12+ years
  • Why learning to embrace the hard parts of a journey changes everything
  • The power of neutrality and presence—finding peace in discomfort
  • How challenges on the trail shape your identity and confidence in life

This isn’t just a reflection on a backpacking trip—it’s about how adventure transforms who you are. If you’ve ever struggled through a hard trail and wondered, Why did I sign up for this?!, this episode is for you.

Learn more about your host, Allison (aka She Dreams of Alpine):

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About the Podcast

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The Adventurous Reinvention
A podcast all about reinventing yourself (inside and out) through outdoor adventure

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About your host

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Allison Boyle

I teach women how to become safe, confident, and self-sufficient backpackers – no matter what level of experience or time in their life they’re starting from.