133 : Solo On The John Muir Trail | Preparing to Hike 250 Miles Alone (Sam's Prep)

Two hundred and fifty miles sounds heroic until you do the math: high altitude starts around 9,000 feet, relentless climbs that add up to roughly 55,000 feet, and the daily reality of moving through the Sierra Nevada with a fully loaded pack. We’re recording right before Sam steps onto the John Muir Trail, and we get painfully honest about what “prepared” actually means when you’re going solo for 20 plus days.We talk through the permit lottery, why she’s hiking northbound from Cottonwood Pass, and how weather windows, resupply exits, and wilderness rules shape every decision. Then we go deeper into the backstory that makes this more than a thru-hike: the grief of losing her brother, the choice to carry his ashes to a specific pass, and the way solitude in nature becomes an initiation rather than just an adventure.If you’ve ever tried to come back after setbacks, this will hit. Sam shares how she rebuilt  her mental and physicial body after gut infections, a major back injury, back surgery, and months of physical therapy. Plus, the training principles that actually translate to mountain travel: strength and mobility first, slow progression, nutrition that supports recovery, and a mindset that refuses “summit at any cost.” We also cover real trail safety, from bears and bear canisters to river crossings, snow travel, Garmin inReach planning, and why trusting your gut can be the difference between a great story and a rescue.Subscribe, share this with a friend training for a big goal, and leave a review with the hardest thing you’re preparing for right now.Send us Fan Mail Follow Coach Polly @getbusythriving and Coach Sam @thesamanthapruitt Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/everydayawesomeprojectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/everydayawesomeprojectLinktree for ALL THE THINGS: https://linktr.ee/everydayawesomeprojectWebsite/About Us: https://everydayawesomeproject.com/about-us/