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 LoopHow I’ve evolved as an adventurer over the past 12+ yearsWhy learning to embrace the hard parts of a journey changes everythingThe power of neutrality and presence—finding peace in discomfortHow challenges on the trail shape your identity and confidence in lifeThis 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):She Dreams of Alpine BlogInstagram @shedreamsofalpineReady to challenge yourself this summer?The Adventurous Reinvention Experience (2025 SPOTS OPEN SOON!): This is a high-touch group coaching program and in-person adventure retreat. It is a transformative experience. It’s an adventure to reinvent yourself AND an in-person backpacking adventure with me and my team. If you want to join the waitlist for the 2025 experience, you can join the Adventurous Reinvention Experience waitlist here. Enrollment for this experience will open in late March 2025. Coaching together begins in May 2025, and our in-person adventures typically take place in late July or early August.🎁 FREE GIFT: Grab the Outdoor Backpacker Starter Kit for FREE here to get started on your journey with backpacking.🥾 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.