Ep 037. John Muir Trail Day 1 (Trail Series). A Long First Day, Sandy Trails, and Golden Trout

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.Day 1 is in the books! In today’s trail diary, we reflect from inside our tent after hiking 14+ miles from Cottonwood Pass to Rock Creek Ford. We share what it was like to finally start the JMT, deal with the reality of heavy packs and sandy trails, and find joy in our first camp (and Michael’s first trout catch!).In this episode:What it felt like to finally step onto the trailHow our bodies handled the first big mileage dayAllison’s gear pain pointsMichael’s pack upgrade & gear thoughtsFly fishing magic at camp—and filtering water with the BeFreeJMT Resources on the Blog:The Stress-Free Guide to John Muir Trail PermitsThe Ultimate John Muir Trail Planning Guide15 Reasons I’m Excited to Hike the John Muir TrailWhere to learn more about Allison:She Dreams of Alpine BlogInstagram @shedreamsofalpine🎁 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.