Ep 044. John Muir Trail Day 10 (Trail Series). Mather Pass, Raining Ash, and Tough Decisions Ahead

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 10 was big—both in mileage and emotion. We climbed Mather Pass early in the morning, took in its wide-open views, and then descended the iconic Golden Staircase. It was one of our longest days so far, but the terrain felt surprisingly manageable... until smoke began to fill the air again.At camp, we started hearing reports of new fire evacuations nearby, and we were forced to face a difficult trail reality: what happens if the JMT closes?In this episode:Climbing Mather Pass and savoring a smoke-filtered viewDescending the Golden StaircaseHunger painsWildfire updates from my friendBig decisions ahead🎧 Hit play for one of our longest and most uncertain days on the trail.JMT 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.