On this episode I launch the inaugural series "Best of Just Trek: Mixtrek Volume 1" in celebration of reaching 50 episodes of the show. This compilation series features the best stories and moments that I have ever heard on the show from our cast of special guests. Featured in this first compilation are Will Mattox aka @Tacoslayers, Victor Martinez (@latrailkillers), Daniel Zhu (@danielzhustance / @stanceelements), Complexion (@thefuturebeatsshow), Daisy Martinez (@elementsofdaisy), Mary Forgione (@maryforgionehikes / LA Times), William Vazquez (@weexploreearth), Ray Medearis (@californiahikinggroup), Mckenna Mobley (@mckmobley), Ayumi Nicole (@_chasingpeaks_), Matt Kerr (@from.matts.mat), and Sarah Nacario (@i.dream.i.do). They share stories from their outdoor adventures that highlight places such as Half Dome, Mount Whitney, Cactus to Clouds, Deep Creek, Mount Williamson, Katmai National Park, AZT aka Arizona Trail, and more. Consider this episode an adventure story sampler of the Just Trek Podcast with more compilation episodes to come! 

(6:12) - Will Mattox aka TacoSlayers

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On this episode I have LA based trekker, outdoor adventurer, environmental activist, native plant enthusiast, Author of “Day Hiking Los Angeles” and “Discovering Griffith Park”, and founder of Modern Hiker, Casey Schreiner, join me on the show. We chat about how the view of the San Gabriel mountains sparked his outdoor journey, the concept of place attachment in relation to landscapes, the origin story and evolution of Modern Hiker throughout the years, advocating for more LA park lands, his top SoCal hikes, hot weather and summer hiking tips, Sandstone Peak and the Mishe Mokwa Trail, becoming a native plant enthusiast, his perspective on the hiking explosion in LA, favorite Los Angeles history gems, creating access for all in the outdoors, protecting Griffith park from the Gondola project, and the one outdoor experience he would relive all over again. Since 2006, Casey and the Modern Hiker site have been quite the impactful and influential resources that we are blessed to have here in the LA hiking + outdoor community. It was a major honor to have him on the show as his trail guides were the foundation to my hiking journey. 

Follow Modern Hiker on https://www.instagram.com/modernhiker/

Visit Modern Hiker blog on https://modernhiker.com/

Purchase Discovering Griffith Park (signed copy) on http://discoveringgriffithpark.com/

Purchase Day Hiking in Los Angeles (signed copy) on http://dayhikinglosangeles.com/

Download Modern Hiker app on https://modernhiker.com/download-the-modern-hiker-app/

Support Just Trek on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/justtrek

Shop Just Trek merch on https://www.justtrek.net/shop

View photos from the discussed hikes on https://www.justtrek.net/explore

Listen to more podcast episodes on https://www.justtrek.net

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On this episode I share my insane adventure of experiencing Death Valley National Park for the first time ever. It was the most wild weekend I've ever had in a national park and quite possibly in the great outdoors. This immensely intriguing park is a land of extremes - it is the largest national park in the country, home to the Badwater Basin which is the lowest point in North America, and Death Valley has the hottest temperatures recorded in the world. Myself and the Just Trek Crew experienced everything from below sea level salt flats to high elevation peaks, sand dunes to volcanic craters, salt creeks full of fish to trippy rainbow colored canyons, Star Wars landscapes, and the sunrises, sunsets, star studded skies, and full moons here are just next level. I even share how I survived a heatstroke in the canyons and share the details of all our non-stop action packed adventures. I can literally say I survived and thrived in Death Valley National Park. 

The vastness of Death Valley is like none other, it has so much of nothing and so much of everything all at the same time. It is a must visit park land and I can not wait to go back and explore more desert magic. 

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View photos from the discussed hikes on https://www.justtrek.net/explore

Want to send me a message? Email me at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @just.trek

Like the show? Leave a 5 star rating and review follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now leave ratings on Spotify, so make sure to leave a 5 star rating on there as well!

Consider supporting the podcast by donating on anchor.fm/justtrek/support or on Venmo @justroc.

On this episode I have LA based trekker, roller blader & skater, outdoor adventurer, wellness advocate, community organizer, and founder of the LA Skate Hunnies, Jennifer Yonda, join me on the show. We chat about how Jen’s desire to be in nature led her from the East Coast to the West Coast, the backstory behind creating the LA Skate Hunnies, her top places to skate and favorite hiking trails in Los Angeles,  tips & advice for newbie skaters & bladers, hosting a Palms Springs Skatecation, how physical activities are a moving meditation, curating memorable experiences for her community, how skating and hiking has impacted her overall life, and the one skating and outdoor experience she would relive all over again. Jen is building a massively beautiful community through the LA Skate Hunnies while helping them find parallel tribes to help feed their soul.

Follow LA Skate Hunnies on https://www.instagram.com/la.skate.hunnies/

Join LA Skate Hunnies Facebook Grouop on https://www.facebook.com/groups/213341999904859/

Shop Just Trek merch on https://www.justtrek.net/shop

View photos from the discussed hikes on https://www.justtrek.net/explore

Listen to more podcast episodes on https://www.justtrek.net

Want to send me a message? Email me at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @just.trek

Like the show? Leave a 5 star rating and review follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Consider supporting the podcast by donating on anchor.fm/justtrek/support or on Venmo @justroc 

On this special edition, solo episode, I celebrate the podcast reaching its Two Year Anniversary along with my birthday. The show has grown quite alot from year 1 to year 2 with more incredible guests sharing their origin stories, outdoor adventures, tips and advice, and life lessons. This episode features intimate messages from the Just Trek community throughout the show. I share my biggest takeaways that I have learned from the guests and sharing highlights from my podcasting journey thus far. From the bottom of my heart, thank you everyone for another year of support. Let's keep on elevating one another up the mountains and in life. 

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Shop New Just Trek merch on https://www.justtrek.net/shop

View photos from the discussed hikes on https://www.justtrek.net/

Want to send me a message? Email me at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @just.trek

Like the show? Leave a 5 star rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Consider supporting the podcast by donating on anchor.fm/justtrek/support or on Venmo @justroc.

On this episode I have SoCal based trekker, peak bagger, trail steward, off trail adventurer, founder of Bushwacker’s Anonymous, and co-founder of Hike Revolution, Justin Williams (Rockhound Hiker), join me on the show. We chat about how Justin grew up in our local mountains and wilderness, the backstory behind Hike Revolution and Bushwacker’s Anonymous, trail maintenance, tragedies on Mount Baldy, his top SoCal mountains, tips & advice for off trail routes and backcountry hikes, the important of respecting the mountains, how the golden era of hiking in LA is back, and the one outdoor experience he would relive all over again. 

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Follow Bushwacker's Anonymous on https://www.instagram.com/bushwhackersanonymous/

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View photos from the discussed hikes on https://www.justtrek.net/explore

Listen to more podcast episodes on https://www.justtrek.net

On this episode I have SoCal based trekker, outdoor explorer, professional hiking guide, and creator of HikingGuy.com, Cris Hazzard, join me on the show. We chat about how taking an international corporate job sparked his outdoor journey, the backstory behind creating HikingGuy.com, his top SoCal trails, tips & advice for long day hikes & newbie hikers, tips for outdoor bloggers & writers, current gear recommendations, All Trails vs Gaia GPS, how hiking and nature has impacted his overall life, and the one outdoor experience he would relive all over again. Cris's hiking guides and virtual trail guides have been read and watched by millions online. I have personally been using his guides since the beginning of my hiking journey so having Cris on the show was a full circle moment and true honor to have him join us. 

Visit HikingGuy website on https://hikingguy.com/

Support HikingGuy (Affiliate Links): https://hikingguy.com/support-hiking-guy/

Watch HikingGuy Virtual Trail guides: https://www.youtube.com/c/Hikingguy

Follow Cris Hazzard on https://www.instagram.com/hikingguy_com

Shop Just Trek merch on https://www.justtrek.net/shop

View photos from the discussed hikes on https://www.justtrek.net/explore

Listen to more podcast episodes on https://www.justtrek.net

Want to send me a message? Email me at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @just.trek

On this episode I have LA based trekker, doctor of physical therapy, outdoor adventurer, and ultra peak bagger, Becca Dugan, join me on the show. We chat about how an international backpacking trip inspired her outdoor journey, completing the Fool's Traverse 11 Peak endurance challenge, climbing Middle Palisades in the Eastern Sierras, tips & advice for long day hikes and aspiring peak baggers, her sketchy adventure of sliding down a mountain, how summiting major peaks has impacted her life, and the one outdoor experience she would relive all over again. Becca has greatly inspired me through her peak bagging journey and is representing for the lady trekkers out there! She has accomplished many extremely, challenging routes in a relatively short period of time. Elevation truly is her recreation.

Follow Becca Duggan on https://www.instagram.com/becs.hikes/

Shop Just Trek merch on https://www.justtrek.net/shop

View photos from the discussed hikes on https://www.justtrek.net/explore

Listen to more podcast episodes on https://www.justtrek.net

Want to send me a message? Email me at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @just.trek

Like the show? Leave a 5 star rating and review follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Consider supporting the podcast by donating on anchor.fm/justtrek/support or on Venmo @justroc.

On this episode, I kickoff the 2022 New Year with a special edition, solo episode dedicated to Sandstone Peak which is known as the tallest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains (Pacific Palisades/Malibu area). It is a most special place in my hiking journey that I hope you visit one day whether you are a LA local or are visiting from out of town. Reflecting back on 2021, I made the pilgrimage back here numerous times and each time solidified why this is my favorite trek of all time. I share how I first discovered this mountain, my overall thoughts and feelings towards this place, recap some of my adventures here, and I open up about life events that led to my hiking journey. I talk about finding True North, the importance of physical activity, and the power of reinvention for leveling up in one's life. May this episode inspire you to get on out there and live your best outdoor life in 2022! 

Follow @justroc on https://www.instagram.com/justroc/ and @just.trek on https://www.instagram.com/just.trek/

Shop Just Trek merch on https://www.justtrek.net/shop

View photos from the discussed hikes on https://www.justtrek.net/explore

Want to send me a message? Email me at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @just.trek

Like the show? Leave a 5 star rating and review follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now leave ratings on Spotify, so make sure to leave a 5 star rating on there as well!

Consider supporting the podcast by donating on anchor.fm/justtrek/support or on Venmo @justroc.

On this episode I have LA based trekker, outdoor adventurer,  travel + outdoor writer, outings leader for the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, lead journalist & blogger for the LA Times,  editor of "The Wild" newsletter, and SoCal Great Outdoors advocate, Mary Forgione, join me on the show. We chat about why LA is one of the greatest hiking cities in the US, how Griffith Park sparked her journey, her top 3 hikes in LA, the launch of LA TIMES "The Wild" newsletter & the 24 page "Go Hiking in LA" comprehensive guide, summiting Mount Whitney since 1991, interviewing a quadriplegic on the trail, and tips & advice focusing on outdoor safety. We even talk about what makes the SoCal outdoors special from the rest of the country, and the one outdoor experience she would relive all over again. Mary is the ultimate advocate for the LA/SoCal Great Outdoors constantly inspiring her fellow Angelenos to get off their couch and explore what our incredible scene has to offer. 

Follow Mary Forgione on https://www.instagram.com/maryforgionehikes/

Sign up for The Wild newsletter on https://www.latimes.com/newsletters/the-wild

Drop Mary & The Wild a line at [email protected].

Check out the LA TIMES "Go Hiking in LA" special guide on https://lat.ms/3sjnvJj

Paralyzed Peaks Documentary https://bit.ly/3e95rJl

Shop Just Trek merch on https://www.justtrek.net/shop

View photos from the discussed hikes on https://www.justtrek.net/explore

Listen to more podcast episodes on https://www.justtrek.net

Want to send me a message? Email me at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @just.trek

Like the show? Leave a 5 star rating and review follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Consider supporting the podcast by donating on anchor.fm/justtrek/support or on Venmo @justroc.