On this solo episode, I share my raw thoughts and emotions of currently experiencing the most devastating wildfire in Los Angeles history. We have lost so many iconic trails, businesses, and entire densely populated neighborhoods have been scorched to the ground. At least 150,000 Angelenos have evacuated their homes, over 40,000 acres burned, over 12,000 structures destroyed, and at least 27 deaths.

This monologue takes  take you through the first 7 days of the fire and what it feels like to live through this historic ongoing crisis as an Angeleno who has rediscovered the city through the Great Outdoors and the local mountain communities. I cover LA’s long history with wildfires, the current impact of the Palisades & Eaton fires, how nature is resilient, delivering supplies to fire victims, volunteering around the city, and even share a past relevant conversation had with LA outdoor legend Casey Schreiner who is the founder of ModernHiker.com.

It's been a nightmare of a week but seeing how the entire LA community has rallied together so quickly to help those in need has been incredibly inspiring. Please keep LA in your prayers and donate to the following links below if possible.

GOFUNDME LINKS:

For Fabian https://gofund.me/ff330f04

For Zorthian Ranch https://gofund.me/e0371ef5

For Harry Mack https://gofund.me/904f473b

For Claire https://gofund.me/bb46e518

LA Fire Relief Resources → https://tinyurl.com/4tsnxe6t

Watch Hiking Guy news segment on https://tinyurl.com/2zwbrdya

Listen to Imperfect Paradise fire episode on https://tinyurl.com/ej6utcfb

Follow us on IG https://instagram.com/just.trek/

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

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

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 share my wild and action packed adventures through Colorado’s Rocky Mountain landscapes and Denver’s urban sprawl.

Join me on this unforgettable trip that included overcoming adversity & summiting an iconic Colorado 14er, trekking a section of the Continental divide trail, thrilling rides on a mountaintop adventure park, visiting one of the most legendary outdoor concert venues int he world, Denver urban explorations, underground cave sauna, sunrise at Garden of the Gods, and even high altitude wedding celebrations for an OG member of the #JustTrekCrew.

Follow us on IG instagram.com/just.trek/

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

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

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

For episode 75, I recorded an adventure banger of a show with fan favorite, Victor Martinez, at Kenneth Hahn State Park in Los Angeles. Victor is a SoCal based trekker, trail runner, backpacker, solo world traveler, Highlander Adventure ambassador, Merrell ambassador, community leader, and is the founder of the LA Trail Killers. Victor was also our EP 37 and EP 55 guest on the show!

I caught up with Victor and we chatted about all his unforgettable adventures from trail running Rim to Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon, summiting Half Dome in Yosemite on his birthday, the LA Trail Killers Philippines group trip, Highlander Adventure Costa Rica & France, and running 350 miles through the Atacama Desert in Chile for the notorious race entitled "The Speed Project."

This episode is part of the Trek Talks series where I record on trail conversations with fellow outdoor enthusiasts. It is more raw and candid perspective of our guest’s outdoor adventures as these conversations are more unscripted and in the moment. You can even hear the sounds of nature in the background as we are recording out on the trails.

**VIDEO VERSION ONLY AVAILABLE ON SPOTIFY APP + YOUTUBE CHANNEL , all other streaming platforms are audio versions**

Follow Victor Martinez on https://www.instagram.com/vic_of_earth/

Follow LA Trail Killers on https://www.instagram.com/latrailkillers

Follow Just Trek on https://www.instagram.com/just.trek/

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

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

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

**VIDEO VERSION ONLY AVAILABLE ON SPOTIFY APP + YOUTUBE CHANNEL , all other streaming platforms are audio versions** 

For episode 74, I recorded a special and impromptu trail conversation with Joseph Durkin aka The Hiking Chef in the Angeles National Forest in LA County. Joseph is a SoCal based hiker, professional chef & baker, outdoor content creator, and is the creator of the amazing YouTube channel The Hiking Chef. We chatted about the origin story of The Hiking Chef YouTube vlog series, his most memorable gourmet meals he’s cooked in the mountains, why California has the best hiking opportunities, the historic Echo Mountain resort, his famous Tomahawk Ribeye steak on Twin Peaks, his Iron Mountain cooking disaster, how hiking impacts our everyday lives, and he loves showcasing the best trails and hidden gems in California through his outdoor vlogs. 

This episode is part of the Trek Talks series where I record on trail conversations with fellow outdoor enthusiasts. It is more raw and candid perspective of my outdoor adventures as these conversations are more unscripted and in the moment. You can even hear the sounds of nature in the background as we are recording out on the trails. 

Follow Joseph Durkin on https://www.instagram.com/thehikingchef/

Subscribe to The Hiking Chef Youtube Channel on https://youtube.com/@thehikingchef

Follow Just Trek on https://www.instagram.com/just.trek/

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

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

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 adventure enthusiast, climber, military veteran, actor, TV personality, content creator, and Founder CEO of Trace Club, Christian de la Torre, join me on the show.

We chat about his first meaningful outdoor memories, the origin story to creating Trace Club, top outdoor destinations in California, outdoor tips & tricks, hosting a park nature cleanup series, how we first met on a sunset group trek , our first community collab event at Trail Canyon Falls in the Angeles National Forest, our second community collab event at the historic Nike Missile Site in the Santa Monica Mountains, the power of climbing and being present, how being a military veteran has impacted his outlook on life, working in the entertainment industry, equestrian therapy, and the one outdoor experience he would relive all over again.

Follow Christian on https://www.instagram.com/christiandelatorre/

Follow Trace Club on https://www.instagram.com/trace.club/

Visit Trace Club's website on https://www.thetraceclub.com/

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

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

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 share my magical solo adventure of exploring Channel Islands National Park for the first time ever. It is California's most underrated island, one of the least visited national parks in the entire country, and is considered the Galapagos Islands of North America.

Join me on this action packed day trip that included wildlife sightings, choppy boat rides, an epic 10 mile trek, and almost ended with me being stranded on the island. What made this trip even more special was that I did it spontaneously during my birthday week.

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

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

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 SoCal based trekker, climber, peak bagger, mountaineer, and mountain dancer, Brett Patrontasch aka Summit Shuffler, join me on the show.

We chat about his first hiking memories, top trails in California, hiking hacks & tips, summit shuffle dancing and climbing iconic peaks such as Mount Whitney & the Matterhorn, how dancing and climbing both fulfill him, the Pacific Northwest vs Southern California outdoor scene, his most dangerous on trail experience, how scaling mountains has impacted his overall life, and the one outdoor experience he would relive all over again.

Follow Brett on ⁠https://www.instagram.com/summitshuffler

Watch Youtube version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msWgx5Qzlo0

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

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

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 Pacific Northwest based trekker, peak bagger, outdoor adventurer, founder of the Yakima Valley Trekkers, and the voice behind the Hikes And Mics Podcast, Ivan Orozco, join me on the show.

We chat about his  first hiking memories, the origin story to creating the Hikes and Mics Podcast, top trails in the Pacific Northwest, hiking hacks & tips, experiencing a Star Wars / Mandalorian inspired group trek in Los Angeles, creating Yakima Valley Trekkers & hosting his first ever group hike, the Pacific Northwest vs Southern California outdoor scene, a magical wildlife encounter, and the one outdoor experience he would relive all over again.

Follow Ivan on https://www.instagram.com/hikesandmics and https://www.instagram.com/yvtrekkers/

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

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

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 release the full recording from our second ever live podcast show. It was filmed at the Just Trek Podcast 4 Year Anniversary celebration on Sat, April 6th at the Happier Camper Outdoor Showroom + Happier Cafe here in Los Angeles. The guest panel featured SoCal Hometown Heroes such as Karla Amador (founder of @52hikechallenge), Cris Hazzard (creator of HikingGuy.com), Anjelica Avella (Lead Protagonist / Story Producer in the film “Forward”), and myself as the moderator. We chatted about each of their impactful work in the community, their most meaningful outdoor adventures / nature experiences, what the community each has cultivated has taught them, and the one must do experience that any outdoor enthusiast should at least do once.  After the group discussion, we opened up a live Q&A to the audience so that everyone could join in on the fun and ask the guests their own questions. The overall group panel talk was inspirational, impactful, informative, entertaining, and a blast of time.

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Filmed at the Just Trek Podcast 4 Year Anniversary 4.6.24

Watch Youtube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyo5fdGGj4Q

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

Cotopaxi - https://www.cotopaxi.com/

KEEN - https://www.keenfootwear.com/

52 Hike Challenge - https://www.52hikechallenge.com/

Parch - https://drinkparch.com/

Juneshine - https://juneshine.com/

Easy Rider - https://drinkeasyrider.co/

Tony’s Chocolonely - https://tonyschocolonely.com/us/en

Event was in partnership with Happier Camper, Happier Cafe, and Tada Coffee. 

Use code “TADAATREK” on https://happiercamper.com/ for an exclusive upgrade to any camper purchase. With this code you receive and choose one of two options 1) Full-shell Gel Coat of any standard color (Mojave Sage, Palms Springs Yellow, Venice Breeze, Topanga Turquoise) valued at $1,500.00 or 2) $1,500.00 of Adaptiv Credit towards a custom made-to-order camper.

Follow our guest panelists on instagram www.instagram.com/lovekarlamador,  www.instagram.com/52hikechallenge,  www.instagram.com/hikingguy_com, and  www.instagram.com/adventureswithanjelica

Support Just Trek on Patreon 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

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

On this episode I have SoCal based trekker, peak bagger, outdoor content creator, and solo world traveler, Tomasa aka @iamoneness11, join me on the show.

We chat about her first hiking memories, her top mountains in California, top international treks, hiking hacks & solo travel tips, what sparked her passion for solo adventuring, her love for Cotopaxi the outdoor brand, the importance of solo exploring, her intense volcano experience, her international travels to Iceland & Banff, Mount Baldy winter wonderland adventures, and the one outdoor experience she would relive all over again.

Follow Tomasa on https://www.instagram.com/iamoneness11/

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

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

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

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