Just Trek Podcast

On this episode I have SoCal based trekker, outdoor adventurer, certified California naturalist, permaculture practitioner, herbalist, and founder of Inner Garden Wellness, Jaskrit Bhalla, join me on the show. We chat about how a profound international hiking experience impacted her as a pre-teen, how she became obsessed with the plant kingdom, how working at a regenerative farm deepened her relationship to the natural world, the origin story to creating Inner Garden Wellness, top SoCal hikes, reconnecting with the land, what community means to her, our collaboration group hike in the Santa Monica Mountains, her favorite native plants, her unforgettable European travel adventures, and the one outdoor experience she would re-live all over again. Jaskrit is making quite the impact in the SoCal community with her in depth knowledge and unique offerings from plant identification nature walks to transformative roundtable dinners, and much more.

Follow Inner Garden Wellness on https://www.instagram.com/innergarden/

Visit Inner Garden website on https://www.innergarden-wellness.com/

Learn more about Friends of the Wild on https://www.friendsofthewild.club/

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

On this episode I have California based trekker, outdoor adventurer, community leader, and founder of iconic hiking groups Everyone's Hike & Dodgers Blue Hiking Crew, Carlos Berruz, join me on the show. We chat about his outdoor awakening at Griffith Park, the origin story to creating his two hiking groups, mobilizing several thousands of Angelenos into the Great Outdoors, hiking tips & advice, his current observations of the SoCal hiking scene, top California hikes, the NorCal outdoor scene vs the SoCal scene, and the one outdoor experience he would re-live all over again. Carlos' social platforms are far reaching and he is a most beloved figure in the SoCal outdoor community that EVERYONE KNOWS. He changed the landscape of LA/SoCal group hiking and it was an honor to have such an impactful community leader on the show.

Follow Carlos Berruz on https://www.instagram.com/everyoneshike/, https://www.instagram.com/dodgersbluehikingcrew/, https://www.instagram.com/a_lot_of_miles_and_smiles/

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 the unforgettable community collaboration group hikes that we hosted during the month of May 2023. I felt compelled to do a solo episode as it was quite the action packed month filled with many full circle moments. I had the opportunity to co-host a group hike to Sandstone Peak with the outdoor writing legend Casey Schreiner (Founder of Modern Hiker), a 4 peak challenge in the San Gabriel Mountains with beloved hiking groups LA Trail Killers, OutAdv+, and SweatSoGuud, a #WeHikeToHeal sunset trek to Echo Mountain with the powerful spirit Karla Amador (Founder of the 52 Hike Challenge), and even had a collaboration with the Spotify for Podcasters team around the topic of community building. Co-hosting these adventures with some of the most inspiring leaders in the outdoor community was powerful & impactful and what makes it all extra special is that each individual was a previous podcast guest on this very show. Enjoy my trek reflections as I take you along with me on these epic outdoor adventures.

Follow our collaborators on IG: https://www.instagram.com/modernhiker/, https://www.instagram.com/latrailkillers/, https://www.instagram.com/sweatsoguud/, https://www.instagram.com/_outadvplus_/, https://www.instagram.com/52hikechallenge/

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

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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

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 first ever live podcast show. It was filmed at the Just Trek Podcast 3 Year Anniversary celebration on Sunday, April 2nd at Party Beer Co. in Los Angeles. The guest panel featured local legends Robert Martinez (creator of Parliament of Owls), Mary Forgione (former editor at LA Times The Wild),  Daisy Martinez (founder of Wellness on the Trails), and myself as the moderator. We chatted about what makes the LA + SoCal Great Outdoors so great for each one of them personally, their feelings towards the historical rainfall and massive snow storms that slammed our region, how spending extensive time in nature has impacted their overall life, and the one must do experience every Angeleno & SoCal outdoor enthusiast should do in their life at least 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 such a blast of time.

Follow our guest panelists on instagram www.instagram.com/parliament0f0wls, www.instagram.com/elementsofdaisy, and www.instagram.com/maryforgionehikes

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 release the "Best of Just Trek: Mixtrek Volume 2" in celebration of the podcast reaching the 3 year anniversary milestone. This second compilation features the best stories and moments that I have ever heard on the show from our cast of special guests. Featured in this compilation are Robert Martinez (@Parliament0f0wls), Casey Schreiner (@ModernHiker), Veronica Castro (@SweatSoGuud), Jeff Hester (@TheSoCalHiker / @SixPackOfPeaks), Jen Yonda (@LA.Skate.Hunnnies), Victor Martinez (@Vic_Of_Earth / @LATrailKillers), Cris Hazzard (@Hikingguy_com), Dora Santana (@Hiking_Lotusflower), Mitchel Dumlao (@MitchelDumlao), Stefan Fagerholm (@LifeHacksLA), Noah Klein (@FeelsLikeFloating), Cisko (@HikerFighter @BehindTheSufferAndPain), and Karla Amador (@52HikeChallenge).

They share stories from their outdoor adventures that highlight places such as the Angeles National Forest, Mount Whitney, John Muir Trail, Eastern Sierras, Cotopaxi, Cactus to Clouds, Backbone Trail & Santa Monica mountains, San Gorgonio, Mt Charleston, Mount Baldy, Mount Baden Powell, Palos Verdes and more. Consider this episode an adventure story sampler of the Just Trek Podcast.

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

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 & backpacker, nature spiritual teacher, world traveler, outdoor entrepreneur, and founder & Chief Hiking Officer of the 52 Hike Challenge, Karla Amador, join me on the show. We chat about how divorce and a spiritual moment on Mt. Whitney birthed a global hiking challenge, the origin stories of the 52 Hike Challenge and the evolution of the platform, her top 3 SoCal hikes, impactful finisher stories from the challenge, hiking hacks for day hikers + backpackers, her campout experience learning from elders of 20 different tribes, major takeaways from her first Burning Man experience, how she overcame the first & second hardest years of her life, hiking for healing, and the one outdoor experience she would relive all over again. Karla inspires the community to complete one hike, every week, for an entire year to see the transformational physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits from spending more time out in Mother nature. Karla's overall platform is far reaching and is a most influential resource in the global outdoor community that has changed hundreds of thousands of lives one step and one hike at a time. It was an honor to have such an impactful and beautiful soul on the show.  

Follow Karla Amador on https://www.instagram.com/lovekarlaamador/ and 52 Hike Challenge on https://www.instagram.com/52hikechallenge/

Sign up now for the 2023 52 Hike Challenge on https://www.52hikechallenge.com/

Like 52 Hike Challenge on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/52hikechallenge

Take their Hiking 101 Course on https://www.52hikechallenge.com/products/52-hike-challenge-hiking-101-course

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 trekker & backpacker, flautist & naturalist, experience curator, community leader, eco-musicologist, and Co-Founder of Feels Like Floating, Noah Klein aka Noah the Naturalist, join me on the show. We chat about his love for the Santa Monica mountains, his epic adventure hiking the 67 mile Backbone trail, the origin story of the "Feels like Floating" weekly outdoor art series, becoming a certified naturalist, curating legendary music experiences in Mother Nature, the Feels Like Floating x Vasquez Rocks collaboration, his top 3 LA hikes, the healing power of nature, LA's rich history of community organizing & community of activism, and the one outdoor experience he would relive all over again.

Follow Noah Klein on https://www.instagram.com/no_______________ah/ and https://www.instagram.com/feelslikefloating/

View upcoming Feels Like Floating events on https://www.feelslikefloating.com/

Text "cloud emoji" to 310-421-0869 to get updates on Feels Like Floating events.

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

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

On this episode I have THE SoCal hiker, outdoor adventurer, peak bagger, backpacker, community leader, co-host of the Almost There Adventure Podcast, founder of SoCal Hiker Blog, and Chief Adventure Officer of the Six Pack of Peaks Challenge, Jeff Hester, join me on the show. We chat about how a mountain bike accident sparked a national hiking challenge, completing the John Muir Trail twice (30 years apart!), the origin stories of the SoCal hiker blog and the Six Pack of Peaks Challenge Series, his top 3 SoCal hikes, hiking hacks for day hikers + backpackers, the SoCal hiking community in comparison to other  communities in the country, his deep passion for backpacking, and the one outdoor experience he would relive all over again. Jeff's overall platform is a massive and influential resource to outdoor communities all across the nation. He constantly inspires the community to flex their adventure muscles and to challenge themselves to break through their own barriers and climb that epic mountain. Jeff's Six Pack of Peaks challenge has completely changed hundreds of thousands of life including my own. It was an honor to have him on the show. 

Follow Jeff Hester on https://www.instagram.com/thesocalhiker/ and https://www.instagram.com/sixpackofpeaks/

Register now for the Six Pack of Peaks Challenge 2023 on https://sixpackofpeaks.com/

Check out the SoCal Hiker blog on https://socalhiker.net/

Join SoCal Hikers Facebook Group on https://www.facebook.com/groups/889877821073036

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 trekker, peak bagger, outdoor adventurer, solo world traveler, Korea Town Run Club member, mindfulness advocate, community leader, and  founder of the LA Trail Killers, Victor Martinez, join me on the show for the second time (he last appeared as our EP 37 guest on the show). We chat about him quitting the corporate life and solo world traveling through South America, celebrating the 5 year anniversary of LA Trail Killers in the Angeles National Forest, his top outdoor adventures on his international travels, working on an organic farm in Peru, tips & advice for solo travelers, exploring a desert oasis, the Bolivian salt flats, major takeaways he learned from his travels, becoming an official ambassador for Highlander USA, and the one place from his travels he wish he could teleport back to. Vic's solo world adventures have been a massive inspiration to his community back in Los Angeles - he is the definition of locally respected and worldwide connected. 

Follow Victor Martinez and LA Trail Killers on https://www.instagram.com/vic_of_earth/ and https://www.instagram.com/latrailkillers/

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 trekker, outdoor adventurer, community builder, wellness advocate, and founder of @SweatSoGuud, Veronica Castro, join me on the show. Veronica has been blessing the outdoor scene with her wellness group hikes and is a female community leader we should all pay attention to. We chat about her very first hiking memories, scrambling up the Hollywood Sign, the backstory behind creating SweatSoGuud, incorporating wellness into group hikes, her partnership with @SelfWorkByMe, her top 3 trails in Los Angeles, the importance of inner work, tips and advice for long day hikes & newbie hikers, hiking for healing, exploring a Santa Monica mountain trail gem, her Mexico adventures, highs and lows from her Mt Whitney backpacking journey, her passion for dance and live music, and the one outdoor experience she would re-live all over again.

Follow SweatSoGuud on https://www.instagram.com/sweatsoguud/

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

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

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