Jim weighs the advantages and disadvantages of going solo or with others on his John Muir Trail backpack. Practicalities mean he "goes it alone" for most of the more-than-200-mile trek. Early on he decides that one way to combat loneliness is to chat up the occasional hiker he meets in the backcountry.

His first segment is a 25-mile day hike from Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows, with nearly 6000 feet of elevation gain. It's a long day with unexpected encounters and a major mishap.