 |
Just Trek PodcastAuthor: Justin "Justroc" Rimon
Do you love adventure and the great outdoors? Then give this adventure podcast a listen and hear transformational conversations and stories from inspirational hikers, outdoor entrepreneurs, solo world travelers, environmentalists, writers, and creatives from the LA SoCal community and beyond. Learns tips & tricks for exploring, life lessons from our guests, discover new places to explore, and how spending time in nature can improve your mental health. We aim to inspire, motivate, and elevate you to a higher well being through these adventure filled conversations. Follow on IG: @just.trek Language: en Genres: Sports, Wilderness Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
Listen Now...
#106 | Trails & Tribulations Vol. 5 - Three Apples and a Prayer: Surviving a 60 Mile Vision Quest in the San Gabriel Mountains - Justin Williams (Rockhound Hiker)
Monday, 23 February, 2026
In this volume of the Trails & Tribulations series on the Just Trek podcast, I welcome back SoCal trekker, Justin Williams aka @RockhoundHiker, to recount a 2016 “vision quest” style thru-hike across Southern California’s mighty San Gabriel Mountains. Starting at Ling Yen Mountain Temple near the Etiwanda Preserve, Justin set out severely underprepared—carrying only water and three apples—on a roughly multi-day, ~60-mile push toward St. Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo, California. Along the way he commits to dangerous off-trail terrain, including climbing multiple 40–50 foot dry waterfalls with loose rock, an all-night bushwhack through thorny buckthorn and a wrong turn that sends him up a rugged ridge to Etiwanda Peak before reconnecting to the route toward Cucamonga Peak and Baldy. As heat, dehydration, and electrolyte depletion set in, he vomits repeatedly, naps in a cave to escape the sun, accepts help from hikers. He shares memorable encounters—especially meeting Mr. Kim on Mt. Baldy, a hiker on a personal pilgrimage for Korean reunification who later died on the mountain—and describes being emotionally shaken by a memorial to PCT hikers who died in snow, prompting reflection on the consequences of risk and who we leave behind. Have you ever experienced a survival moment or learned a tough lesson on the trail? Maybe you got lost, faced sudden weather, encountered wildlife, or found yourself pushed to your limits in ways you didn’t expect. Trails & Tribulations is the space where those stories come to life, inspiring and connecting the outdoor community. If any of these resonates with you, we'd love to hear YOUR story!Submit your story on https://tinyurl.com/47jdbvau for a chance to be featured or send us an email on justtrekofficial@gmail.comFollow Justin Williams on https://www.instagram.com/rockhoundhikerFollow Just Trek on IG https://www.instagram.com/just.trek/Support Just Trek on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/justtrekShop Just Trek merch on https://www.justtrek.net/shopListen to more podcast episodes on https://www.justtrek.netWant to send me a message? Email me at justtrekofficial@gmail.com or DM on Instagram @just.trek
