Just Trek Podcast

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

Just Trek Podcast is a sports podcast hosted by Justin "Justroc" Rimon, with 120 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Justin "Justroc" Rimon hosts Just Trek Podcast, a sports show with 120 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Just Trek Podcast

  #118 | In The Shadow of Giants: Cloud's Rest & Mount Langley — Beyond Half Dome & Mount Whitney | Narrated by Justin "Justroc" Rimon

  Aug 18, 20261h 3m

  In this solo episode special, I head deep into California’s Sierra Nevada to take on two incredible peaks that live in the shadow of their more famous neighbors: Cloud’s Rest and Mount Langley . Just 2 weeks apart, I day hiked Cloud’s Rest in Yosemite, standing at 9,926 feet and looking down on Half Dome, a summit I’ve completed twice - before heading to the Eastern Sierra for a massive 22+ mile journey to the 14,032-foot summit of Mount Langley. Seven years after standing on top of Mount Whitney for my first California 14er, I was now standing on its neighboring 14er, looking back at Whitney from an entirely new perspective. Along the way, I share the full adventure from car camping and acclimating high in the Sierra to the breathtaking Cottonwood Lakes, New Army Pass, brutal high-altitude summit pushes, alpine cold plunges, a failed water filter, and some unforgettable encounters with fellow hikers and friends. But this episode goes beyond the miles and summits. It’s a story about perspective, looking back at mountains that represent earlier chapters of my life, seeing them through completely different eyes, and discovering that sometimes the most unforgettable adventures are waiting beyond the bucket list... in the shadow of giants. Learn more about hiking Cloud's Rest: https://hikingguy.com/hikes/clouds-rest/ Learn more about hiking Mt Langley: https://tinyurl.com/yn886km3 Follow Just Trek on https://instagram.com/just.trek Shop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠ Support Just Trek on Patreon on https://www.patreon.com/justtrek Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠ Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠justtrekofficial@gmail.com⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

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  Just Trek Podcast

  #117 | Trails & Tribulations Vol. 7 – Racing a Colorado Thunderstorm: A Near-Fatal Fall on Mount Shavano, a Colorado 14er - Gina Franco & Dylan

  Aug 4, 20261h 22m

  In this volume of the Trails & Tribulations series, I chat with Gina Franco, a SoCal based marathon runner, breast cancer survivor, and new to hiking convert, about her first Colorado 14er attempt on Mount Shavano (14,230 ft) with her 18 yr old son Dylan - a summit push that turned into a life threatening descent just two weeks before this recording. Gina shares how receiving a Mount Whitney permit inspired the mother-son duo to dive headfirst into hiking only four months earlier, tackling Southern California peaks before traveling to Colorado to continue their training. What began as a carefully planned first fourteener quickly unraveled as altitude, dehydration, summit fever, and a fast-moving afternoon thunderstorm combined into a perfect storm of events. Racing to get below treeline, Gina caught her toe on a steep boulder step and was launched headfirst into the rocks, suffering a severely broken wrist, a broken elbow, a concussion, cracked rib, and multiple facial injuries while five miles from the trailhead. With only her son beside her, Gina recounts the terrifying moment she believed she was going to die on the mountain, the critical decision to activate a Garmin inReach SOS, and the incredible kindness of Colorado Fourteeners Initiative trail crew members who helped guide her safely off the mountain. Along the way, she shares invaluable lessons about turnaround times, why experienced Colorado hikers aim to be back below treeline by noon, how dramatically altitude changes hydration and pacing, why most hiking accidents happen on the descent, and the importance of knowing how to use your emergency communication devices before you ever need them. This is a story about resilience, preparation, humility, and the life-saving lessons that can emerge from one of the hardest days you'll ever experience in the mountains. 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.com Follow Gina Franco on https://www.instagram.com/runner_girl_g Check out the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative more on https://www.14ers.org/ Weather resources: https://www.mountain-forecast.com/ https://www.noaa.gov/ Follow Just Trek on IG 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 ⁠⁠justtrekofficial@gmail.com⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

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  Just Trek Podcast

  #116 | From Solo Female Backpacking Across the U.S. to Building Les Ventures: Cowgirl Camping & Climbing Mt. Whitney's Snow Covered 99 Switchbacks with Melanie Daisy

  Jul 21, 20262h 26m

  On this episode, I am joined by a SoCal based outdoor adventurer, solo backpacker, traveler, community builder, outdoor creator, and founder of Les Ventures - Melanie Daisy. We dive into Mel's outdoor roots from boulder hopping in the Mojave Desert with her mom as a kid to discovering trail maintenance in Laguna Canyon as a source of healing during a difficult divorce. That connection to the land sparked her solo backpacking journey and ultimately led to the creation of her backpacking group Les Ventures. Mel shares how solo backpacking became a love letter to herself - proving she could take care of herself in the wild. She also talks about cowgirl camping under the stars, living nomadically out of her car, and building a community where people of all ages come together to adventure, connect, and heal through nature. Mel opens up about embracing her Yaqui/Perpetua and Viking heritage, earning the trail name "Xena," her favorite trails across the country, summiting Mount Whitney in early June by breaking trail through the snow covered 99 switchbacks, completing Cactus to Clouds twice, solo female backpacking safety, and her powerful experiences visiting Native Nations across the U.S., including walking the Trail of Tears barefoot in Arkansas. Whether you're healing from something difficult, thinking about your first solo adventure, or simply need a reminder that the mountains are always calling, this conversation is filled with resilience, inspiration, and a deep love for the outdoors and reverance of the land. Stay Updated with Melanie & Les Ventures on social media: https://www.tiktok.com/@les.ventures https://www.instagram.com/camp.letsventure https://www.instagram.com/meldaisyg Lean more about Les Ventures on https://www.lesventures.net/ Follow Just Trek on https://instagram.com/just.trek Shop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠ Become a Just Trek Patron member on https://www.patreon.com/justtrek Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠ Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠justtrekofficial@gmail.com⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

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  Just Trek Podcast

  #115 | Camping with Fools: Anticipating the 11 Peak Madness of the legendary Fools Traverse Challenge

  Jul 7, 202638 min

  On this episode, I sat down with a bunch of damn Fools! And what I mean by that is they’re all participants of the legendary Fool’s Traverse Challenge. Back on Saturday, June 13th, our good friends over at TRVRS Outdoors hosted their infamous Fool’s Traverse — an absolutely brutal 11 peak endurance challenge through the mountains of the Mount Baldy region. If you’re a longtime listener of the pod, this adventure might already sound familiar. I actually dedicated an entire solo episode to my first attempt back in 2021 on Episode 40. This year, I wanted to approach the challenge a little differently and be more strategic. Instead of waking up in the middle of the night and driving into the mountains, I decided to camp at Manker Flats Campground the evening before. The plan was simple: get a good night’s rest, wake up already on the mountain, and walk straight over to the check-in table at 2am. As it turned out, a few friends and fellow trekkers had the exact same idea. Before we knew it, our neighboring campsites turned into a mini pre-adventure gathering filled with good conversations, laughs, and all the nervous excitement before a massive mountain challenge. Luckily, I had my mobile podcast setup with me because, as you know, you gotta stay ready rocksteady. I grabbed the gear, hit record, and captured an impromptu campsite conversation before we all stepped into the peak-bagging abyss. Joining me around camp were Denise & Matt Graves, Warren Hikes, Seth, and myself. We talked about how each of us discovered the Fool’s Traverse, what inspired us to take on one of Southern California’s toughest mountain endurance challenges, our favorite sections and peaks along the route, and the mindset needed to tackle something this intense. Stick around until the end of the episode to find out how each of us performed on challenge day and to hear my personal trek reflections from another unforgettable Fool’s Traverse experience. Follow the Camp Fool's Crew: https://www.instagram.com/warrenhikes https://www.instagram.com/lost_on_a_planet https://www.instagram.com/denisebgraves https://www.instagram.com/mattgraves https://www.instagram.com/justroc Follow TRVRS Outdoors on https://www.instagram.com/trvrsoutdoors Check out TRVRS Outdoors trip reports, apparel, and gear on https://www.trvrsoutdoors.com/ Follow Just Trek on https://instagram.com/just.trek Shop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠ Become a Just Trek Patron member on https://www.patreon.com/justtrek Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠ Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠justtrekofficial@gmail.com⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

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  Just Trek Podcast

  #114 | From Long Beach to the Amazon Rainforest: Valeree Catangay's Journey Through Art, Birds & Climate Justice

  Jun 23, 20261h 48m

  On this episode, I sit down with LA based visual artist, illustrator, climate strategist, birder, wildlife photographer, and outdoor adventurer Valeree Catangay at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Los Angeles, California. Val takes me through her Long Beach roots, how Animal Planet and Tree Musketeers sparked her love for nature, and a formative Earth Watch scholarship trip to Texas studying whooping crane ecosystems. She shares how birding became a grounding practice during a tough season of life and naturally led her into wildlife photography, plus how her plein air painting community, Warrior Painters, makes her hyper-aware of light, weather, and seasonality. We also get into her Coastal Connections zine inspired by the Audubon Coastal Leadership Program, practical ways to plug into LA’s environmental community, her favorite local spots (Anza-Borrego, Sepulveda Basin, Ballona Wetlands), her Brower Youth Award and UCLA Environmentalists of Color Collective work, her sustainability role at Earth Justice, completing the Sierra Club Wilderness Travel Course, and birding and travel experiences in Peru and the Philippines. Follow Valeree on IG: https://www.instagram.com/valereeplants https://www.instagram.com/valoutdoors https://www.instagram.com/valereecat Lean more about Valeree and support her work on https://www.valereecatangay.com/ Follow Just Trek on https://instagram.com/just.trek Shop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠ Become a Just Trek Patron member on https://www.patreon.com/justtrek Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠ Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠justtrekofficial@gmail.com⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

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Recent guests on Just Trek Podcast. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

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