Just Trek Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

**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 ⁠⁠justtrekofficial@gmail.com⁠⁠ 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 ⁠⁠justtrekofficial@gmail.com⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

On this episode I have SoCal based trekker, outdoor adventurer, content creator, travel blogger, diversity + inclusion advocate, and founder of "Hike N Color" hiking group, Joshua Walker, join me on the show. We chat about his journey moving from the South to the West Coast to chase the LA dream, his trail name origin story, our serendipitous encounter on Cucamonga Peak summit in the San Gabriel mountains, the concept of over access to our local mountains, dancing on the trails, his personal experience as a black hiker in the outdoor space, his top SoCal hikes, hiking tips & tricks, his unforgettable Mount Whitney adventure, his journey as a hiking influencer + content creator working with world renown brands, his mission to help diversify the great outdoors, and the one outdoor experience he would re-live all over again. It was an honor to have such a talented content creator and major advocate for diversifying the outdoors on the show. It was not only an incredibly entertaining episode, but a movie like conversation that had alot of depth and different perspectives for us to all learn from and take with us moving forward in our outdoor journeys.

Episode Sponsor:

Cotopaxi is an outdoor apparel brand known for their high quality outdoor essentials. They create sustainable products to fight extreme poverty, inspire adventure, and move people to do good. Their social impact strategy focuses on global poverty alleviation, and they strive to employ responsible sourcing and manufacturing practices throughout their supply chains. Check out their gear & outdoor apparel more on https://www.cotopaxi.com/

Follow Joshua Walker on https://instagram.com/joshyoutrippin

Follow Hike N Color group on https://www.instagram.com/hikencolor/

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

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/

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

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 justtrekofficial@gmail.com 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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https://hikingguy.com/newsletter/

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 justtrekofficial@gmail.com 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 justtrekofficial@gmail.com 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:

• HIGHLANDER Adventure is the leading long-distance hiking event series in the world with over 40 events in 20 countries worldwide. Highlander creates once in a lifetime experiences for all nature lovers, explorers, and modern nomads around the world. They will be hosting their next event in Southern California's alpine paradise known as Big Bear Lake from May 24th-28th. Use code ''JUSTTREK30" for 30% off any Big Bear format on https://bit.ly/4087rYL




• The 52 Hike Challenge is a global hiking movement where participants gain the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits from hiking once a week for an entire year. Sign up for the 2023 challenge on https://www.52hikechallenge.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 justtrekofficial@gmail.com 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 justtrekofficial@gmail.com 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 justtrekofficial@gmail.com or DM on Instagram @just.trek