<p>In this volume of the Trails &amp; 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. </p><p><br></p><p>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 &amp; Tribulations is the space where those stories come to life, inspiring and connecting the outdoor community. If any of these resonates with you, we&#39;d love to hear YOUR story!</p><p><br></p><p>Submit your story on https://tinyurl.com/47jdbvau for a chance to be featured or send us an email on [email protected]</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Follow Justin Williams on https://www.instagram.com/rockhoundhiker</p><p><br></p><p>Follow Just Trek on IG https://www.instagram.com/just.trek/</p><p><br></p><p>Support Just Trek on Patreon ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/justtrek⁠⁠</p><p><br></p><p>Shop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠</p><p><br></p><p>Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠</p><p><br></p><p>Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek</p>