<p>In this volume of the Trails & Tribulations series on the Just Trek podcast, I welcome back Juan Flores (Outdoor Adventures+, Nature’s Palette, Urban Youth Nature Project) as he recounts first attempt of big bad, Iron Mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains near Bridge to Nowhere in December 2021. Starting at midnight on a 16 mile out-and-back, Juan and his friend encounter mountain lion chirps ahead and behind around 2AM while two women in their group push far ahead. After reaching the summit around 7AM, the brutal descent turns dangerous: Juan is left behind, runs out of water after starting with two liters, becomes lost on a false trail without a map, and collapses exhausted with miles remaining until a stranger with a dog finds him. It took 16 grueling hours for him to complete this trek and he shares key lessons on carrying more water, downloading maps, not relying on guides, and staying over-prepared.</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 & 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!</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>Follow Juan Flores on https://www.instagram.com/__juanflowers__</p><p>https://www.instagram.com/_outadvplus_</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>