<p>In this volume of the Trails &amp; Tribulations series, I chat with Tyler Wagoner, a San Diego native and new-to-hiking convert, about his Mount Whitney redemption push on June 24th, 2024 - a 22-mile day hike to the tallest peak in the continental U.S. (14,504 ft) that turned into repeated close calls. </p><p><br></p><p>Tyler shares how he was turned back in 2023 at Trail Camp after being told he was ill-equipped for snow and cold, then returned in 2024. Tyler&#39;s second Whitney attempt had tribulations stacking up from the parking lot to the summit and all the way back down. A 21-hour battle with some genuinely terrifying moments and hard-earned lessons that you&#39;ll want to hear. Tyler is a San Diego-based hiker who caught the hiking bug in 2022 and has been going hard ever since — and his Whitney story is one for the books. What starts as a solo pre-dawn push quickly turns into an epic story that involves a bold wildlife encounter before the hike even begins, a sketchy icy section on the notorious 99 switchbacks, and a race against a weather system that the outdoor store in Lone Pine had predicted almost to the minute. The summit itself delivers one of the most surreal and spine-tingling moments you&#39;ll hear on this show. And then the descent — that&#39;s where things really unravel. Multiple setbacks stack up one after another, pushing Tyler to his absolute limit before he finally makes it back to his car deep into the night. He also shares key lessons on gear, preparation, and the one rule every Whitney hiker needs to know before they ever step on that trail. This is a story about perseverance, humility, and the kind of experience that turns a hiker into a lifetime student of the mountains.</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>Follow Tyler Wagoner on https://www.instagram.com/tyler_on_trail</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>