140: 20 Days Alone on the John Muir Trail: Grief, Identity, and Letting Go

The Everyday Awesome Project · Aug 27, 2026 · 1h 22m · transcript

Twenty days alone in the Sierra Nevada changes the math on what you think you need. Sam Pruitt returns fresh off a solo John Muir Trail thru-hike: 250+ miles, roughly 70,000 feet of elevation gain, two off-trail resupplies, and a 35 lb pack she carried without sharing a single piece of gear. We talk through the real logistics of wilderness backpacking: permits, water sources, navigation with FarOut and a paper map, high altitude from day one, and the river crossings that can turn from “just water” into a serious safety decision when you’re by yourself.

But the most compelling part is what…