Escape to the Mountain: Midlife Redemption on the John Muir TrailIn Escape to the Mountain, Stephen Smith hikes northern California's John Muir Trail in a quest to rediscover hope and bring new life to a spirit crushed by physical pain and a string of back surgeries that had forced unwanted change upon him personally and professionally. The chiropractor by profession returns to the Sierra Nevada that brought him joy as a child, to find meaning and purpose in life and unexpected joy with friends and family. Backpacking the trail with him in four two-week journeys, we experience the vibrancy of nature's sunsets and hidden treasures, lively episodes with trail guides and companions and truthful awakenings that lead Smith on a life-changing direction of great pleasure and reward. |
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altitude sickness arrived back surgeries backcountry backpacking bear beautiful began Beverly Lake breakfast campsite canyon catch caught chiropractor climb couple Crabtree Meadow dinner drove duffel enjoyed experience feel feet felt fish Forester Pass friends gear goal golden trout granite guitar hike hikers hit the trail horse Jared Jared's Jay Morgan Jim Coats John Muir Trail journey Judy June Lake Kearsarge Pass Key Lakes knew Lions Share looked lunch Mammoth Mark Schillinger miles minutes Mitch morning mosquitoes mountain moved mules National Park night North Lake Olive Lake Onion Valley pack train pack trip packers pain peaks Purple Lake ranger ride river rock side Sierra Skip George Skip's sleep South Lake Steve Steve Curry story summer tent things thought Thousand Island Lake took trees Tuolumne Meadows walked wanted Whitney wilderness Yosemite Valley