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Backpacker Radio

#68 | Jean Muenchrath on Her Near Death Experience in the High Sierra

Backpacker Radio

Zach Davis

Sports, Wilderness

4.61.7K Ratings

🗓️ 15 April 2020

⏱️ 92 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today we are joined by Jean Muenchrath, mountaineer, escaper of death, author, and spiritual being.  Simply put, Jean's story is remarkable.  Jean gives us a play by play of the time she nearly died after catastrophic fall near Mt Whitney in winter conditions.  She walks us through not only this harrowing tale, but the long process to physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery, the subject of her book If I Live Until Morning: A True Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Transformation.  

Chaunce and Badger wrap up the show with some listener emails, Poop Stories, and a new segment One Line Movie Reviews.  This is our last in-person podcast until the apocalypse blows over, so please do savor the flavor of this one. 

[divider]

Interview with Jean Muenchrath

00:03:14 - QOTD: What is your least favorite animal?

00:05:18 - Intro to Jean (backpacking, mountaineering, and skiing background) 

00:08:50 - The Cross Country John Muir Trail Ski Expedition

00:10:16 - Muenchrath's Backpacking Experience

00:11:12 - How did Ken and Jean meet?

00:14:14 - How many miles were you doing per day (during the XC JMT Ski Expedition)?

00:15:10 - Going up Mt.Whitney

00:18:22 - Ken goes sledding down the mountain all of a sudden

00:24:00 - The Fall on Mt.Whitney

00:30:00 - Jean's Extensive Injuries

00:32:40 - After the Fall (Jean Woke Up The Next Morning)

00:34:25 - A Detailed List of Jean's Injuries

00:36:40 - Getting Out 

00:39:40 - Getting a Ride to the Hospital

00:42:00 Jean Had a Bad Feeling Before Leaving 

00:43:40 - If you could do it again, would you? 

00:49:00 - Jean's Journal

00:51:25 - How did Jean and Paul meet?

00:53:00 - The Second Half of Jean's Book

00:54:00 - The Himalayas

00:58:20 - Returning to Asia

00:59:30 - Have you always been a spiritual person?

01:02:40 - Jean's Spiritual Transition

01:05:00 - Opioid Withdrawals

01:12:45 - Getting Started with Meditation 

01:14:10 - Final Thoughts?

 

SEGMENTS:

01:17:00 - Sign up for Hikerlink!

01:17:40 - Trek propaganda - Kelly Floro - How to Choose the Proper Rain Gear For Your Hike 

01:18:20 - One sentence movie plots 

01:26:00 - Mail Bag

01:29:37 - Buy Chaunce's book (on her website or from Amazon)!!

 

[divider]

Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio?  Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play.

Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.

A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Cristopher Marshburn, ineedcoffee17, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Thomas Fullner

A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: dcnerdlet, Jacob Norhtrup, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Peter, Peter Ellenberg, Zoe Jenkins.

Follow The Trek, ChaunceBadger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram.

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by the Trek, we are joined by Gene Muntrath.

0:09.0

Simply put, Gene's story is remarkable.

0:11.6

She shares her incredible story about the time she thought she was

0:14.5

going to die after a catastrophic fall near Mount Whitney in winter conditions.

0:19.6

She walks us through not only this harrowing story, but the long process to physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery,

0:27.0

which is the subject of her book, If I Live Until Morning, a true story of adventure, tragedy, and transformation.

0:33.4

Gene is a glowing inspirational personality.

0:36.8

We think you're really going to enjoy this interview.

0:39.8

Chons and I wrap up the show with some listener emails, poop stories, and a new segment,

0:44.4

one-line movie reviews.

0:46.4

This is our last in-person interview until the apocalypse blows over, so please do savor the flavor

0:52.3

of this one. Here are some ads. This episode is also brought to you by

0:57.2

Z-Pags, makers of ultra-light shelters, backpacks, seepin bags, and accessories.

1:03.0

The duplex is an award-winning ultralight tent from Z-Pax, which has become one of the most popular

1:08.3

shelter options for Thruhikers.

1:10.8

In fact, the duplex was the most used shelter on the Appalachian Trail for two years running,

1:16.0

according to the Treks the Riker survey.

1:18.6

First off, this spacious two-person tent weighs in at just 19.4 ounces and packs down super small, leaving more room

1:27.1

in your pack for food, frisbees, food, a bag of wine, food or more food.

1:32.6

The setup for this tent is easy and offers more space compared to popular freestanding tent

1:37.6

options in addition to solid ventilation for a single wall shelter.

1:42.3

The duplex features vestibules and entries on both sides,

...

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