In this Story Pop episode, Philip shares the unfiltered truth of his failed attempt at the Death Valley Pop — the brutal ascent from Shorty’s Well to Telescope Peak. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a story about heat, navigation mistakes, fitness mismatch, and the moment a big dream meets a bigger mountain.

You’ll hear how the day began below sea level in the dark, how the route unraveled in the braided washes of Hanaupah Canyon, and how every wrong decision compounded the grade, the heat, and the effort. Philip breaks down the exact moment he realized he wasn’t going to make the summit — and what it felt like to turn around, descend in silence, and sit with the truth of the day.

This episode explores the deeper psychology of failure: how small errors cascade into big consequences, how confidence erodes when the terrain stops making sense, and how ambition sometimes outpaces preparation. .

If you’ve ever had a day go sideways in the mountains, or if you’re preparing for your own US21 journey, this episode is a reminder that failure isn’t the opposite of success. It’s part of the path.

Learn more about the US21 and the Death Valley Pop at:
www.blisterpopadventures.com

Story Pop: How I Failed Shorty’s Well to Telescope Peak.
Off you pop.

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Step into one of the most cinematic loops in the Pacific Northwest. The Olympic Pop — a full-day journey through rainforest, meadows, and the sweeping High Divide — is a route built on contrast: mist and sunlight, moss and granite, stillness and scale. In this episode, we guide you through the entire 18‑mile High Divide / Seven Lakes Basin Loop with the signature Blisterpop blend of warm authority, mythic storytelling, and practical clarity.

You’ll move from the moss-draped quiet of the Sol Duc Valley to the wide-open ridge above Seven Lakes Basin, where Mount Olympus and the Blue Glacier rise across the valley like a world apart. Along the way, we break down logistics, risks, pacing, weather windows, and the emotional architecture of the day — giving you the confidence to take on one of the most beautiful and balanced routes in the US21.

If you’re the kind of person who seeks meaning, chooses effort over ease, and wants a story worth telling, the Olympic Pop is waiting. Off you pop.

www.blisterpopadventures.com

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Step into one of the most mythic alpine traverses in North America.
The Cascades Pop — the Enchantments Through‑Hike — is a full‑day passage through granite, lakes, and legend. From the quiet forest at Stuart Lake to the turquoise Core Zone beneath Dragontail Peak, this episode walks you through every emotional beat of the journey: the first glimpse of Colchuck, the steep ascent of Aasgard Pass, the white‑granite basins of the Upper Enchantments, and the long, sun‑soaked descent toward Snow Lakes.

This is not just a hike. It’s a story you step into.

In this episode, we explore:
• Why the Enchantments matter — and why they stay with you
• The landscape you’re entering: granite walls, alpine lakes, golden larches
• The logistics and risks of a point‑to‑point wilderness traverse
• A immersive walkthrough of the route
• The deeper theme of US12: Wonder

If you’re listening, you’re already the kind of person who seeks meaning, effort, and a story worth telling.
When you’re ready to rise into the high country and cross Aasgard Pass…
Off you pop.

www.blisterpopadventures.com

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