#168 - He Served 31 Years in the Air Force… Then the PCT Changed Him | Jason France

Jason, a recently retired Air Force command senior enlisted leader with 31+ years of service, explains how he got the trail name “Meat Grinder” after severe nipple chafing on the PCT and how quickly it stuck. He describes the difficult transition from decades of military structure to the unstructured freedom of thru-hiking, finding the same powerful bonding through shared hardship and joy. He compares solo hiking versus hiking with partners, including a rainy 16-day JMT where he and a friend skipped Whitney for safety, and discusses how fishing forces him to slow down. Jason recounts struggling through the NorCal heat, smoke, fires, and “NorCal blues,” and how the trail removed distractions, helping him process combat memories and release guilt. He shares lasting takeaways of gratitude and simplicity, plus why he wrote his book, 5 Million Steps.

-- Jason's Links --

Five Million Steps Book ⁠

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