Frozen Ridge/Monkey Business

This week on False Summit, Octavia and Em serve up two wild rides from opposite corners of the planet — and the emotional spectrum. First, in Frozen Ridge, we follow a solo adventurer to a remote Alaskan volcano, where euphoria turns to survival as daylight fades and snow conditions deteriorate. It's a story about gut instincts, posthole purgatory, and why sometimes the summit just isn’t worth it.

Then, in Monkey Business, a peaceful hike through Japan’s forests spirals into a face-off with an alpha macaque — followed by an adrenaline-fueled dance with murder hornets. It’s a lesson in how nature’s cutest mascots can pack the biggest bite.

Plus:

🎵 Em’s “Trail Mix” delivers three songs for the soul-slogging miles, including Bob Dylan’s bleak masterpiece and a haunting track from Dekker that hits like a cold October wind.

🧼 “Trail Etiquette & Other Shit” breaks down how to stay clean(ish) in the backcountry — without making your backpack smell like a science experiment.

Stick around to the end for final thoughts, off-the-rails chit-chat, and your weekly reminder that the summit is always just a little farther than you think.