Jean Muenchrath

Amazon Best-selling Author

Photo credit: Jena Sampson

BOOK REVIEWS

Best Book Awards Finalist, 2018

Travel & Essays Category

(sponsored by the American Fest)

Reader's Favorite Book Reviews, 5-stars

"This is a story of courage—the author’s drive to survive, to heal, to manifest a new reality.

If you are looking for an inspiring story, then this is it!"

Backpacker Radio

"An incredible, beautiful story."

Story Circle Book Reviews, Editor's Pick, 5-stars, Sept. 2018

(Reviewing books by, for and about women)
"This is an inspiring book, and well written.

Highly recommended for all who love mountains, nature—and life"

Pinehurst Living Magazine (NC),

Editor's Choice, September/October 2021

IF I LIVE UNTIL MORNING

A True Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Transformation

Mount Whitney in late afternoon clouds, photo credit: istock.com/pleum

Podcast Interviews

Click on the image box to watch or listen

Coming Soon

Australian podcast—To Be Human
The 5-day Survival Story of Facing Death

Photo credit: Hart Van Denburg, Colorado Public Radio

Colorado Public Radio Interview:

How This Park Ranger

Survived Being Injured and Trapped

in a Blizzard on Mount Whitney

United Kingdom podcast—Tough Girl
Hiking, Skiing and Exploring Wild Places

Screen Shot 2020-09-18 at 4.55.10 PM.png

South African podcast—The Matt Brown Show
How to Survive Anything with Jean Muenchrath

Backpacker Radio Podcast Interview #68

Jean Muenchrath on her Near Death Experience in the High Sierra

Luxury Travel Magazine

Virtual Author Interview

Screen Shot 2021-05-10 at 5.11.08 PM.png

Screen Shot 2021-05-10 at 5.09.40 PM.png

Screen Shot 2021-04-01 at 6.33.58 PM.png

The Sharp End Podcast

The Crux True Survival Stories Podcast, Jean Muenchrath

The Crux True Survival Stories Podcast,
Escape From Mount Whitney

Screen Shot 2021-01-22 at 8.13.19 PM.png

Screen Shot 2021-01-22 at 8.13.29 PM.png

BYU Radio Constant Wonder

If I Live Until Morning—Skiing Survival

Documentary Film

Click above image to watch film trailer

At this time, the full-length documentary film can only be viewed

on demand on ROKU TV, Indiefilms.com or on the Rocky Mountain Channel on YouTube.

MEDIA

BOOKS

Her wilderness adventure turned into a nightmare. After skiing 200 miles along California's John Muir Trail, Jean faces death from a mountaineering accident on Mount Whitney. Broken and bleeding on the highest peak in the continental United States, she vows to realize her greatest dreams if she lives until morning. Her escape from the Sierra Nevada Mountains turns into a five-day ordeal for survival. Jean's recovery is equally daunting. Her journey spans three decades and takes her from the depths of despair and chronic pain to the heights of the Himalayas and on travels around the world. When the specter of Mount Whitney continues to shatter her life, Jean befriends Tibetan lamas. Their ancient wisdom guides her on a path beyond her wildest dreams.

Now available in

Vietnamese

Purchase

Small image. Book Front Cover with Stick

Purchase

Paperback $16.95),

eBook ($5.99)

Audiobook

Audiobook Sample (3 minutes)

Screen Shot 2020-09-04 at 4.55.56 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-09-05 at 12.31.11 PM.pn

BIO & BUSINESS

BIO

My Colorado childhood gave me an insatiable appetite for mountain adventures. I love to explore wild places under the power of my own two feet, and to feel the connection between my heart and soul and the natural world. Traveling throughout Asia broadened my perspective about myself, humanity and the planet we share. Before I became an author, I was a park ranger with the National Park Service for over three decades, led trekking tours in Nepal and Thailand, and worked in Bhutan with the World Wildlife Fund. To balance my outer and inner worlds, I spend two months a year in solitary retreat.

CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTONS

VajraSky Books blossomed out of a personal catastrophe. I wrote

If I Live Until Morning to heal myself. Then I realized that my story could inspire others to live their dreams and to find the courage and strength to deal with their greatest challenges. I attribute my survival and recovery to the power of the mind. In the spirit of supporting others to discover their mind’s potential, I am donating 100% of my profits from book sales to the non-profit Drikung Kagyu Buddhist organization. Donated monies will be used to teach meditation techniques in the West, to translate ancient Buddhist texts that elaborate on the nature of mind and to educate Buddhist nuns in Ladakh, India.