Two months ago I
received my favorite kind of email from friend and life long adventure
accomplice Luke Walker. My favorite emails consist of two statements: I have an
idea for adventure XYZ. Are you in?
My response is
predictably "I'll bring the whiskey". Luke’s idea consisted of three
couples climbing the highest point in the lower 48 and looping through some new
territory of Sierras. My answer this time, was no different even knowing I would
have to unpack, pack, and make a 7 hour drive to the trailhead 17 hours after
three weeks in South America. I anticipated a chaotic turnaround, but never
could have predicted the wild hand I would be dealt in the coming weeks. The following two
months consisted of my girlfriend heading in new directions, leaving my job of
two years for one that would move me across the country, flying to Atlanta
twice, 20 vibrant days in Rio de Janeiro, 5 World Cup matches, and a trip up
the highest mountain in the lower 48. 52 days I will never forget.
After having my heart broken for the first time I was lucky enough to be introduced
to a beautiful and adventurous young climber 10 days before I left for Brazil. A few dates later I ambitiously
invited Hannah on our loop though the Sierras. Her eyes lit up and we
said our goodbyes excited about the trip to come.
Distracted by, and part of, the chanting face-painted hooligans of
the World Cup the details of the Whitney trip never crossed my mind. I
envisioned a long, but rewarding summit on the first afternoon followed by slow
paced days meandering through the beautiful high Sierras. As all backpackers do
I dreamt of crawling into the tent after a hard climb and trading massages,
kisses, and laughs with the girl I had just met. Luke and I have gone on
adventures around the world, some more intense than others, but with his
fiancée and two other couples joining I expected a mellow itinerary. Every one
of these preconceptions could not have been farther from the truth.
My first wake up call came before leaving town. I picked up Hannah
and as we loaded her backpack she mentioned that she had fallen for someone while
I was in Brazil… She offered to stay behind, but still wanted to partake. Being
humbled is a quick process. An 8-hour drive later we had gotten over the
blatant awkwardness, and had conversations about life, love, and the upcoming
adventure.
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| Photo Credit Kelvin Kuo (http://kelvinkuo.com/) |
The coming days again proved to be anything but what I had
envisioned. The altitude hit us hard and the limits of everyone in the group
were pushed as we covered 50 miles, 40 of which over 10,000ft in two and half days. I had pictured a chest bump-high-five-firework celebration as we summited Whitney
on the 4th of July. Instead most of nursed our throbbing heads by adopting
the fetal position on the highest rocks in America. I have yet to find anything
more humbling than women and elevation.
Although a 21mile hike over the highest pass in the Sierras the day
after summiting Mt. Whitney is technically a walk in the park, it is something
that will test anyone’s mental and physical abilities. This kind of trip
exposes people’s true nature and it was pleasure being surrounded by
individuals who could laugh about the excessive miles and vertical left to
gain. The group’s attitude continually impressed me as we all notched some of
our hardest days on record. In the end being humbled by big mountains and
gorgeous climbers is a great place to be in your mid 20s.
As we hobbled out the final couple miles Luke chuckled and promised
our next trip would consist of packrafts, fishing rods, and sandals. I smiled
as we had ended our adventure in my favorite way; with a plan for the next.
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| Photo Credit Luke Walker (www.lukegwalker.com) |
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