My Mount Whitney Adventure - It’s about the Journey

Ever since I was little, Dad told me stories about his big Mount Whitney trip when he was 12. I always thought, “I’m going to do that too.” Finally, this summer, it was my turn.

More and more, I am learning how to pack for backpacking. I know how to pack food in a bear canister, and how to make sure I am not bringing too much weight. Every ounce counts when you’re carrying on your back at a high elevation.

We started at Horseshoe Meadow. At first I was nervous, as this was the longest trip I’d ever done. The trail felt huge, and the air was thin, but after a while I got used to it. I kept telling Dad, “I’m glad we’re doing this.”

At Chicken Spring Lake, the wind was crazy and I felt homesick. But then I’d look around at the water, the mountains, and the sky, and I remembered why we were there.

Each day we went farther. We had a long day to Rock Creek, but then the days to Crabtree Meadow and Guitar Lake were a little easier.

Guitar Lake was so beautiful, even though it was cold and windy, and it rained and hailed for over four hours. We camped there before the big climb.

On summit day, we woke up early in the dark. The trail was steep and seemed to go on forever. My legs were tired, but I kept putting one foot in front of the other. When we got near the top, I realized how high we were. The mountains stretched out forever.

A mile from the top, it started hailing and we heard thunder. Sadly, we had to turn around.

I didn’t quite make it to the very top that day, but that’s okay. I learned that backpacking isn’t just about the summit. It’s about pushing myself and seeing the world in a way most kids never do.

I know I’ll be back to Mount Whitney someday.