Mt. Whitney

We did it! What an amazing experience. It all started at 1:50 a.m. when my alarm went off. I took a quick shower to wake up and I immediately felt excited and anxious. We were out the door at 2:20 and on the trail at 3:15. I had brought my watch but purposely tried not to continually look at it because I didn't want to know that I'd only been going an hour if it felt like forever. Here are the highlights that come to mind....

*I loved starting in the dark. My sense of hearing was heightened because I could see as well, so I enjoyed the sounds of water flowing along a creek or rushing down a waterfall.

*I loved watching the sun coming up. It was so beautiful and made me think I need to get up early more often and watch more sunrises!

* I loved the camaraderie and how encouraging everyone was to one another.

* I loved the view from the trail crest where you can first see down into both Kings Canyon and Owens Valley. We had an amazingly clear day and could see for miles and miles.

*I loved Matt's idea of letting Denise lead us up to the summit at the end and the sense of accomplishment that occurred when we made it.

*I loved the view from the top where I could look around 360 degrees and know that I was at the highest point in the continental U.S.

* I loved looking back up when we were half way down and thinking, "Was I really just up there??"

*I loved seeing all the beautiful areas that we were not able to see in the dark. Wildflowers, waterfalls, meadows, all just beautiful.

* I LOVED finally making it down and going back to take a shower!

Of course I didn't love every moment of it, but focusing on the positive is what got me through. It was an extremely long, emotional, triumphant day. When asked if I would do it again my answer was, without skipping a beat, YES!

And, here's is what I unpacked out of our backpacks when we got home today.... No wonder my shoulders were sore, I was carrier about 5 pounds of unnecessary food!