USA - Mt. Whitney - July 2025

Mike
Sep 1, 2025
2 min read

This past Summer I had the privilege of taking our youth group on a hike up Mt. Whitney — and it was even more special because my son, Jake, was right there with me.

The weather could not have been better. Clear skies, cool air, and that crisp Sierra Nevada sunshine made the long trek feel less like work and more like adventure. Watching the youth and leaders encourage each other along the trail was inspiring, and sharing those moments with Jake was a memory I’ll treasure for years. When I was 16 we did the same thing except I was the youth and my dad was one of the leaders.

One of the meadows on the way to base camp

For a little perspective: Mt. Whitney stands at 14,505 feet (4,421 meters) above sea level, making it the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. It towers over California’s Sierra Nevada range and offers some of the most breathtaking views you can imagine. It is about 22 miles there and back and you feel like you are always "almost there". There are many ways to hike Mt. Whitney but the way we did it was to camp at the Whitney Portal the night before, climb to base camp the next day, camp that night at 12,000 ft. and then summit early so you can come back down, pack up your gear and then descend that last day.

The climb was challenging at times, but the combination of great company, perfect weather, and that sense of accomplishment at the summit made it all worthwhile. I’m grateful for the time outdoors, the conversations along the way, and especially the chance to bond with my son in such a majestic setting.