Marines on Mount Whitney

Posted on November 11, 2019August 22, 2024 by Backcountry Fever

This past Friday, November 8th, I had the opportunity to hike Mount Whitney, California’s tallest peak and the tallest peak in the lower 48 states.

While that was an awesome experience all by itself, summiting this peak wasn’t even the highlight…the highlight was being on this mountain with an inspiring group of Marines!

These guys were taking turns carrying a platoon brother up to the top because he lost his legs in Afghanistan.

I was overwhelmed with emotion as we witnessed this daunting feat. Not only for their willingness to serve our country and to preserve the freedoms we all enjoy, but for what they were now doing for one of their buddies up this challenging mountain.

What a powerful example of sacrifice and service.

If you’ve ever done any kind of multi-day backpacking trip, you know what it’s like to carry 40+ pounds along a typical hiking trail. I had to ask myself if I would carry twice that amount on a trail that climbs over 6,000 feet in 11 miles one way? I’m not even sure I could.

The impact of this experience went even deeper for me as a Scoutmaster of 10 years with a troop that puts up flags throughout our neighborhood on special holidays like today.

THIS is who we do that for! THESE are the men [and women] we are honoring for their service and sacrifice on so many levels.

So not only on this Veteran’s Day, but every day… THANK YOU for your service!

If you want to know more about this story, watch the original NBC News coverage here.

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Not too many cold weather weekends left to go winter camping!

#coldweathercamping #wintercamping #wintercamp #uintas #sledsintow #stillwinterhere #winterfun

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Not too many cold weather weekends left to go winter camping!

#coldweathercamping #wintercamping #wintercamp #uintas #sledsintow #stillwinterhere #winterfun

Bagged Bierstadt today! Thought I could get Evans too, but took one look at The Sawtooth and went "nope"! I was also by myself... either way, that stretch looked intense even without the snow.

#bierstadt #mountbierstadt #mtbierstadt #mtbierstadtsummit #winterroute #snowshoeing #snowshoeadventures #hikecolorado #hikeco #colorado14ers #colorado14er #14er #14ers #14ersummit #peakbagging #summitchaser

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Bagged Bierstadt today! Thought I could get Evans too, but took one look at The Sawtooth and went "nope"! I was also by myself... either way, that stretch looked intense even without the snow.

#bierstadt #mountbierstadt #mtbierstadt #mtbierstadtsummit #winterroute #snowshoeing #snowshoeadventures #hikecolorado #hikeco #colorado14ers #colorado14er #14er #14ers #14ersummit #peakbagging #summitchaser

Is there any other way to conclude an epic adventure but with a nice thick juicy burger?? ...I think not!

#epicadventure #endofanexpedition #juicyburger #smashburger #estiloburgers #mendoza #mendozaargentina

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Is there any other way to conclude an epic adventure but with a nice thick juicy burger?? ...I think not!

#epicadventure #endofanexpedition #juicyburger #smashburger #estiloburgers #mendoza #mendozaargentina

Our Summit Team :: Aconcagua 2025

#aconcaguasummit #aconcagua #summitteam

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Our Summit Team :: Aconcagua 2025

#aconcaguasummit #aconcagua #summitteam

It was a grueling day, but I made it!! It took 10h 32m to go only 2 miles from Camp 3, but we gained 3,400 feet in that distance. It`s by far the hardest thing I`ve ever done, physically and mentally.

#aconcaguasummit #aconcagua

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It was a grueling day, but I made it!! It took 10h 32m to go only 2 miles from Camp 3, but we gained 3,400 feet in that distance. It's by far the hardest thing I've ever done, physically and mentally.

#aconcaguasummit #aconcagua

Gotta love a good day of rest. It`s breezy at Camp 2, but the sun is bright and warms up our tents like a little greenhouse. The forecast remains stable for a summit attempt on Tuesday morning. So that means we will move to Camp 3 tomorrow, which should be another tough one. It`s only 1 mile away, but gains about 1,500` to 19,500 and our loads aren`t too much lighter. We ate some and will be wearing more, so hopefully that helps. Other than that, with no wi-fi above 18,000`, will give the next update on Wednesday.

#aconcagua #aconcaguaexpedition #climbaconcagua #camp2 #restday #wifiat18000ft #inka #inkaalltheway #inkaexpediciones #mountainsarecalling #mountainlife #highpoint #tallestpeak #tallestpeakinsouthamerica #chompians

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Gotta love a good day of rest. It's breezy at Camp 2, but the sun is bright and warms up our tents like a little greenhouse. The forecast remains stable for a summit attempt on Tuesday morning. So that means we will move to Camp 3 tomorrow, which should be another tough one. It's only 1 mile away, but gains about 1,500' to 19,500 and our loads aren't too much lighter. We ate some and will be wearing more, so hopefully that helps. Other than that, with no wi-fi above 18,000', will give the next update on Wednesday.

#aconcagua #aconcaguaexpedition #climbaconcagua #camp2 #restday #wifiat18000ft #inka #inkaalltheway #inkaexpediciones #mountainsarecalling #mountainlife #highpoint #tallestpeak #tallestpeakinsouthamerica #chompians

I don`t know what I think about today... let`s see how I feel tomorrow. We decided to do a full carry to Camp 2 today, which means all gear up in 1 shot. We need to move up the mountain quicker because the better weather day is Tuesday (a day earlier than our original plan). So with violet winds in our face, we trudged up 2 more miles and another 1,600 feet to Camp 2 at 18,100. It was exhausting and now very much looking forward to another rest day (although I`m sure it will be spent mostly in the tent and out of the wind).

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I don't know what I think about today... let's see how I feel tomorrow. We decided to do a full carry to Camp 2 today, which means all gear up in 1 shot. We need to move up the mountain quicker because the better weather day is Tuesday (a day earlier than our original plan). So with violet winds in our face, we trudged up 2 more miles and another 1,600 feet to Camp 2 at 18,100. It was exhausting and now very much looking forward to another rest day (although I'm sure it will be spent mostly in the tent and out of the wind).

We moved to Camp 1 at 16,400 feet today, bringing the rest of the gear and food needed for the next 5 days. It was a repeat of the 2nd toughest day we did on Wednesday, so I guess it was another tough day but it is only onward and upward from here... no turning back at this point.

We did take a different way up the moraine this time, which was way cool! Lots of people were also on the move as we all try to catch the next weather window before this Aconcagua climbing season comes to an end.

It may also look like a long conga line, but it really isn`t. No one is in any rush since the process of ascending is a very slow one.

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We moved to Camp 1 at 16,400 feet today, bringing the rest of the gear and food needed for the next 5 days. It was a repeat of the 2nd toughest day we did on Wednesday, so I guess it was another tough day but it is only onward and upward from here... no turning back at this point.

We did take a different way up the moraine this time, which was way cool! Lots of people were also on the move as we all try to catch the next weather window before this Aconcagua climbing season comes to an end.

It may also look like a long conga line, but it really isn't. No one is in any rush since the process of ascending is a very slow one.

Today was a day of rest and recovery, confirmed by @corosglobal and @ouraring. Completed the final medical check, took a shower, did some laundry, listened to some Zeppelin and planned our summit push. Tomorrow we start moving up to higher camps with the best weather window looking to be Tuesday or Wednesday to go for it.

#coros #oura #restday #recovery #summitpush #zeppelin #gettingpumped #letsdothis

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Today was a day of rest and recovery, confirmed by @corosglobal and @ouraring. Completed the final medical check, took a shower, did some laundry, listened to some Zeppelin and planned our summit push. Tomorrow we start moving up to higher camps with the best weather window looking to be Tuesday or Wednesday to go for it.

#coros #oura #restday #recovery #summitpush #zeppelin #gettingpumped #letsdothis

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