The longest journey begins with a single step, not with a turn of the ignition key. That's the best thing about a walking, the journey itself. It doesn't much matter whether you get where you're going or not. You'll get there anyway. - Edward Abbey
On New Years Day 2011 we got engaged. The first thing we knew is that we wanted to get married in the mountains, and the second thing we knew was that we wanted to go backpacking for our honeymoon. Those plans caught a snag when Sierra snagged a hook in her eye five months later, so, in 2012 we decided to make up for lost time.
Ryan made it his 2012 New Years resolution to climb Mt. Whitney before his 30th birthday. We applied for a permit in March and with a stroke of luck we got one... With a stroke of bad luck it was the first weekend in June... The flip flop routine continued as we got a snowstorm in late April, completely skewing our training schedule as all the local mountains were covered in ice and snow. We persevered though, and with another stroke of the good- the weather warmed just in time and the mountain was passable.
Over the course of 2012 we hiked, climbed, walked, whined, laughed and slogged to the summits of Mt. Williamson (San Gabriel Range), Baden Powell, Throop Peak, Mt. San Antonio "Baldy", San Jacinto, White Mtn., Mt. Whitney, Bertha Peak, Gold Mtn., Mt Healy (Alaska), Telescope Peak and Ryan Mtn. We backpacked Kearsarge Pass and finally took our intended honeymoon trip along the 1,000 Island Lake loop. We hiked with friends and family, acquaintances and strangers. We saw deer and bear, over-packed and under-packed, cooled our toes in mountain streams and slept under the stars.
Since that time we have reached the summit of San Gorgonio, Mt. Langley, Mt. Rainier, Pico de Orizaba and dozens of other mountains. We completed Cactus to Clouds, took mountaineering courses, and achieved our Level I Avalanche Certifications. We have taken rock climbing classes and completed 68 miles on the John Muir Trail. Every year is a new adventure.
One thing we have learned along the way is that you never get to the summit of a mountain alone. We couldn't ask for better family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and chance encounters with complete strangers. In the mountains and around the hearth, just the two of us and surrounded by all of you. For everything to every one, thank you.
Ryan made it his 2012 New Years resolution to climb Mt. Whitney before his 30th birthday. We applied for a permit in March and with a stroke of luck we got one... With a stroke of bad luck it was the first weekend in June... The flip flop routine continued as we got a snowstorm in late April, completely skewing our training schedule as all the local mountains were covered in ice and snow. We persevered though, and with another stroke of the good- the weather warmed just in time and the mountain was passable.
Over the course of 2012 we hiked, climbed, walked, whined, laughed and slogged to the summits of Mt. Williamson (San Gabriel Range), Baden Powell, Throop Peak, Mt. San Antonio "Baldy", San Jacinto, White Mtn., Mt. Whitney, Bertha Peak, Gold Mtn., Mt Healy (Alaska), Telescope Peak and Ryan Mtn. We backpacked Kearsarge Pass and finally took our intended honeymoon trip along the 1,000 Island Lake loop. We hiked with friends and family, acquaintances and strangers. We saw deer and bear, over-packed and under-packed, cooled our toes in mountain streams and slept under the stars.
Since that time we have reached the summit of San Gorgonio, Mt. Langley, Mt. Rainier, Pico de Orizaba and dozens of other mountains. We completed Cactus to Clouds, took mountaineering courses, and achieved our Level I Avalanche Certifications. We have taken rock climbing classes and completed 68 miles on the John Muir Trail. Every year is a new adventure.
One thing we have learned along the way is that you never get to the summit of a mountain alone. We couldn't ask for better family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and chance encounters with complete strangers. In the mountains and around the hearth, just the two of us and surrounded by all of you. For everything to every one, thank you.
