A long-distance journey through the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California created lasting lessons and memories.
The lessons we wanted to teach our boys centered around the notion of “peaks and valleys.”
you’re free to, in fact, do hard things.
Credit:Wendy Altschuler
Deciding to do abackpacking triplike this isnt a decision we made lightly.
We picked a charity to support, ultimately raising $5,600 for Parkinsons disease research.
Sun hat: check.
Wendy Altschuler
Hiking poles: check.
I could tell he was more eager than anxious, more proud than hesitant.
Selfies with deer would make it into his camera roll.
Photos: Wendy Altschuler; Scrapbook: yuliash/Getty Images
And, you know what?
Hes the first to catch a frog, find feathers, or break open rocks.
It was sunny when we reached the top of Donohue Peak on the eastern border ofYosemite National Park.
Wendy Altschuler
It wasnt long before the sky blackened, however, and the rain began to drop.
We swiftly covered our packs and began our descent.
While deaths from lighting strikes are rare, they do happen.
Wendy Altschuler
Should we set up our tent too?
Wed have to decide quickly.
We made the gut decision to get our boys off the mountain as speedily as we could.
Wendy Altschuler
We traversed fast-moving creeks with slick rocks, gripping our poles and trying to find secure footing.
When my youngest protested and stopped to rest, we ardently got him moving.
Once safe, it felt like we could finally breathe.
Back at home, I roll a heart-shaped rock that Kai gave me on the trail in my palm.
