Portrait 8: Samwise

While climbing Forester Pass - and I mean climbing, not hiking the switchbacks - Samwise knew my fear of heights. We were going near vertical on the chute around 12500 feet (almost 4000 meters) and he led the way. He chose our route, he broke the “trail,” he truly was the leader that day. He was a true leader many days. I watched him take care of his girlfriend on trail. He took care of her little sister when she camped with us in the Mojave. He took care of me climbing Mount Whitney.

You can’t create a reason to go on a thru hike. Either you need to do it or you don’t. I needed it desperately. I didn’t have the faintest idea what I was getting myself into. I don’t think any first time thru-hiker really understands what they’re getting into. Samwise and I summited the highest peak in the contiguous USA together. We made really good time going down the east face of the mountain because of impending storms coming from the other side of the peak. Even in that situation, and even after over two months on trail, we still took time to stop and appreciate how incredible and spectacular this thing is that we’re doing. This was the week that I realized that adventure has really taken me. And I don’t think I’d have ever made it through that week if it weren’t for the hikers who shared their time with me.