Portrait 5: White Claw

This is White Claw on the summit of Mount Whitney - 14505' (4421m). I was among the first to summit that morning, from about 15 people who were successful that day. Thru hikers know that there's a sliver of cell service on the farthest corner of Whitney. I watched one person after another make the summit, celebrate for about fifteen seconds, then swiftly head to that corner to start broadcasting on social media. My intention isn't to shame people for being excited and wanting to share it with people at home. We woke up at 0330, hiked in the dark, and spent all morning gaining over 6000 feet of elevation on 99 switchbacks. That's certainly an accomplishment to be proud of.

But after all that, I watched White Claw summit and take in the scene, then walk to an abandoned corner, put his butt on a rock, and quietly look over the valley. That's just how he operates. He's always present in the moment. It doesn't matter if he's climbing the highest peak in the contiguous United States or if he's listening to you tell a story. He's engaged in his life, and that's absolutely beautiful.