Among the FB groups I follow, one ranks in the top 5, “I Love the Sierra.” A recent post there took my mind back to 2014, when my grandson Josh and I took off to climb Mt. Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower 48, reaching 14,505 ft., almost 3 miles above sea level. I walked the bleacher steps at my school’s stadium to get in better shape, and we even spent a night before at a campground at 8,500 ft. to acclimate. When leaving Whitney Portal, the ascent began with a nice, fairly moderate wooded trail. In my ignorance, I assumed the rest of the trail would be as easy. Silly me.

But…